Looking Back

Published February 12, 2021

Birmingham Museum highlights stories of city’s Black founders

BIRMINGHAM — Last fall, local volunteers set out to raise funds to place markers at the graves of former slaves and early Birmingham residents George and Eliza Taylor, to give them a proper end to their story.

Looking Back: Ice boating on Lake St. Clair

Published February 7, 2021

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Looking Back: Ice boating on Lake St. Clair

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Ice boating was popular on Lake St. Clair, particularly from the 1920s to the middle part of the 20th century.

Published January 25, 2021

Royal Oak Review

Looking back: Royal Oak Police Department

ROYAL OAK — The history of the Royal Oak police began in 1918, three years before the village was incorporated as a city, when Philip H. Beauvais officially formed a police department.

Royal Oak-themed clay mosaic installed in new City Hall

Published January 12, 2021

Royal Oak Review

Royal Oak-themed clay mosaic installed in new City Hall

ROYAL OAK — The two-weekend installation of a 5-by-8-foot ceramic mosaic featuring prominent figures from Royal Oak’s history and well-known staples around town concluded during the first week of December.

Published January 11, 2021

Macomb Township Chronicle

Former township supervisor recaps government career

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — 2021 marks the first year since 1984 that Janet Dunn is not reporting for work — in some capacity — in Macomb Township.

Published January 8, 2021

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Looking Back: Jefferson Avenue

ST. CLAIR SHORES — In this view from almost 70 years ago, looking north toward 10 Mile Road, Jefferson Avenue is much narrower than in the present day.

Santa and the St. Clair Shores City Band

Published December 19, 2020

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Looking Back: Santa and the St. Clair Shores City Band

ST. CLAIR SHORES — In this photo from the 1940s, Santa Claus visits the St. Clair Shores City Band.

Published December 8, 2020

Rochester Post

Looking Back: Main Street businesses

ROCHESTER — Back when Rochester’s Main Street was dirt, hitching posts still lined the street and the Detroit United Railway ran daily through town, George C. Dennis, E.J. Lambertson and H.H. Stalker had businesses side by side.

Published November 20, 2020

Royal Oak Review

‘Discovery of the Lincoln Time Capsule’ documentary now online

ROYAL OAK — Royal Oak Schools and WOAK, the district’s student broadcast channel, recently produced a nine minute and 32 second documentary called “Discovery of the Lincoln Time Capsule.”

Published November 18, 2020

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Looking Back: The first mayor of St. Clair Shores

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Robert E. Harrison was the first mayor of the city of St. Clair Shores. He was sworn into office on Jan. 15, 1951, along with the new City Council members and other city officials at the city offices at Blossom Heath. From 1925 to 1951, St. Clair Shores had been the Village of St. Clair Shores.

Published November 10, 2020

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Looking Back: Memorial Park in St. Clair Shores

ST. CLAIR SHORES — What is now Veterans Memorial Park, 32400 Jefferson Ave., in St. Clair Shores, opened to the public on Aug. 24, 1945, as Memorial Park.

Published October 27, 2020

Royal Oak Review

Royal Oak Woman’s Club launches fundraiser to save historic clubhouse

ROYAL OAK — Since 1902, the Royal Oak Woman’s Club had gathered for fellowship, fun and fundraising at various locations until it acquired its current clubhouse, which was built in 1839 and originally served as a Baptist church, in 1923.

Ford House aiming at spring 2021 grand opening for new buildings

Published October 27, 2020

Grosse Pointe Times

Ford House aiming at spring 2021 grand opening for new buildings

GROSSE POINTE SHORES — They may not have gotten completed as soon as originally expected, but officials with the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores said a new visitor center and administration building will be worth the wait.

Published October 26, 2020

Fraser - Clinton Township Chronicle

Clinton Township firefighters reflect on department's 75th anniversary

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — In 1974, the television program “Emergency!” made Paul Brouwer, 72, keen on becoming a firefighter.

Published October 2, 2020

Roseville - Eastpointe Eastsider

Eastpointe museum reenactors host history walk

EASTPOINTE — Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Michigan Military Technical and Historical Society Museum in Eastpointe is still working hard to make history come alive.

Published September 18, 2020

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Looking Back: Farmhouse restoration

ST. CLAIR SHORES — The “old Green farm house” stood at the corner of 11 Mile and Grant Roads in St. Clair Shores since its construction in 1868.

Published September 8, 2020

Birmingham - Bloomfield Eagle

Suffrage popup heads outside each Friday in September

BIRMINGHAM — During September, the public is invited to view materials from the Birmingham Museum’s collection that tell the story of some pretty amazing local women and how their experiences relate to the national struggle for women’s voting rights.

Published September 8, 2020

Birmingham - Bloomfield Eagle

Historians look to honor former slaves turned founders of Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM — George and Eliza Taylor escaped slavery in Kentucky, following the perilous Underground Railroad route to gain access to Michigan in the 1850s.

Published September 3, 2020

West Bloomfield Beacon

Group offers new programming on West Bloomfield history

WEST BLOOMFIELD — In a “step toward normalcy” during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society has positioned itself to continue to keep history alive for local residents via virtual programming.

Published August 25, 2020

Rochester Post

Looking Back: Mae Axford

ROCHESTER — Mae Axford’s list of accomplishments include serving as a director of the Red Cross for 22 consecutive years, making over 100 quilts and being an active member of at least eight organizations.