Miken123 Member Username: Miken123
Post Number: 18 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2007 - 12:15 pm: | |
Alright heres that 65 Pontiac Bonneville as per request. I'm only sorry I didn't take that shot with the top down.
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Miken123 Member Username: Miken123
Post Number: 19 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2007 - 12:23 pm: | |
And because someone mentioned the flashy dashes in the 65 ponchos here is 2 shots to show the chrome/wood veneered dashes. Both same car just in different light Hope you enjoy!
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Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 2371 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2007 - 2:15 pm: | |
I took these photos of the 1924 Oakland on display at the Oakland County Courthouse back in April:
The county received this car as a gift from Frank and Judy Hewett, who lived in the Franklin St. home of George Hannum, the president of Oakland Motor Car Company from 1920-1924. |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 2372 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2007 - 2:43 pm: | |
And some Pontiac area automotive sites taken on Memorial Day this year... Rapid Motor Vehicle Co., 34 Rapid St. The Pontiac Power Co. plant on the former Rapid site still stands, minus the smokestack.
Standard Motor Co., 24 Osmun St. Established 1901 (date visible over doorway). Company sign still visible on the west side of the building.
Pontiac Spring and Wagon Works, 20 Franklin Rd. Established 1899. By 1907, producing the first "Pontiac" cars. Company sign still visible on the north side of the building.
Home of Beaudette Jr., 269 W. Huron.
Oakland Motor Car Co., Pontiac Motor Division, 196 Oakland Ave. (Cesar E. Chavez). The original Oakland Motor Car Co. buildings on this site were demolished in 1934. This is the oldest existing building dating from the expansion of Oakland Motor Co. in 1918 after the company was folded into General Motors.
Notes from the Pontiac Auto Heritage Story and Driving Tour brochure compiled by the Oakland County Economic Development & Community Affairs office. |
Ray Member Username: Ray
Post Number: 939 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 - 12:35 am: | |
The loop or whatever the hell its called is a crime against humanity. Why isn't Pontiac going gangbusters. It's got history, architecture and location? |
Hardliner Member Username: Hardliner
Post Number: 65 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 - 12:57 am: | |
All the Auto plants closed. There's a Bible college up there that's been there for year. Midwestern Baptist College, it's on Golf Dr. ever seen it? |
Luckycar Member Username: Luckycar
Post Number: 25 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 - 8:33 am: | |
All the auto plants are not closed.GM Powertrain is there with an expansion going on.There is still stamping being done.The service parts place is still on Joslyn.The GM Truck Plant is still there.The Woodward/South Blvd.Plant still has something going on,as does the old Fiero Plant on Baldwin.Lake Orion is near by making G6'S. The downtown bldgs. are for sale/lease but what big office in the burbs isn't?And Centerpoint would make great location for someone if Jenny and her court in Lansing would only try. |
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg
Post Number: 1011 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 - 9:11 am: | |
quote:All the Auto plants closed. You obviously know more about Bible Colleges than you do about Auto Plants. When it comes to auto plants, Pontiac was just as dependent on GM as was Flint, but by comparison, Pontiac has gotten off lightly. Yes, employment levels in the Pontiac area auto plants have been trimmed by productivity increases over the years, but where the Pontiac area employment has really taken a hit is in the disappearance of GM white-collar engineering and office jobs. |
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet
Post Number: 824 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 - 9:59 am: | |
Luckycar, thanks for starting this post! Is your Father-in-law of Asian extraction? I have never met him, but Mr. Lucky sounds like it. Thanks all for the fine history and photos posted above. Again, this is a good education from a city known for its cars. I once had a girlfriend in Pontiac, Cecilia, oh the heart aches...but that’s another story. |
Luckycar Member Username: Luckycar
Post Number: 26 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 - 10:32 am: | |
Asian!We're as jewish as they make.Yiddish is our second language. He was born and grew up in Pontiac.He worked at GMC before going off to WW2.After the war he opened an auto parts yard before going into selling the whole car. People come thru door and ask,"is Mr.Lucky here",always with a smile.And he is! |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1831 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 - 12:07 pm: | |
