The Way It Was

The Way It Was — Uncle Toby and Captain Jolly, 1954

Toby David was known as “The Man of a Thousand Voices”
detroit chinatown

The Way It Was — Detroit’s Chinatown, 1962

The vibrant area included Chinese businesses and a few thousand Chinese American residents
Isiah thomas

The Way It Was – Isiah Thomas, 1981

The point guard spent his entire NBA career with the Pistons
Tony Spina

The Way it Was – Photographer Tony Spina, 1950

Spina worked at the 'Detroit Free Press' for more than 40 years
American Motors Corp.

The Way It Was – American Motors Corp., 1962

The former Detroit automaker was once a leader in presenting compact cars to the American consumer
Bicycling circa 1895

The Way It Was – Bicycling, Circa 1895

A more than 125-year-old photograph shows a woman peddling down Putnam Street in Detroit
Jerome H. Remick Bandshell

The Way It Was – Jerome H. Remick Bandshell, 1953

Music on Belle Isle Group is determined to bring the space back to life
charles mcgee

The Way It Was — Charles McGee, 1975

His work is on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, and more
cooley high school

The Way It Was – Detroit’s Cooley High School, 1944

The Detroit firm behind The David Stott Building, St. Aloysius and Most Holy Redeemer churches, and the first section of the Penobscot Building built the school in 1928
Detroit Public Library

The Way It Was – Main Detroit Public Library, 1950

The Woodward Avenue building continues to be a showstopper

The Way It Was – Nacirema Club, 1924

The state's first African American social club still stands today
Ulysses Grant’s Home

The Way It Was – Ulysses Grant’s Detroit Home, 1885

The 18th president of the United States once lived on East Fort Street with his wife
city hall

The Way It Was – Old City Hall, 1920s

Young carolers sing in front of the municipal tree, behind which stands the seat of Detroit’s government

The Way It Was – The Masonic Temple, 1926

When the limestone, Gothic-style building swung open its doors, it was an event
the ghoul

The Way It Was – The Ghoul, 1977

The local TV personality was more "foolish than ghoulish"
rosh hashanah detroit

The Way It Was – Rosh Hashanah, 1934

Beth David was located in what was then a predominantly Jewish enclave

The Way It Was — Goose Lake International Music Festival, 1970

The festival featured Jethro Tull, Chicago, the Stooges, and more
ss aquarama

The Way It Was – SS Aquarama, 1960

The ship had space to transport 2,500 passengers and their automobiles, too
eastwood park

The Way It Was – Eastwood Park, 1937

This amusement park wasn't all fun and games
TWIW Flo Ballard

The Way It Was – Flo Ballard, 1969

The Supremes' singer, who died at the age of 32, pushed for more leads on songs

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