/tagged/Michigan/page/2
On the back it states “This is our house.” Now I can’t tell for certain if that was written by my Grandma, but I’m going to guess yes. If that is the case, then this very well could have been their family farm that they lived on for a few years. See, her father tried his hand at many jobs (steel mill laborer, farmer, movie theatre operator, and probably more), and while I knew of this one I never knew for sure when it fell in their timeline. That is until I recently discovered their listing in the 1920 census. It has them living on a farm in Romulus, Michigan, which is now where the Detroit airport is located. My cousin remembered that this is where the farm was and where it sat is now in the middle of some subdivision. 

On the back it states “This is our house.” Now I can’t tell for certain if that was written by my Grandma, but I’m going to guess yes. If that is the case, then this very well could have been their family farm that they lived on for a few years. See, her father tried his hand at many jobs (steel mill laborer, farmer, movie theatre operator, and probably more), and while I knew of this one I never knew for sure when it fell in their timeline. That is until I recently discovered their listing in the 1920 census. It has them living on a farm in Romulus, Michigan, which is now where the Detroit airport is located. My cousin remembered that this is where the farm was and where it sat is now in the middle of some subdivision. 

7 months ago  11 notes View high resolution

These summer vacation shots appear to be taken at the same place as the previous posting. I had no idea where it was shot, that is until I stumbled upon a later photo that has those cottages in it as well. On the back it’s marked Stony Point, Michigan, which is just south of Detroit on the shores of Lake Erie. 

Also, these photos are another fine example of why I love summer. This just looks like a grand time out. 

9 months ago  17 notes

I’ve been sending these around to the family in an attempt to figure out who the gent was in these photos, but alas no luck. The back of one mentions a “long letter” that they were sent with, but of course that letter is long gone. The only other possible clue is the fact that this guy appears to know how to develop and print his own shots since they were “not very dry” when he sent them out. That makes these even more interesting. Sadly, this photographer’s name is most likely lost to the ages. 

11 months ago  2 notes

This is my Grand Uncle (though we would have called him a Great Uncle) John Zabowski. He spent his entire adult life working on ships in the Great Lakes, most of which was for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company. I even managed to inherit this cool old pocket knife he received from the company. During The War he was a Merchant Marine, and if you’ve frequented this site you’ve probably seen shot of him in uniform like this one of him and two of his brothers in front of the Michigan Central train station in Detroit.  As for this picture I sadly don’t have any background on it. What I can tell is that he looks really young, and probably was early in his career. (He eventually became a Chief Engineer.) I hadn’t realized this was shot on a ship until after I scanned it (look to the lower right of the photo and you can see you are on the deck), which helped my identify him as my Uncle. As for when it was shot, well he was born in 1912, and he appears to be in his early 20s. So let’s say between 1922 to 1926. 

This is my Grand Uncle (though we would have called him a Great Uncle) John Zabowski. He spent his entire adult life working on ships in the Great Lakes, most of which was for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company. I even managed to inherit this cool old pocket knife he received from the company. During The War he was a Merchant Marine, and if you’ve frequented this site you’ve probably seen shot of him in uniform like this one of him and two of his brothers in front of the Michigan Central train station in Detroit. 

As for this picture I sadly don’t have any background on it. What I can tell is that he looks really young, and probably was early in his career. (He eventually became a Chief Engineer.) I hadn’t realized this was shot on a ship until after I scanned it (look to the lower right of the photo and you can see you are on the deck), which helped my identify him as my Uncle. As for when it was shot, well he was born in 1912, and he appears to be in his early 20s. So let’s say between 1922 to 1926. 

11 months ago  2 notes View high resolution

It’s rather apparent that these two photos were taken one right after the other. Not only do they have the same setting, but they also have the same printers mark on the back. As a matter of fact it appears that these two were from the same roll of film as the previous two photos I posted. (I’ve included a scan of the back of the second photo so that you can see the printer’s mark that I often reference.)

It looks like my Grandma Gen is in the first shot, sitting right in the middle. On her left (in the dark dress) is Melva Mazuka and on the other side is Tillie Czapka (which is also a Polish word for hat). What’s also nice is that she noted on the back of the second photo the location, date, and the names of those in the image. (That makes the person in the middle on the second image Sophia Doppka.) That would mean my Grandma 17 when these were taken. As for the little boy in the background, well I can only guess. Most likely it was one of my Grandma’s (or one of her friend’s) younger brothers. 

