Going Home

If someone finds those class pictures from the basement (where I was a 7th-grade 'milk boy', with a crush on the 8th-grade 'ice cream girl'), I'm sure there is a business in the area that might be able to scan them and make smaller copies for those who would want to purchase a copy. I know I would.

Regarding the Holy Name Bulletin... As I opened it, I was hoping that my name was in there as altar boy, but alas, it was not. I believe my serving day may have been over at that point (but not by much, if my calculations are correct).

Thanks, and continue keeping up the good work.
Jim

I seem to remember framed photos of previous graduating classes in the center stairwell at HN School. If my memory serves me, Norm Gura was a former graduate.

I am compiling an email list of students in the graduating class of '73 so we can all be in touch with each other. If you want to be on the list, please send me an email either through the blog or at: j.freitag@sbcglobal.net. Thanks - Janet Andreoli Freitag

When Holy Name was closing, I was told that all the remaining
Church records etc would be transfered to the archdioses archives in Detroit.

storminnorman, did you know don michalak, or his sister barb or pat, they lived on the south side dubay & gilbo first house behind them was wisner store or radlicks on almont, this was along time ago with radlick that was my grandparents who we did live with.
donna s.

Contact Mrs. Lubien, she was the secretary for the parish. They were stored in the Rectory before the H.N. was finally closed. She posted and her children a couple of months ago on this blog.

Michalak sounds familiar. I graduated from HN in 1956. There were 6 children in our family (Bev died when she was 12 years old) and we all graduated from HN. One of us must have known members of your family. I'm sorry I don't. John's Market was on Wisner, Wally owned the store on Dubay and Pachla (spl?) the one on Almont.

my grandma used to go to john's market on wisner even though we lived on almont, but she would get smoked fish for lent at john's that was good fish. michalak was elanor & roman
harry & laura owned the store on almont, didnt go to often to the store on dubay, i think wisner & almont had more of the meats
my uncle danny used to visit michael's lounge after work, then come over to visit my grandparents, that was always fun.
anyone remember going to sonny elliotts lounge at the city airport?
used to go to oziers for ice cream & floats, comics, the bakery, how bout du-all hardware store didnt a couple of brothers own it?
good ole days thats for sure
donna s

Mike Happy's recollections about activities at Holy Name reminded me of the same at St. Thomas on Townsend by Harper and Van dyke....I especially remember the nuns at that school - they ruled with an iron fist!!! First of all every September when school started back in the grade school they gave everyone their expectations about talking, chewing gum, being late, never missing a day of school - in fact one nun I had Sister Domenica said to me and my parents: "The only excuse not to come to school is if you are in a hospital bed"....."Then if you are going to be there for awhile we will send your schoolwork to the hospital and you can do it in bed".....I wonder if that nun ever worked at Auschwitz!!!!!! Can you imagine being confined to a hospital bed and doing homework in the bed!!!!! Then there was Sister Margaret who was in charge of the altar boys....you were required to be in the sacristy 30 minutes before any mass and your shoes must be shined, your hair cut short, and dont giggle at all or laugh or make any noises.....one time my buddy Don Wysocki laughed out loud and the nun smacked him right in the nose real hard and bloodied his nose!!!!!!
Today that nun would have been sent to the hospital by some kid if she did that!!!!
Then the nuns would give each altar boy a small bag of candy at Christmas - that is if you showed up every time all year you were scheduled.....one time a bag of candy was stolen and Sr. Margaret kept all the candy from any altar boy.....she wanted a confession as to who took the one bag....ugh!!!! No one ever confessed...ha-ha....
Then there was the duty of washing the priest's cars each week in the spring, summer and fall....dont dare not show up to wash one of the cars.....that would have been the kiss of death....I remember one time my friend Douglas Rutkowski took a bite of a sandwich in class and the nun broke a pointer over his back!!!! Holy smokes, some of those nuns needed psychiatric help......then some of the nuns got mad at any boy or girl who decided to go to DeLaSalle or Dominican...they wanted you all to stay at St. Thomas....loyalty!!!! I could go on and on......hope nobody got mad at what I printed...it was meant to show the old rule back in the day!!! Mike Brachakowski*****

