An aerial view of Bob-lo Island taken in 1933, before the amusement park was built. The Canadian shoreline is at left, Lake Erie at top, and the U.S. shoreline at upper right. By Jenny Nolan / The Detroit News Bob-Lo Island was originally called Bois Blanc, “island of the white wood,” so named by the … Continue Reading →
Father Charles E. Coughlin espoused a strange blend of venom and compassion. On Sunday afternoons in the 1930s, families would turn on their radios and listen to a comedy, a mystery, or, in millions of households, the Rev. Charles E. Coughlin – the Radio Priest. After his first broadcast on radio station WJR in 1926 … Continue Reading →
A late 19th century view of the Elmwood Cemetery Gate. By Vivian M. Baulch / Special to The News A walk through Elmwood Cemetery on Detroit’s near east side is a walk through 150 years of history and mysterious legend. The names on many of the 54,000 markers are names that still live on maps, … Continue Reading →
Tom Harmon, the University of Michigan’s “old 98,” is chased by Ohio State defenders in Harmon’s last game as a Wolverine in 1940. In three games against Ohio State, Harmon scored five touchdowns, kicked seven conversions, and rushed and passed for 618 yards. By Pat Zacharias / The Detroit News When they wrote the song … Continue Reading →
By Vivian M. Baulch / The Detroit News On a quiet day in March, 1966, seven eyewitnesses reported an unidentified flying object maneuvering over Livingston and Washtenaw counties. Ordinarily, these reports might have been dismissed by officials as the work of cranks. But this time, the seven witnesses WERE officials — police officers … Continue Reading →
Detroit News Photo Each year huge crowds would attend the Spelling Bee finals. Here thousands have gathered at the State Fair Coliseum for the 1931 finals. The Detroit News Spelling Bee got its start with an argument between Detroit Schools Superintendent Frank Cody and Malcolm Bingay, a Detroit News editor who said Detroit school children … Continue Reading →
Nancy Bown (J.E. Leslie) in her office at The News. Although her face rarely appeared in print, her warmth and sincerity created an extraordinary family-like bond with her readers. Click on the photo to read her farewell column in 1942. By Kay Houston/The Detroit News Mrs. J. E. Leslie wrote The Detroit News Experience Column … Continue Reading →