1 year ago  2 notes

This was my Uncle John Zabowski (one of my Grandma’s brothers) with his wife Madeline (DeMars) taken outside of her parent’s home in Fair Haven, Michigan. It appears to have been taken at the same time as this other photo of him I posted back in November. These photos were taken in June of 1943 and I would guess that he was on leave at that time. (The uniform he is wearing is of the U.S. Merchant Marine.) My Grandma wrote on the back her mother’s name, so I’m guessing she had planned on giving her this copy but never got around to it.  John spent his entire adult life on the water. While I don’t know what his service record was like, I can tell you that he spent his peacetime on the Great Lakes. He ended up becoming a Chief Engineer on an ore boat for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company. Sadly, I never got to meet him; he was killed by a drunk driver 8 months before I was born. 

This was my Uncle John Zabowski (one of my Grandma’s brothers) with his wife Madeline (DeMars) taken outside of her parent’s home in Fair Haven, Michigan. It appears to have been taken at the same time as this other photo of him I posted back in November. These photos were taken in June of 1943 and I would guess that he was on leave at that time. (The uniform he is wearing is of the U.S. Merchant Marine.) My Grandma wrote on the back her mother’s name, so I’m guessing she had planned on giving her this copy but never got around to it. 

John spent his entire adult life on the water. While I don’t know what his service record was like, I can tell you that he spent his peacetime on the Great Lakes. He ended up becoming a Chief Engineer on an ore boat for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company. Sadly, I never got to meet him; he was killed by a drunk driver 8 months before I was born. 

1 year ago  2 notes View high resolution

This was my Uncle John Zabowski taken in front of his home in Fair Haven (off of Lake St. Clair on Anchor Bay) in Michigan.  The date on back dates this as June of 1943 so I’m going to assume he was on leave from The War.  If the uniform hat looks a bit odd to you that is because it’s one of the lesser known branches of service - The United States Merchant Marine.   The US Merchant Marine, in short, is in charge of all transport of goods and men at times of war.  While at war they are uniformed and become an auxiliary of the US Navy.  Many Merchant Marines were lost in WWII (along with other wars) but weren’t recognized by the Government as Veterans until the 1980s.  I have no idea as to why it took so long for them to receive those benefits.  If you look at their overall service record you can see that it is well deserved. 

This was my Uncle John Zabowski taken in front of his home in Fair Haven (off of Lake St. Clair on Anchor Bay) in Michigan.  The date on back dates this as June of 1943 so I’m going to assume he was on leave from The War.  If the uniform hat looks a bit odd to you that is because it’s one of the lesser known branches of service - The United States Merchant Marine.  

The US Merchant Marine, in short, is in charge of all transport of goods and men at times of war.  While at war they are uniformed and become an auxiliary of the US Navy.  Many Merchant Marines were lost in WWII (along with other wars) but weren’t recognized by the Government as Veterans until the 1980s.  I have no idea as to why it took so long for them to receive those benefits.  If you look at their overall service record you can see that it is well deserved. 

1 year ago  73 notes View high resolution

This photo is interesting for two reasons.  First of which is that it is a really cool shot.  I like this composition from the fender and light of the car the camera is in, to the lines of the curve of the road, to the reflection of the trees in the hood.  Overall this is one of my favorites. The other interesting aspect of this photo is what is printed on back: “Aug. (19)29 – Belle Isle – N.Y. colored couple in highly polished Ford Roadster.” Now I never heard my Grandma say something that could in the most broad of terms be even considered slightly racist, and if you had ever met her you would know that she just simply wasn’t that type.  So then why did she mention the color of the couple on the back?  If you look at the Great Migration and Detroit it might give you an idea of why she found it worth noting. The Great Migration affected Detroit more than any other Northern industrial city.  To give you an idea of this growth, in 1910 (six years before the Migration began) there were an estimated 5,741 Black people living in Detroit.  By 1920 that number increased to over 40,000, and this was just the opening act.  In the summer of 1922 it was estimated that 3,500 immigrated per month.  The overwhelming majority were poor and could only be hired (if they could find a job) as unskilled labor or domestic help.  Also, these migrants moved into and lived very segregated lives.  So, I believe that this notation on the back was because frankly my Grandma most likely had never seen a couple like this before.  If you think about it this makes sense.  Not only did they have a car, but it was a nice one, they were out “touring” in an area that was predominately (if not entirely) White, and they were from New York (many many years before you could hop on an interstate and drive far from home).  All facts that made this couple stand out and worth taking note. 

