Going Home

I know that gnawing.

After we moved north of 8 Mile, one of my first (real) jobs was in Downtown Detroit, and I loved it - especially lunches in the Guardian Bldg., DIA, and Hudson's cafeteria, and happy hour at the Post (sadly, I watched the closing of Hudsons, and then the rest of the retail - one after the other). But, I was always from Detroit. And I always felt a pang when someone (who I knew was from Detroit too) would say they were from "Michigan" knowingly denying their connection to Detroit (unlike your kidos innocent comment;)

Several years ago, when our youngest son earned a place as goalie for Team Mission Detroit, we traveled alot and worked at being ambassadors for Detroit - it really helped that the boys were very talented, meshed well, and even-tempered---well, maybe with the exception of one or two when the going got tough. (As his proud mother, I must report that Adam took MVG at the nationals for his division - very exciting stuff:)

As the team transitioned to other endeavors (jobs, girlfriends, etc.) and I went to take the "Team Mission Detroit" sticker off my car's rear window - it wasn't coming off easily, so I decided to leave it on.

With a bit more time on my hands, I decided to get involved in extended community (other than working the school's bake sale) and through the Grace of God, I came to realize that united metroDetroit stands or divided we fall.

As a result, our "Team Mission Detroit" sticker has come to take on new meaning. Actually, the "Mission" is kind of a wing-shaped thing - so from a distance, it looks like "Team Detroit", which works too.

I'm not saying it's always easy to admit I'm from Detroit - current text-message capital of the world (which is better than crime capital of the US) - but it's where I'm from - the incredible paradox that this city is.

Right on, Mr. Happy! I too have always referred to Detroit as home. When East Detroit (my family lived there for four years before moving to 6 Mile Rd/Van Dyke in 59) changed its name, although I understood, I was deeply frustrated. Another frustration is when Bob Seger ceased calling out "Hey DEEE-TROIT" at his taped concert in the eighty's, instead referring to Southeast Michigan. Detroit must again become a place to be proud of, and all involved in this project certainly are bringing pride back where it belongs. I raise my glass to you. Blessings.

Peace, Mike W.

Michael,

You have heard me say it many times, DETROIT will always be my home. Fletcher Park was my home and even though I think I have made a pretty good home for my husband and three children, our home in Harrison Township can never compare to the home I gew up in on 8267 Forestlawn.

Lee (Harding) Walmsley

I'm often asked where I'm from. My canned response has been "I grew up in Detroit and lived across from City Airport". Usually about that time eyebrows raise and a look of deep concern comes over their face. No big deal to me. This is where I was born..Detroit, this is where I was raised..Detroit, this is where I live..Detroit. I speak often of how beautiful the neighborhood "was". I hope we can one day replace "was" with "is". And like Lee above, 8302 Dobel still exists in my mind as the home (not house) I loved above all. I still dream about it to this day.

Attitude is everything.

To me its safe to say that " I was born and raised in Detroit" and that the changes
made it what it is today. It is what it is and was what it was. To me it was "The Detroit 6 mile and van dyke area" and not the hood , not the crib or city airport waste lands.
Regardless of any future changes or development to the area, it will always remain "the 6 mile and van dyke area " once home to were I lived my childhood memories, graduated from school and played sports with friends then grew with lives changes and relocated.

Ron Blake

I have never felt embarrassed to say I was from Detroit. Living down here in NC I proudly fly my Red Wing flag on my van (most people here know my van by the flag). When I'm asked where I'm from I always say I'm from Detroit. The funny thing is that when other's tell me they were from Detroit I always ask "what part?". Inevitably they say some burb. I then tell them they're really not from Detroit but they feel proud enough to say so and I feel proud that they want to say they're from Detroit. My point MH is not to feel too despondent. There are many outside of Michigan who, being from Michigan, say they're from Detroit!

Ckempa3, congratulations on your sons' achievements. I hope they continue.

K2

OOOOOOOH....This blog has it all. Nostalgia, political and religious debates and now Semantics.

We can all safely say we were from Detroit or our hearts are in Detroit. However, where do the majority of the posters to this site reside?

Bob Seger no longer greets concert attendees with "HEY DEE-TROIT" probably because he is more likely to give a shout out to his neighbors in that ultimate White Flight refuge--Traverse City. And don't forget Detroit's other favorite sons: Marshall Mathers (Roseville's own Emminem) and Detroit's (Ahem....Romeo's) -- Robert Ritchie (Kid Rock) who both reside well North of 8 Mile.

Saying that one is from Detroit defines a certain geographical area. When encountering a stranger in another part of the country or the world, Farmington, Rochester Hills or Warren won't ring a bell. And, of course, the Auburn Hills Pistons sound rather effete.

Unless one is an actual inhabitant and a registered voter in the city proper, you are not a resident of Detroit.

With the life blood of Suburbia now at over 4 dollars a gallon, maybe the reality of a new 21st century America is hitting home. Maybe Mr. Happy, with his fresh ideas, is akin to James Fenimore Cooper's "Natty Bumppo" pointing the way. Only time and history will tell.