If you are Jewish, I suppose that Mr. Lucky knew Sam Allen who operated the junk yard next to Gaukler Moving and Storage. He abutted the train tracks that ran over Orchard Lake Ave. just East of the Elks Lodge. Remember the carnival that was in the Lodge parking lot for several summers? Then there was Simm's Dept store at the North end of town. I remember him visiting at 149 Franklin Blvd. |
Dustin89 Member Username: Dustin89
Post Number: 51 Registered: 07-2006
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 - 5:03 pm: | |
A small correction for Luckycar: the Woodward/South Blvd. Validation Center is closing or is already closed. This was unexpected by the city of Pontiac, and thus furthered their budget troubles this year. The GM complex stretching from Joslyn to Baldwin, and Montcalm up to north of Columbia is still very active, and there is some new construction there. A large postal sorting facility is being built facing Montcalm, at Glenwood, filling some of the space where the foundry once was. There is still an active plant at Opdyke & South Boulevard. There are, however, some vacant GM buildings scattered in and around the Centerpoint campus, including one on South Boulevard just east of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 5456 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 - 5:04 pm: | |
The Rock knows Jews. Pontiac has a synagogue and an entire Jewish community apart from Detroit's sprawling Jewish community. Every medium sized Michigan town has a Jewish community. Collecting junk has always been a part of Jewish life in America. Now they go to MD conventions. (Metal Dealers) Families who once hauled junk in rented horse carts are now doing just fine. So let me get it straight, does Pontiac make cars anymore in Pontiac? If not, where then? jjaba, Westsider. |
Dustin89 Member Username: Dustin89
Post Number: 52 Registered: 07-2006
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 - 5:08 pm: | |
I don't think any Pontiac-branded autos are made within city limits. As mentioned above, the G6 is manufactured in Orion Twp. The vehicles made in Pontiac are mostly trucks-GMC and also Chevy, I believe. |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 5458 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 - 5:17 pm: | |
Keep the info. coming. We know there still is a Pontiac car so it must be made somewhere. And they've got a full line from which to choose. Thanks. jjaba. |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 5459 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 - 5:21 pm: | |
On his way to Franklin blvd. to his Grad. internship, jjaba pulled off the side of Telegraph Rd. to listen to the radio, November, 1963. President John F. Kennedy was shot and then Walter Cronkite told us on CBS News that he was dead. jjaba was driving his 1957 Ford Custom, two-tone, two door. Everybody remembers where they were the day JFK was murdered. jjaba, WSU Alum. |
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz
Post Number: 2657 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 - 6:11 pm: | |
All this talk about Mr. Lucky triggered a memory of a TV series by that name. It only ran from October 1, 1959 to June 1, 1960 yet it's light, jazzy theme song by Henry Mancini is stuck in my head now. Here's a YouTube of it with a young Jack Nicholson. How a thing like that can stick in your head for so long is beyond me. Oh, um, Pontiac. A bullet went through our living room in Pontiac back in the '70s. We moved out the next day. |
Exmotowner Member Username: Exmotowner
Post Number: 352 Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 8:48 am: | |
anyone have any memories of Tobogganing at Murphy Park? My dad use to take us there every winter. Is it still there and operating? Anyone know? |
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie
Post Number: 1072 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 1:35 pm: | |
To answer Jjaba's query in full: Orion Twp.-- G6 Lordstown, OH.-- G5 Wilmington, DE-- Solstice Doraville, GA-- Montana SV6 (for Canada and Mexico only) Fontana, CA-- Vibe Oshawa, ON-- Grand Prix Ingersoll, ON-- Torrent Elizabeth, Australia-- G8 (early 2008) |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 5461 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 1:47 pm: | |
Thanks Burnsie. jjaba printed this info. up for his references. He loves auto plant tours. Sad to think about how GM messed over Pontiac as badly as Detroit, Flint, and Lansing. To think that no Pontiacs are built in Pontiac is just terrible. Just exactly what is GM thinking? Who can forget Michael Moore trying to see Roger Smith when this crap was coming down really hard. jjaba, Proud Olds Bravada owner. |
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie
Post Number: 1075 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 1:56 pm: | |