This photo is interesting for two reasons.  First of which is that it is a really cool shot.  I like this composition from the fender and light of the car the camera is in, to the lines of the curve of the road, to the reflection of the trees in the hood.  Overall this is one of my favorites.

The other interesting aspect of this photo is what is printed on back: “Aug. (19)29 – Belle Isle – N.Y. colored couple in highly polished Ford Roadster.” Now I never heard my Grandma say something that could in the most broad of terms be even considered slightly racist, and if you had ever met her you would know that she just simply wasn’t that type.  So then why did she mention the color of the couple on the back?  If you look at the Great Migration and Detroit it might give you an idea of why she found it worth noting.

The Great Migration affected Detroit more than any other Northern industrial city.  To give you an idea of this growth, in 1910 (six years before the Migration began) there were an estimated 5,741 Black people living in Detroit.  By 1920 that number increased to over 40,000, and this was just the opening act.  In the summer of 1922 it was estimated that 3,500 immigrated per month.  The overwhelming majority were poor and could only be hired (if they could find a job) as unskilled labor or domestic help.  Also, these migrants moved into and lived very segregated lives.  So, I believe that this notation on the back was because frankly my Grandma most likely had never seen a couple like this before.  If you think about it this makes sense.  Not only did they have a car, but it was a nice one, they were out “touring” in an area that was predominately (if not entirely) White, and they were from New York (many many years before you could hop on an interstate and drive far from home).  All facts that made this couple stand out and worth taking note. 

1 year ago  10 notes View high resolution

My Aunt told me that this was the very first photo of my Grandma Gen & Grandpa Pete taken together.  They were dating and it most likely would have been at the very end of the 1920s in Detroit.  I don’t know where they were, but I do have one other shot at this same location with a baby sitting on that pillow (which will be posted later).   I love this shot.  It is strangely surrealistic to look at a photo of my Grandparents when they were both much younger than I am now, yet both are long gone.  As a matter of fact, I sadly never had the chance to meet my Grandfathers because they both passed before I was born.  Not to sound maudlin, but in that sense the photo has an added feeling of a reality that is just out of ones grasp. 

My Aunt told me that this was the very first photo of my Grandma Gen & Grandpa Pete taken together.  They were dating and it most likely would have been at the very end of the 1920s in Detroit.  I don’t know where they were, but I do have one other shot at this same location with a baby sitting on that pillow (which will be posted later).  

I love this shot.  It is strangely surrealistic to look at a photo of my Grandparents when they were both much younger than I am now, yet both are long gone.  As a matter of fact, I sadly never had the chance to meet my Grandfathers because they both passed before I was born.  Not to sound maudlin, but in that sense the photo has an added feeling of a reality that is just out of ones grasp. 

1 year ago  8 notes View high resolution

People (and apparently many politicians) have some notions about history that are honestly a bit off.  A common misbelief was that the youth of the 1950s were the first to truly embrace the car as their own.  Pop culture productions like Grease, Happy Days, and American Graffiti were a strong catalyst of this theory.  I submit this photo as evidence to the contrary.  My Grandma was born in 1906, three years before the first mile of paved road was put down.  This happened in Detroit on Woodward Avenue as a test, which of course was a great success.  By the time she was 18 there was already the first paved highway and it too was in Detroit (connected to Pontiac).  This meant that her generations’ “coming of age” was the first to be able to realize the potential of the auto, and according to her photos they took full advantage of this gift.  They wasted no time incorporating the car into their lives, so much so that it quite often appears with them in their photos.  This is the group that not only embraced car culture, they created it.  Everything we now take for granted about dating and simply getting away was first field-tested by the kids of the 1920s.  So next time you hear someone yammering on about how great the youth of the 1950s were, you can feel smug knowing that they are off by about 30 years. 

People (and apparently many politicians) have some notions about history that are honestly a bit off.  A common misbelief was that the youth of the 1950s were the first to truly embrace the car as their own.  Pop culture productions like Grease, Happy Days, and American Graffiti were a strong catalyst of this theory.  I submit this photo as evidence to the contrary. 