Michael Happy: please accept my condolences to you and your family on the death of your grandmother. I have been faithfully following the blog. Concerning the pdf's of the Holy Name bulletin, the masthead continued to be identified as the 'Focus' until the parish's closing in June of 1990. By the time I came to the scene in the mid 1980's and, unlike the pdf of the 1975 bulletin that was probably published by Archdiocesan Publications, I recall Kathy Lubien typing up the bulletin each week on an electric typewriter using both sides of a legal sized paper stock and duplicating the original on a Xerox copy machine for distribution to the parishioners on the weekend. After so many dozens of copies, this copier tended to over heat had to be turned off in order to cool down before making additional copies. I make these comparisons and observations of the Focus that I remember from the 1980's to the Focus of 1957 and 1975: the weekly collection ran well into the $3,000.00 range in 1975, by the mid-1980's it averaged between $800.00 and $1,000.00 per week. Towards the late 1980's to 1990, it dropped to less than a weekly average of $750.00 (See how quickly things like parish income changed in ten years!). Notice the apartment/flat advertisements in the 1975 Focus: by looking at the 759 telephone exchange (SLoan for the Warren area), one can tell that the property owner no longer lived in the home (or even the area, for that matter) and was desperately trying to rent the property out to a prospective tenant attending Holy Name Church who would be (hopefully) a good, tenant that would not default on the rent nor damage the rental property. That observation and the (comparatively) inexpensive prices to rent these flats are indicative of a neighborhood already on the decline. Holy Name had five weekend Masses in 1975. By the mid 80's, there were three weekend Masses; one on Saturday and two on Sunday. Before closing in 1990, Holy Name had only one Mass on Saturday and one Mass on Sunday each weekend. In 1975, three priests (including the Pastor Emeritus, Fr. George) and a brother resided in the rectory; by the mid 1980's one Pastor (Monsignor Schweder) serviced Holy Name until June of 1987. After 1987, the Pastor from St. Thomas Church (to the South), Fr. Lawrence Fares, served as and Administrator (not a Pastor) to Holy Name and was later followed by a Capuchin Priest, the late Fr. Jerry Schmidt, O.F.M.,Cap. for the last year and a half of so of the life of what was then Holy Name Parish before it was closed and sold by the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Concerning the graduation photos that were mentioned in this posting by Michael Happy and commented on by Michael Grimmer, a probable way to find their wereabouts would be to call the Archdiocesan Archives Office at (313) 237-5846. I remember these photographs on a kind of post stand and each or several classes were displayed on an glass encased 'page' that could be looked at as one would look through the pages of a book. These class pictures stood in the Church near a booth of confessionals in the south, front trancept of the Church.
Michael Happy, I haven't forgotten about looking at the Pilcher pipe organ at Holy Name Church. I will be making some extended visits to the Detroit area (I live in Grand Rapids) to visit family and friends immediately after Christmas and in January - I plan on calling you to set up a time for us to meet at Holy Name/Sheild of Faith Church as I still have your office and home phone number sitting right in front of me. Regards, David Michael Klemmer, Jr. - Grand Rapids, Michigan

What years were you at HN and what street did you live on? All the businesses you mentioned bring back great memories. Harry's Market had huge pumpkin seeds covered with salt. A penny would get you a scoop full. I walked/ran to school down Gilbo from Dubay twice a day and that's where we stopped to spend our pennies. Jimmy Fulmer and Johnny S(?) were usually with me. Somewhere along that route on Gilbo, across from Fletcher Field, there was a fence full of Morning Glories. When the opportunity presented itself, we would stop to pop the blossoms by squeezing the tips.

Regarding Mike Brach's (candyman?-) comment above about the iron-fisted nuns of St Thomas parish, one of their ilk may now be the one ruling (near Mike's Happy home) about wordy-dirds ('wonder if we said any of them beyond "stupid" and "boring"-) as 12/10 via www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007712090667
['copy/paste/click that URL/ink into the address-line box atop your Internet-browser]

