 
Hamtragedy
Member
Username: Hamtragedy
Post Number: 70
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Friday, February 01, 2008 - 11:24 pm: |    |
For my Grandfather's Senior High School Trip, they went to Belle Isle, in 1937.
Their school was in Crestline, Ohio, (just outside of Mansfield). |
Bbq1945
Member
Username: Bbq1945
Post Number: 38
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 - 10:54 pm: | |
I remember ponies pulling a small carriage around a track. The ponies knew the routine so no skill was required. I also remember a police station on the island. Lots of barbeque's. Renting canoes in the summer. Ice skating in the winter. Swimming off the docks. Playing handball - sometimes at 6 in the morning. Running around Scott Fountain. Looking for the lady in "white" that was a ghost type person that hung around the woods. The place was incredible! |
Slick
Member
Username: Slick
Post Number: 5
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 06, 2008 - 12:38 pm: | |
You all should have been on Belle Isle, "the island" Saturday the second. It was shiver on the river sponsored by the Friend of Belle Isle and the Friends of the Detroit River. Many exhibits at the casino, (no gambling sorry) tours of Dossin Museum, Conservatory, (the flower house) and also the Coast Guard Station.
The police station is still active. Check out the Friends of Belle Isle website for the next fun activity day. |
Single_malt
Member
Username: Single_malt
Post Number: 2
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, February 07, 2008 - 4:32 pm: | |
I had my engagement pictures taken there last June. It was great! The potential of that island is so much more than it is now...
We were just at Dossein Museum on Saturday. I also remember ice skating there when I was a boy, and feeding the deer. Good memories...good memories. |
Guideboat
Member
Username: Guideboat
Post Number: 4
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, February 10, 2008 - 10:44 pm: | |
Tigersfan, here's the link to The Friends of the Belle Isle Aquarium:
http://belleisleaquarium.com/n ews.html
Doesn't look like a whole lot is happening, but there are opportunities to get involved. |
Guideboat
Member
Username: Guideboat
Post Number: 5
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, February 10, 2008 - 10:50 pm: | |
Every trip to Belle Isle was always a triple treat. We visited the Dossin Museum, the Conservatory, and the Aquarium. A bonus was the slide or the zoo.
In college, a buddy and I used to take photography excursions to the island during midweek. It was great having the conservatory and aquarium to ourselves. Got a lot of great pics. I'll have to dig them out.
My son loves roaming around in the pilot house of the William Clay Ford, and climbing on the Coast Guard boat in front of the Dossin. |
Grumpyoldlady
Member
Username: Grumpyoldlady
Post Number: 10
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 12:22 am: | |
Belle Isle memories....good and bad for me. I remember the pony carts and the Scott Fountain which would get you all wet if the wind was right. In the late 60's and early 70's we'd go there to watch the sub races, lol, but all we ever saw were those humongous river rats. No way I would get out of the car at night with those things strolling around checking out the trash bins. Really bad memory....my first husband said "let's go for a ride around Belle Isle", and when we got there, he stopped the car and told me he wanted a divorce. Then he proceeded to drive through Tanglewood's winding curves with the lights off "to see if I can kill us both" he said.
He got the divorce, believe me! |
Stromberg2
Member
Username: Stromberg2
Post Number: 65
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 8:21 pm: | |
Damn, no wonder you're Grumpy. |
Stinger4me
Member
Username: Stinger4me
Post Number: 193
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 8:37 pm: | |
Stromberg2; There was a John Stromberg who went to St. Joe's High School. |
Omaha
Member
Username: Omaha
Post Number: 152
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 11:29 pm: | |
I just double checked. Am I the only one who remembers the J.T. Wing? It was over where the Dossin Museum was eventually put.