My Grandma was born in 1906, three years before the first mile of paved road was put down.  This happened in Detroit on Woodward Avenue as a test, which of course was a great success.  By the time she was 18 there was already the first paved highway and it too was in Detroit (connected to Pontiac).  This meant that her generations’ “coming of age” was the first to be able to realize the potential of the auto, and according to her photos they took full advantage of this gift.  They wasted no time incorporating the car into their lives, so much so that it quite often appears with them in their photos.  This is the group that not only embraced car culture, they created it.  Everything we now take for granted about dating and simply getting away was first field-tested by the kids of the 1920s. 

So next time you hear someone yammering on about how great the youth of the 1950s were, you can feel smug knowing that they are off by about 30 years. 

1 year ago  8 notes View high resolution

I don’t know where this was taken.  From what I know about where their family house was at this time it doesn’t look like it was shot from there.  So… Once again, your guess is as good as mine. I do like the photo, even though it is somewhat blurry and overexposed.  And apparently my Grandma liked it as well because she kept it.  I wish I could see the name of the diner on the corner. That might have helped me narrow down this location.  There also appears to be a little park across the street, which might be the same park she shot some other photos in like this one.  Wherever it was the shot does give the viewer a nice feel of what an average street corner looked like over 80 years ago. 

I don’t know where this was taken.  From what I know about where their family house was at this time it doesn’t look like it was shot from there.  So… Once again, your guess is as good as mine.

I do like the photo, even though it is somewhat blurry and overexposed.  And apparently my Grandma liked it as well because she kept it.  I wish I could see the name of the diner on the corner. That might have helped me narrow down this location.  There also appears to be a little park across the street, which might be the same park she shot some other photos in like this one.  Wherever it was the shot does give the viewer a nice feel of what an average street corner looked like over 80 years ago. 

1 year ago  7 notes View high resolution

This is what summer is all about.  Through most of my 20s and 30s I too owned a convertible, and I can tell you that not much beats this scene right here: a warm summer’s day, top down, date in the seat next to you, and a gathering of friends.  This photo exemplifies my unabashed love of summer.  One thing I hadn’t noticed until today is the guy isn’t driving, making this photo a good reminder of the changes for women that were taking place.  The 19th Amendment had only been ratified for about a decade to give you an idea of how things were evolving.  So while the modern eye may see her in the driver’s seat and think “so what,” you have to take it a step further and see that this was probably the first generation to also think “so what.”  One other note, this car didn’t have power steering (not available until the 50s), that means that even though this was a small car it still took some oomph to turn that wheel.  With all of this in mind it really gives one a good sense of respect for that generation. 

This is what summer is all about.  Through most of my 20s and 30s I too owned a convertible, and I can tell you that not much beats this scene right here: a warm summer’s day, top down, date in the seat next to you, and a gathering of friends.  This photo exemplifies my unabashed love of summer. 

One thing I hadn’t noticed until today is the guy isn’t driving, making this photo a good reminder of the changes for women that were taking place.  The 19th Amendment had only been ratified for about a decade to give you an idea of how things were evolving.  So while the modern eye may see her in the driver’s seat and think “so what,” you have to take it a step further and see that this was probably the first generation to also think “so what.”  One other note, this car didn’t have power steering (not available until the 50s), that means that even though this was a small car it still took some oomph to turn that wheel.  With all of this in mind it really gives one a good sense of respect for that generation. 

1 year ago  9 notes View high resolution

This is what it looked like 84 years ago today in Detroit.  It was June 12, 1927 and my Grandma must have had a few friends over to celebrate her 21st birthday.  Of course today your 21st birthday means a bit more than it did back then, especially when you consider that this was shot in the midst of Prohibition.  But still it meant enough for her to keep this photograph long enough for me to find it many decades later. 

This is what it looked like 84 years ago today in Detroit.  It was June 12, 1927 and my Grandma must have had a few friends over to celebrate her 21st birthday.  Of course today your 21st birthday means a bit more than it did back then, especially when you consider that this was shot in the midst of Prohibition.  But still it meant enough for her to keep this photograph long enough for me to find it many decades later. 