Ps: As StT was moi 10'39 Baptismal church, based on MikeB's memories I'm glad to not have gone on to its school; and that he didn't recall any "kiss-of-death" akin to some RCC reverends' recent raunchy / ruinous revelations.-/

i graduated in 1968 from holy name.
lived on almont the 4th house from gilbo on the north west side
hung around with rathnaws next door & sidebottoms next to them & kubiak on forestlawn
my brother john(stumbo) hung around with greg baron
used to walk over to my aunts house on buhr st by van dyke & davidson, then our moms & my cousins would walk to kmart, also went to silverstine's that was a great place. went sledding by outer drive, derby hill, used to take a bus over to 7 mile & gratiot to federals,& the other stores there. used to take a bus to eastland too when that was all open
on sundays my dad took us to palmer park to feed the ducks, in winter we would go skating
yup we walked to holy name down gilbo too, no school buses back then for us.
winter was funny, cause everyone would be outside shoveling a parking spot in front of there houses cause we didnt have driveways, then when you drove anyplace you prayed that another car wouldnt be coming down cause once out of the tire tracks you could bet you would get stuck.
harry from almont store was a trip, always trying to grab your hand when you got your candy order, im sure he didnt do that to the boys.
i remember going on the bus with my mom & aunt & cousins during the holidays to see santa at hudson's that was nice, had a good childhood, neighbors were friendly, church & the school were good too. i do rememeber going to to the audiotorum & watching movies on sat. afternoons, that was a long time ago.

Aye StormNorman, your above "fence full of Morning Glories" reminds me of its then nearby board-mounting of toothy open-jawed fierce fish-faces (pickerel or pike?) affixed to the side of a garage (in a back-yard facing its house) along Gilbo - about where Hobart and Mike Podeszwik lived. Mike graduated HNS'53 with yo big bro Bob and me, and went on to become one of "Detroit's finest"; which I learned years later when he pulled me over from traffic.

Having handed my documents out to that officer without looking at him while forlornly staring thru my auto windshield, I was startled upon hearing his stern: "Tomczyk, when you gonna learn ...!" and was delighted to look-up at Mike's sh'eatin-grin ('slang still used?-) as he dismissively handed my papers back to me - 'lucked-out !-)

Hello,

I contacted the Archdiocesan Archives Office and they don't have any class pictures. I was told by Roman (forgot last name) that the last priest at church just threw everything away and nothing was saved. I was looking for my 1st grade and only class picture st Holy Name . No luck. I would give $100 for that picture.

You just cant stop bringing up the good stuff from the past Mike. as I was looking at the pdf from the 59'issue I saw an ad that said watch repair L.LeCair quinn st. and the phone number TW2-5322. address and phone number belonged to my first girlfriend Mary-Alice Leclair, it must have been her dads or grandfathers. After our first date, McDonalds and the Motor City roller rink, I received my first kiss, on the railroad tracks next to the cemetary at the end of quinn street. After that kiss I ran an hundred miles an hour down them tracks all the way to Van Dyke and beyond. I remember it like it was yesterday.

StormanNorman - "fencefull of morningglories" reminds me of playing ball at the park on Dubay. The green-apple trees in the yards surrounding the park - we used to pick up the apples up off the ground, taking baseballs and knocking more off the trees, eating them until we made ourselves sick.

Good times, good times...

Too bad about the school pictures. I too, would pay a good C-note to get my 5th-thru-8th grade class pics...

Hey everybody Dennis Wisniewski here. Most of you may know me as, and I hate to say this "moose". I heard about the blog and had to post. I've seen a few names that I recognized that brought back huge memories. My email address is BigDWis1@comcast.net.

Regarding bojajnick's contacting the Archdiocese, "I contacted the Archdiocesan Archives Office and they don't have any class pictures. I was told by Roman (forgot last name) that the last priest at church just threw everything away and nothing was saved", I can tell you that is not true. Fr. Jerry Schmidt did not throw anything of value from Holy Name away. Many things; however, were given away to parishioners including furniture, kitchen items, dishes, office equipment, etc. Although I was not a parish member because I was working in another Archdiocesan parish at the time, I made a donation and took several pieces of furniture, kitchen items and the church telephone answering machine. Over the years since I left Holy Name, I gave much of what I had from Holy Name to Monsignor Schweder (who now lives in retirement in Florida). He appreciated having these items as he had very fond memories of Holy Name. Among a few other items, I still have the answering machine from Holy Name and it was working very well up until ten months ago when a power surge must have damaged the electornics. All parish sacramental and financial records were boxed up and sent to the Archdiocese. As far as the pictures that are being sought, they have to be somewhere - Fr. Jerry would never have discarded anything like that and would have given it to a parishioner at the time. I believe that the class pictures are out there somewhere with a former Holy Name parishioner. As Michael Grimmer suggested, someone should contact Kathy Lubien to find out if she remembered to whom the pictures were given to. Another active parish member at the time were the Sczfranskis who still keep in contact with a lot of the former Holy Name members. Good luck and I hope these are found. David Michael Klemmer, Jr. - Grand Rapids, Michigan