My mom called it the last sail powered ship on the Great Lakes. Probably an exaggeration but it was nevertheless impressive to walk around it as a youngster. |
Stromberg2
Member
Username: Stromberg2
Post Number: 66
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 18, 2008 - 1:23 pm: | |
Stinger4me, not me, I took my user name from a villain in Bond movie. |
Bbq1945
Member
Username: Bbq1945
Post Number: 40
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 11:14 pm: | |
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Bbq1945
Member
Username: Bbq1945
Post Number: 41
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 11:23 pm: | |
This picture brings back a lot of memories. We used to get a ride or hitch a ride to Belle Isle - played all day - and needed to get back. If we saved a dime we could take the Ferry. If not, we could walk across the bridge or stick out our thumb. The bridge always seemed like a long walk so we usually hitched a ride. Never seemed to be a problem with any strange types but it was always a risk. We were absolutely bullet proof in those days. Or at least we thought so. |
Jjaba
Member
Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 6147
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 12:34 am: | |
jjaba has very vivid memories of the Detroit Concert Band concerts at the Band Shell, Tues. or Thurs. nights in the 1950s. Leonard B. Smith, played cornet and was the band master. He was such a treat.
Although jjaba lived on the Westside, we drove all the way over to be on Belle Isle for this music. It was under the stars, listening to the music and watching those freighters glide by right past us. What nice memories. Marches, show tunes, Leroy Anderson, the band played it all.
The green park benches were lined up very wide and there was always plenty of room.
jjaba, Westsider. |
Eastside61
Member
Username: Eastside61
Post Number: 976
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 7:14 pm: | |
Funny that Jjaba's only good memories were from his experiences on the EASTSIDE.......
ES 61 - Director of the Eastside Foundation to Rescue Westsiders. |
Goblue
Member
Username: Goblue
Post Number: 1219
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 8:15 pm: | |
Aha! So...Jjaba was sneaking onto the Eastside under the cover of darkness in order to sample the variety of cultural activities not available on the Westside. Those band concerts and live theatre on Belle Isle were events to remember. I am so glad that Jjaba was able to join us.
GB: Major contributor to the Eastside Foundation to Rescue Westsiders. ES: The check is in the mail. |
Eastside61
Member
Username: Eastside61
Post Number: 982
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 8:18 pm: | |
Gb - Maybe J Boy did live on the eastside and only went to Temple on the WESTSIDE.....This Dexter Bus stuff is a front!••• |
Goblue
Member
Username: Goblue
Post Number: 1225
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 8:30 pm: | |
ES: I'm starting to think that Jjaba is really an Eastsider...just pulling our chain pretending to be a Westsider. To tell the truth I never thought to ask him during the WMU years. |
Goblue
Member
Username: Goblue
Post Number: 1226
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 8:33 pm: | |
ES: I'm starting to think that Jjaba is really an Eastsider pretending to be from across Woodward just to pull our chain. To tell the truth I never thought to ask him during the WMU years. He was always too busy on weekends with some fox named Sheila F. |
Eastside61
Member
Username: Eastside61
Post Number: 983
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 9:28 pm: | |
GB - Dream on!•••• J Boy would have been frightened to venture into the Mumford neighborhood and god forbid talk to Ms. Sheila.....He stayed home and collected pictures of DSR buses.....and worked on his drum majorette routines for Cass Tech games. He more than likely lived in the Pershing Area..... |
Goblue
Member
Username: Goblue
Post Number: 1228
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 9:34 pm: | |
ES: You're probably right about Jjaba living in the Pershing area...but I do have a clear recollection of knocking on the window of his car...that was rocking hard in the dorm parking lot at WMU...a woman inside was making all sorts of loud sounds...that was when he introduced me to some fox named Sheila....of course, it might not be the same one...but...I do think it was SF! |
Eastside61
Member
Username: Eastside61
Post Number: 986
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 9:39 pm: | |
GB - She hated faux Bus drivers.......and WOULD never stoop to dating an OLDER clown who wore wingtips every day until he finally graduated from the PROUD Eastside School - Cass Tech.....I still wonder how he every got into CT????? Or even WMU???? Was he actually enrolled at WMU? |
Jjaba
Member
Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 6151
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 10:38 pm: | |
You are right about that. jjaba barely got through high school and college and never amounted to much. If it wasn't for the help of Denby grads, jjaba would have ended up in suburban Flushing, Michigan. and we all know it's colder than a well digger's ass up there.
jjaba, enjoying an Edwin Franco Goldman chart on Belle Isle. |
Goblue
Member
Username: Goblue
Post Number: 1234
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 10:56 pm: | |
My recollection is the Jjaba was the valedictorian of our class...or maybe he was the senior swordsman...I dunno which...but I still think Sheila F. was a close friend of his. |
Eastside61
Member
Username: Eastside61
Post Number: 990
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 11:28 pm: | |
You clowns of Broncoville.......Fishman liked the Blue eyed TAR and NEVER talked to a Technician -
J went to DHS and was valedictorian?