Jjaba-- Here's a cool link that details GM's US and Canada production for last month. I stumbled upon it yesterday. It's a great reference and I'll definitely be checking Reuters for the latest car stats in the future. http://today.reuters.com/stock s/QuoteCompanyNewsArticle.aspx ?view=PR&symbol=GM&storyID=191 117+03-Jul-2007+PRN |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 5463 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 2:04 pm: | |
Fantstic data, Burnsie. Merci! jaba. |
Dustin89 Member Username: Dustin89
Post Number: 53 Registered: 07-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 3:00 pm: | |
I definitely think Pontiac was messed up by GM, because quite a bit of the city is GM property. However, it's still a relatively stable city that hasn't experienced too much population loss: its high point was a pop. of 72,000 people; I think it's at about 65 or 68,000 now. The largest employers in the city are the three hospitals. Compared to Detroit or Flint, Pontiac got off easy, and is still an active auto plant town. |
56packman Member Username: 56packman
Post Number: 1524 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 3:53 pm: | |
Pontiac is like Flint--they weren't much before GM and they are a shadow of their former selves after GM. it's one of those ecclesiastes 3:1-8 things. (Message edited by 56packman on July 16, 2007) |
Luckycar Member Username: Luckycar
Post Number: 27 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 4:33 pm: | |
Yes,Mr.Lucky knows the Sam Allen family very well.The jewish cong. in Pontiac moved to West Bloomfield.It was called Bnai Isreal,on Onedia street. My zadie,grandfather,went with the horse and cart around the east side of Detroit in the 1920s/1930s.My father,brother,uncle and I were all in the scrap metal business.Now it's used cars,call me meshugga! |
Yaktown Member Username: Yaktown
Post Number: 193 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 8:41 pm: | |
Exmotowner, Murphy Park is indeed open and still has the big hill. About two years ago I took a walk around the park in the fall. Not a bad place except for the graffiti and the guy toking one down in the back of the park by the river. Anyway, great pics of the city posted here. I drive by just about every single one of them every day. |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 5464 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 2:08 pm: | |
Luckycar, so what happened to the old B'Nai Yisrael building? Also, does ther move to Bloomfield, you are now in the Metro Jewsih community without an identity with Pontiac? Is there a Pontiac suburb for Jews? jjaba. |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1834 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 2:25 pm: | |
Hey, I remember Bnai Isreal on Oneida Street. After the Gaukler home was torn down on Franklin Blvd, two of my aunts shared an apartment in the little apartment building that was located right next door to it. Small world. Lots of pleasant memories of Pontiac. We have 6 generations of family members buried at Oak Hill Cemetery on University Drive ( both sides of the street). |
Luckycar Member Username: Luckycar
Post Number: 28 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 2:47 pm: | |
The shul is now a church,of course.Same pattern as Detroit.Not many of us here in Pontiac,we've moved to the south, the Bloomfields,and west to Commerce and West Bloomfield.More pics to be taken when it stops raining,finally. |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1837 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 6:43 am: | |
WOW--There is a tear in my eye. 94 posts for Pontiac Pictures, a thread that started life under "Discuss Detroit",but does not discuss Detroit. Itsjeff would be proud. |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 2379 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 6:55 am: | |
And in itsJeff's honor, here's a link to a previous Pontiac thread: https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/76017/79888.html Unfortunately, the several links within referencing even more DYes threads on Pontiac are not working and probably are lost forever. |
Luckycar Member Username: Luckycar
Post Number: 32 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 7:23 am: | |
The Pontiac Retail Store as it looks today.University and Mill.
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Karl Member Username: Karl
Post Number: 8771 Registered: 09-2005
| Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 1:52 am: | |
Thank you, Luckycar! Lots of wonderful memories of that place - and the great cars that passed thru, IMO the wonder years of Pontiac - they never looked better. Again, many thanks. |
Luckycar Member Username: Luckycar
Post Number: 33 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 10:13 pm: | |
More Pontiac pics.Wisner School and Stadium,Cesar Chavez/Oakland Ave./Dixie Hyw.