To Dennis:I'm Denise Butki,Ilived on Almont also,between Gilbo and French Rd. I went to schoool with Rathnaw and Sidebottom(Richard-Sandra),Graduated in 72.Do you know what their doing now? I remember Rathnaws dad was the janitor at Holy Name and his mother is daughter to Mrs. Kopie(not sure of the spelling. Shelived on the corner of Almont and Gilbo.Do you remember.When did you graduate for Holy Name. You said your brother use to hang out with Greg Barone,the one that lived on Almont? did your brother know Dave Smith also?

Steve Furman was a grade ahead of me, and Frank Genero is the same age, lee lee IS IN contact with Frank all the time. Greg Barone, just the name brings back some memories of heavy party time. Dave Smith had a sister Denise if im not mistaken and she was in the same grade as us.The 70s brought some chit to the neighborhood, that was the end of the school festivals around that time. I remember watching a one Ricky Turner taking the blue bubble off a cop car and poor Rebant getting his mellon bashed by a cop that needed to take his frustrations out on someone. How about Tom Kresik, I know hes around, just dont know where.

Dennis, aka moose.
How are you doing? Ron Stieber here Elgin and Gilbo class of 67'
I will send you and email to catch up.
Mine is rstieber3@aol.com
Lets catch up.

Greetings of peace, all,

Mike Wisniewski here. HN class of 62. My brother (Dennis) just informed me about this blog. Very cool! How are you doing Mike? It has been decades. The last we seen each other was working up in Brighton, at Flexitype & Douglas/Seaman Peters. Wow! Reading some of these posts brings back many great memories. Have not been back to Michigan in ten years. Have lived in the L.A. area since 77, left Detroit in 74 for Denver, then on to L.A. I am a part-time community member of the Los Angeles Catholic Worker (http://lacatholicworker.org). An intentional lay community that operates a soup kitchen on Skid Row and a house of hospitality for the homeless. The house is in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles, two miles from our skid row kitchen. We're also activists and engage in nonviolent direct action for justice and peace. Would like to hear from anyone who remembers me or my wife Bonnie (Horeski), the only members of class of 62 to get married--41 years ago. Our e-mail address is: wizfam@earthlink.net See also: http://acatholicradical.blogspot.com http://mikewiz50.blogspot.com
http://myspace.com/mikewiz50

Peace and love.

Hello to All
What a flood of memories about the old neighborhood. I DO remember Dennis(Moose).
Aside from being a big guy, he was quite the snappy dresser. Didnt you live on Tumey?
And Wick, I remeber you as well, positive attitude and carried around a baseball glove, right? Lived on Dobel?
Rob; Sand Crabs biggest hit was "no electricity" Found some old tapes of the Mohawks circa 1980, at the Bowery. I remember Brian Guzak worked the door there.
As for me, worked half my life at Chrysler in tool and die. When the Germans "goose-
stepped" in, I knew it was time to get out of Dodge. (pun intended)
Adios, Mike Thomas

Some of the friends made at Holy Name lasted well into adulthood. Bob Zona, and later his brother Mark(of which I had the honor of standing up at BOTH of the weddings), Tim Warneck and Julian Dobrowolski, and later his brother Mark aka Pinliner, John Cassisi,Tom Kazlauskas, Dan Bauer, Rob Jedreski aka Jed, and many more. Although it was sad for some leaving Holy Name, because it meant ending in many cases 8 years of companionship (9 if you went to Lynch school for kindergarden) it also meant you were allowed to attend the, big drum roll here, Holy Name Teen club. I REALLY looked forward to that. I have many memories of the dances there in the lower auditorium, and the bus trips. I also remember the final meeting, if you could call it that, which led to its doom in 1967. Anyone wish to share any recolections on the Teen Club?