ES61 - "Missionary work for wayward Technicians is still available" |
Goblue
Member
Username: Goblue
Post Number: 1244
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2008 - 12:12 pm: | |
ES: No, no, no...J was the valedictorian at WMU! He told me that SF loved the submarine races at the Isle...that was how he first discovered the place...asked me not to tell you since he didn't want to destroy your memories. |
Eastside61
Member
Username: Eastside61
Post Number: 1001
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2008 - 3:30 pm: | |
GB - Lutherans DON'T lie.......God will get you ....with love: Sheila.
In J's WMU class ...what were there only three people????? |
Goblue
Member
Username: Goblue
Post Number: 1245
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2008 - 5:29 pm: | |
ES: Lutherans only lie about sex. |
Eastside61
Member
Username: Eastside61
Post Number: 1008
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2008 - 9:57 pm: | |
GB - you mean like get real close to each other.......like touching and stuff.......CHE was a lutheran at a church at lakewood and jefferson.....CHE also was driving at age 14 but his father was a DPD officer.....an ONLY child and I think walked on the wild side a little bit.......No wonder MEE took us to Mt Hope.... |
Goblue
Member
Username: Goblue
Post Number: 1254
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, February 24, 2008 - 7:03 pm: | |
ES: Good that MEE made sure you got religion instead of Lutheranism...trust me on that one! |
Eastside61
Member
Username: Eastside61
Post Number: 1016
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, February 24, 2008 - 11:49 pm: | |
GB - when one visits MEE we still go to the local Methodist church.......I guess you could say religiously.... |
Ici6671
Member
Username: Ici6671
Post Number: 2
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 3:51 pm: | |
I miss the good old days when Belle Isle wasn't in ruins. We used to particularly enjoy going to the aquarium. It is such a shame what has happened, not only to Belle Isle, but all of Detroit. When I was a kid, we used to take a bus downtown and go shopping and eat at Sander's. All of the stores along Woodward and Gratiot were open. They didn't need bars on the windows back then. Belle Isle was great. The zoo, casino, conservatory....There was even deer. Like I said, it is a shame. |
Jt1
Member
Username: Jt1
Post Number: 11347
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 4:10 pm: | |
Yes, it is a shame that families started fleeing the city in droves in the early 50s starting the decline that we see continuing.
It is a shame that people prefer to point their finger and talk about it being a shame as opposed to offering some help.
I take it you are not a member of the friends of Belle Isle. |
Elimarr
Member
Username: Elimarr
Post Number: 50
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Monday, March 10, 2008 - 5:08 pm: | |
I posted some memories earlier; came back to read some more posts. It's good to know that there is an organization for the Friends of Belle Isle, but membership to it may not be practical for posters living outside the Detroit area. Lots of us have great memories of Belle Isle from a few decades ago, and I can understand why Ici6671 (a new forum member) would have a sadness for how Belle Isle is now compared to times from childhood. I don't think there was any finger pointing going on. (Also, allow me to say welcome to Ici6671 - enjoy the forum.)
Now here's why I empathize with the posters who are wistful for the bygone Belle Isle days. In the 90's I took my toddler to the beach at Belle Isle. It was his first time at a beach. All was well until mid-day, when *pop*-*pop*...gunfire at the Bath House. No homicide, but I believe someone wound up in Receiving. That was scary! (Yes, his baby book photos have the dual heading, "First Beach/First Crime Scene.")
O.K., that was not a positive memory, but my earlier post was. Don't get me wrong...I really think Belle Isle is a special place. It was an event to be taken there as a child & a place to have some freedom as a teen. SO ANYONE CARING TO GET THIS THREAD BACK ON TRACK BY POSTING THEIR MEMORIES, I look forward to reading them! |
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