The Way It Was

The Way It Was – The Who, 1967

The Who, 1967

The Way It Was – Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, 1958

Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, 1958

The Way It Was – Spirit of Detroit, 1976

Spirit of Detroit, 1976

The Way It Was – Detroit Summer, 1915

Detroit Summer, 1915

The Way It Was – Wardell Apartment Hotel, 1935

Wardell Apartment Hotel, 1935

The Way It Was – Abraham Lincoln Memorial, 1865

Abraham Lincoln Memorial, 1865

The Way It Was – Pewabic Pottery, 1957

Pewabic Pottery, 1957

The Way It Was – Nelson Mandela, 1990

Nelson Mandela, 1990

The Way It Was – De Soto, 1960

De Soto, 1960

The Way It Was – Davis B. Hillmer, 1959

1959 A child’s reach usually exceeds his grasp, but that isn’t preventing this little boy, boosted by a ladder, from attempting to add a...

The Way It Was – The David Whitney Building

In Hebrew, the name David means “beloved,” and when designating downtown skyscrapers, Detroiters love the name.

The Way It Was – The Michigan Theatre

1938 This bustling bagley streetscape encapsulates the vibrancy of downtown Detroit in the late 1930s. Shot from Grand River looking north, the photo shows...

The Way It Was – Olympia Stadium

1964 Olympia Stadium, the old home of the Detroit Red Wings at Grand River Avenue and McGraw Street, was often the scene of loud,...

The Way It Was – State Fairs

1965 State fairs are always big draws for baby-animal births and white-knuckle amusement rides, but it’s the friendly contests that often provide the best...

The Way It Was – Detroit Houses in the 1950s

1950 When folk singer Malvina Reynolds wrote "Little Boxes" in 1962 (a tune popularized by Pete Seeger), she was satirizing California’s tract housing “all...

The Way it Was – Opening Pitch at Briggs Stadium

1951 He may not look as dashing as Justin Verlander on the mound, but for a politician Detroit Mayor Albert E. Cobo looks pretty...

The Way It Was – Drink Golden Jersey Milk

1936 The "Got Milk?" ad campaign to chug down more moo juice has been wildly successful since 1993, but in the 1930s, this eye-catching...

The Way It Was – Detroit, The Arsenal of Democracy

1942 During World War II, Detroit was dubbed the Arsenal of Democracy, as factories cranked out combat machinery day and night. However, the influx...

The Way It Was – Hudson Motor Car Co.

1932 Roy Chapin Sr., chairman of Detroit-based Hudson Motor Car Co., was a whiz at marketing autos — even in the thick of the...

NEWSLETTERS

FOLLOW US

65,000FansLike
80,000FollowersFollow
75,000FollowersFollow

FROM OUR PARTNERS