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Flybydon Member Username: Flybydon
Post Number: 150 Registered: 01-2005
| Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 10:14 pm: | |
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Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 2385 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 10:48 pm: | |
Thanks, Flybydon! That is a cool photo of Wide Track Drive, now known as The Loop. Funny how it seems more circular when you're driving it!! |
56packman Member Username: 56packman
Post Number: 1558 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 8:05 pm: | |
The former Pontiac retail store is today a Uaw center with a misspelled sign. it just fits |
Dan Member Username: Dan
Post Number: 1425 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 8:42 pm: | |
“UAW Employee Training Center” Only Employee is misspelled. HA! (Message edited by dan on July 25, 2007) |
Dan Member Username: Dan
Post Number: 1426 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 8:44 pm: | |
*Note I had to correct my own misspelling, HA again. |
Jyogi Member Username: Jyogi
Post Number: 11 Registered: 05-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 11:03 pm: | |
ETA sorry posted the reply before I saw someone else already covered this. JJaba You said <<<pontiac>>> Are you sure the synagogue is still there? I remember reading in the part 7 years they closed the synagogue and it was a big deal when the few remaning members gave the torah to on of the shuls in West Bloomfield as they walked it all the way there.... Do you know where it was? Id like to see the building. I lived in Pontiac for almost 2 years. Loft 69 W Huron (right on the corned of Huron and the loop) it was fun but the town is really dead... Its just gotten worse since they lost funding on the Strand. (Message edited by jyogi on July 25, 2007) (Message edited by jyogi on July 26, 2007) |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1857 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 8:32 am: | |
Miken---About those two photos you posted back on July 12, I recognize the facade of the Strand Theatre in the first photo, but is that shot of the upper floors of that building the old Peoples State Bank now Pontiac State Bank Building? Frankly, I thought the PSBB had a "fancier" facade than that photo shows. A wild guess would be the old Riker Building.I am stumped on that photo! |
Luckycar Member Username: Luckycar
Post Number: 35 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 7:11 am: | |
This is for all who have asked,"where would Homer Simpson eat in Pontiac?".Hmm,chili bowl.Across from the old Pontiac Motor Div.HQ. on Oakland/Cesar Chavez.
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Danny Member Username: Danny
Post Number: 6286 Registered: 02-2004
| Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 8:51 am: | |
I was wondering. Since Cesar Chavez Street was placed. Where are Mexican/ Hispanic businesses? Last time I walked through that street. I only saw 3 Mexican/ Hispanic stores. |
Luckycar Member Username: Luckycar
Post Number: 36 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 10:22 am: | |
Not any Mexican/hispanic stores that I can think of.Baldwin or Perry,maybe Montcalm have many more.They should have kept Oakland Ave.I think it was supposed to be temp.,but Pontiac clownsil being up to speed..... |
Dustin89 Member Username: Dustin89
Post Number: 69 Registered: 07-2006
| Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 2:18 pm: | |
There is a Hispanic grocery on Baldwin on the corner of Howard, just a few blocks east of Oakland. I'm not sure where exactly the center of the Hispanic community in Pontiac would be, but I would guess Perry Street. Cesar Chavez should be Oakland Avenue to simplify things-the road already changes from Dixie Hwy to Cesar Chavez to Saginaw Street; and isn't it still called Oakland Avenue near the border with Waterford, or are the addresses on the buildings there just outdated? |
56packman Member Username: 56packman
Post Number: 1566 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 5:42 pm: | |
Does anyone have a picture of the old Green Parrot restaurant on Perry st.? I loved that neon sign! |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1863 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 7:20 pm: | |
Or, speaking of Perry Street--- a picture of Pontiac's Jewish clothier, Sam Benson, whose business establishment was located at 20 S. Perry Street and who used to advertise with a catchy jingle on Pontiac's "official" radio station WCAR (located on Telegraph Road) "Shop at 20 and Save Plenty". Lord--why do I remember these things when I can't remember three minutes ago where I set my glasses down? Fond memories of Pontiac--a wonderful town in its time--maybe someday there will be a Pontiacyes.com |
Yaktown Member Username: Yaktown
Post Number: 198 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 9:32 pm: | |
Lucky, nice pix of the Chili Bowl! I was just driving past it on Friday and thought of this thread. As a resident, I would say most of the Hispanic (Latino? Chicano?) community is in both the Baldwin Road and the Perry Street corridors. There are many Mexican restaurants/groceries on both. The north end is also home to most of the city's Vietnamese/Hmong population. |
Dustin89 Member Username: Dustin89
Post Number: 70 Registered: 07-2006
| Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 11:29 pm: | |
Diversity is one of Pontiac's strong points. There is no majority ethnicity or race, just a plurality. I believe it is something like 45% black, 35% white, and the remainder a mix. It's a very diverse community. |