Here we have Walter, John, and Casimir Zabowski in June of 1943.  Walter appears to be in an Army uniform and I know that John worked with the Merchant Marines during the war.  My guess is that one of them were shipping out this day because this photo was taken in front of the Michigan Central train station (thanks to cousin Gail, John’s daughter, for recognizing the location).  The 6 story building in the background is still there at the corner of Michigan Avenue and 14th St.  It is the CPA Building, and like the train station it too is now abandon.   By the way, CPA in this case does not stand for Certified Public Accountant but for Conductors Protective Association, which was an insurance organization for train workers.  Like many fraternal and trade workers cooperatives from long ago the CPA was created to assist workers and their families when one of them were injured, lost their job, or to help the family of a worker that was killed. 

Here we have Walter, John, and Casimir Zabowski in June of 1943.  Walter appears to be in an Army uniform and I know that John worked with the Merchant Marines during the war.  My guess is that one of them were shipping out this day because this photo was taken in front of the Michigan Central train station (thanks to cousin Gail, John’s daughter, for recognizing the location).  The 6 story building in the background is still there at the corner of Michigan Avenue and 14th St.  It is the CPA Building, and like the train station it too is now abandon.  

By the way, CPA in this case does not stand for Certified Public Accountant but for Conductors Protective Association, which was an insurance organization for train workers.  Like many fraternal and trade workers cooperatives from long ago the CPA was created to assist workers and their families when one of them were injured, lost their job, or to help the family of a worker that was killed. 

Here we have Walter, John, and Casimir Zabowski in June of 1943.  Walter appears to be in an Army uniform and I know that John worked with the Merchant Marines during the war.  My guess is that one of them were shipping out this day because this photo was taken in front of the Michigan Central train station (thanks to cousin Gail, John’s daughter, for recognizing the location).  The 6 story building in the background is still there at the corner of Michigan Avenue and 14th St.  It is the CPA Building, and like the train station it too is now abandon.   By the way, CPA in this case does not stand for Certified Public Accountant but for Conductors Protective Association, which was an insurance organization for train workers.  Like many fraternal and trade workers cooperatives from long ago the CPA was created to assist workers and their families when one of them were injured, lost their job, or to help the family of a worker that was killed. 

Here we have Walter, John, and Casimir Zabowski in June of 1943.  Walter appears to be in an Army uniform and I know that John worked with the Merchant Marines during the war.  My guess is that one of them were shipping out this day because this photo was taken in front of the Michigan Central train station (thanks to cousin Gail, John’s daughter, for recognizing the location).  The 6 story building in the background is still there at the corner of Michigan Avenue and 14th St.  It is the CPA Building, and like the train station it too is now abandon.  

By the way, CPA in this case does not stand for Certified Public Accountant but for Conductors Protective Association, which was an insurance organization for train workers.  Like many fraternal and trade workers cooperatives from long ago the CPA was created to assist workers and their families when one of them were injured, lost their job, or to help the family of a worker that was killed. 

Posted 2 years ago & Filed under Black and White, Detroit, WWII, Zabowski, history, old photographs, uniforms, vintage, 1940s, 1943, Rail Road history, Train history, trains, Polish, ancestors, 4 notes View high resolution

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About:

My Grandma Gen Kownacki, nee Zabowski, died in 2002. Shortly after her death I helped my father clean out her house and I came across hundreds of old photographs. Along with the photos there were plenty of negatives (sadly, I haven't had the chance to scan them). I never knew that she loved photography so much in her youth, though it does help explain why she supported my own interest. This collection of photos starts in the 1920s in Detroit and ends after WWII with her living in Chicago. Some of the images are simply snap shots of friends and relatives. Then there are some that are a little bit more. I hope you enjoy this peak into the past. Frank Kownacki (FPKownacki@aol.com)


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