Ich Bin Ein Berliner
Robert T. Zona
HNS Class of '65

who am i to say ,I'm no Kid Rock or Bob Seager but
with learning that over 95% of my classmates homes no longer exists and watching the news unfold daily political mayor corruption, one can only wonder why. Besides ,Kid rocks scares me while reminding me of "Cousin IT" from the Adams family on illegal steroids.

Upon attending the H.N. reunion church service, i was greeted by a random young man
ON THE Street soliciting literature for one local business who greeted me with
"welcome to our hood, here sir take one".

straying a few blocks away while looking to explore Elgin and gilbo street
,my car was approached by a salesmen of a less then desired substance."whatca need?"

Life is good ,I'm Happy, no complaints or shame here from my roots or tennis ball bazooka days.

I think we should be happy that Kid Rock and Eminem have brought a sense of pride back to being "from Detroit", just like Bob Seger, Alice Cooper and Mitch Ryder did back in the day. It makes people think of Detroit as a place that has many talented people and steers clear (sometimes) from looking at the obvious negatives of the city, especially with what is going on with the Mayor currently. My heart, like many others, will always be where my home was on College street, no matter where I live now. But, to be fair, I think it is safe to say that many of us have switched from pride to anger to complacency when saying we are from Detroit. I don't think anyone should be criticized for living in the suburbs now and saying they are from Detroit---that's where they grew up and have fond memories of. It is heartbreaking to take a ride through my old neighborhood and see what has happened to it but, I try to focus on the happy memories I have and the wonderful friends I still have from OLGC.

I will still keep everyone in my prayers as they work toward making Fletcher Field and the City of Detroit in general a wonderful place to be again for the current residents. Sometimes, prayers are the most powerful weapon we have and the most positive energy to give. I have passed on this blog info to some others who grew up in the area and may be able to help in someway, hopefully they can do some good.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend everyone!!!

I too am proud to be from detroit, eastside. Attending St. Raymond's, St. Anthony's and Osborn . Upon meeting other people from the metro Detroit area I have found that people from the suburbs will also claim to have grown up in Detroit. I always ask " eastside or west", seeing that a true Detroiter knows that there is only two sides of the city. I usually see this perplexed look on their faces, when they try to figure out how Bloomfield HIlls or other suburb fits into the equation. Only once did I receive an off the cuff insult after proudly claiming to have been born and raised in Detroit. An ignorant ex-Grosse Pointer stated " There's no people that live in Detroit". Like I said she was Ignorant, and I knew exactly what she meant.

I am proud to be from the 6 mile and Van Dyke area. Not everyone can say they grew up in our neighborhood. What we had was special to all of us. Flecther, Holy Name, the Wings, Tigers and Pistons. What gets better than that? Living in CT for 38 years, many people have asked where am I from and I proudly state DETROIT. And they'll say, you mean the Motor City? You lived in Detroit? All of a sudden they look at me a little different (respect). People just don't get it. It was an awesome place/city. That's what I remember it as and that's what I hold on to. We too lived at 8267 Forestlawn.
HNS Class of 64

Where am I from you ask? DETROIT and Darn proud of it! Granted I have a lovely ranch in Royal Oak and have raised my family there but 8171 Dobel will always be my home! Holy Name and Fletcher Field will always hold a special place in my heart. Come on people step up to the plate and look at how many people sign on to this blog and post and all the people doing this wonderful work..Tell me there not proud to call DETROIT there home?

It's perfectly understandable for your children, who to my knowledge have never lived in Detroit, to not think of Detroit as home. I think it is important for anyone to have pride in whatever town they call home, regardless of its size or lack of uniqueness.

Like family, you can't change where you were raised. So, Detroit is the answer to the question "Where are you from?". But, it is no longer home and hasn't been since we moved away while I was in college roughly thirty years ago.

As a freshman at MSU eager to meet new friends, I would get excited when people would say they were from Detroit. I would tell them I was from Detroit too. However, invariably when I asked them what part they were from (east side or west side) they would always reply with a name of a suburb of Detroit. After a few months of this, I caught on. When asked, I would tell people I was from "Detroit". Pause. "the city." I stopped correcting people when they tried to say they were from Detroit when they were from Warren. (I mean, hey, I'd never say I was from Warren if I was from Detroit.) I couldn't pretend they were like me just because they rooted for the Tigers and had been to Belle Isle or Boblo.

Growing up in Detroit isn't the same as growing up in a suburb of Detroit. It wasn't the same in the 60's and 70's and it isn't the same today. To grow up in Detroit back then meant many things. To me, my childhood in Detroit was a great time full of wonderful neighbors and friends. With those times comes the remembrances of the National Guard patroling City Airport and having my neighbors pass bags of groceries over the fence to them in appreciation for their duty... of kids who attended public schools public telling tales of terror... of watching the place you knew as home become a place to fear. Not sure the Royal Oak kids had these same experiences.