1 year ago  6 notes View high resolution

The last of three of this series of the girls going out (the two others were posted just before this one).  I’m pretty sure the name of the first person in that very cool Art Deco looking dress is Sophie, and I’m positive that the next person is my Grandma, and then the last person was another of her best friends Melva (who appears in many of my Grandma’s photos).  In two of this set they are posed with this car (that I can’t identify) which shows how important the automobile had quickly become to this generation.  The other thing that strikes me is how much things really don’t change.  Yes yes, the car and the clothes are very different, but other than that this photo could just as easily been shot by three 20 somethings yesterday.   Reminds me of the saying “the more things change the more they stay the same.”

The last of three of this series of the girls going out (the two others were posted just before this one).  I’m pretty sure the name of the first person in that very cool Art Deco looking dress is Sophie, and I’m positive that the next person is my Grandma, and then the last person was another of her best friends Melva (who appears in many of my Grandma’s photos).  In two of this set they are posed with this car (that I can’t identify) which shows how important the automobile had quickly become to this generation.  The other thing that strikes me is how much things really don’t change.  Yes yes, the car and the clothes are very different, but other than that this photo could just as easily been shot by three 20 somethings yesterday.  

Reminds me of the saying “the more things change the more they stay the same.”

2 years ago  11 notes View high resolution

On the back it states “This is our house.” Now I can’t tell for certain if that was written by my Grandma, but I’m going to guess yes. If that is the case, then this very well could have been their family farm that they lived on for a few years. See, her father tried his hand at many jobs (steel mill laborer, farmer, movie theatre operator, and probably more), and while I knew of this one I never knew for sure when it fell in their timeline. That is until I recently discovered their listing in the 1920 census. It has them living on a farm in Romulus, Michigan, which is now where the Detroit airport is located. My cousin remembered that this is where the farm was and where it sat is now in the middle of some subdivision. 

On the back it states “This is our house.” Now I can’t tell for certain if that was written by my Grandma, but I’m going to guess yes. If that is the case, then this very well could have been their family farm that they lived on for a few years. See, her father tried his hand at many jobs (steel mill laborer, farmer, movie theatre operator, and probably more), and while I knew of this one I never knew for sure when it fell in their timeline. That is until I recently discovered their listing in the 1920 census. It has them living on a farm in Romulus, Michigan, which is now where the Detroit airport is located. My cousin remembered that this is where the farm was and where it sat is now in the middle of some subdivision. 

These summer vacation shots appear to be taken at the same place as the previous posting. I had no idea where it was shot, that is until I stumbled upon a later photo that has those cottages in it as well. On the back it’s marked Stony Point, Michigan, which is just south of Detroit on the shores of Lake Erie. 

Also, these photos are another fine example of why I love summer. This just looks like a grand time out. 

I’ve been sending these around to the family in an attempt to figure out who the gent was in these photos, but alas no luck. The back of one mentions a “long letter” that they were sent with, but of course that letter is long gone. The only other possible clue is the fact that this guy appears to know how to develop and print his own shots since they were “not very dry” when he sent them out. That makes these even more interesting. Sadly, this photographer’s name is most likely lost to the ages. 

This is my Grand Uncle (though we would have called him a Great Uncle) John Zabowski. He spent his entire adult life working on ships in the Great Lakes, most of which was for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company. I even managed to inherit this cool old pocket knife he received from the company. During The War he was a Merchant Marine, and if you’ve frequented this site you’ve probably seen shot of him in uniform like this one of him and two of his brothers in front of the Michigan Central train station in Detroit.  As for this picture I sadly don’t have any background on it. What I can tell is that he looks really young, and probably was early in his career. (He eventually became a Chief Engineer.) I hadn’t realized this was shot on a ship until after I scanned it (look to the lower right of the photo and you can see you are on the deck), which helped my identify him as my Uncle. As for when it was shot, well he was born in 1912, and he appears to be in his early 20s. So let’s say between 1922 to 1926. 

This is my Grand Uncle (though we would have called him a Great Uncle) John Zabowski. He spent his entire adult life working on ships in the Great Lakes, most of which was for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company. I even managed to inherit this cool old pocket knife he received from the company. During The War he was a Merchant Marine, and if you’ve frequented this site you’ve probably seen shot of him in uniform like this one of him and two of his brothers in front of the Michigan Central train station in Detroit. 

As for this picture I sadly don’t have any background on it. What I can tell is that he looks really young, and probably was early in his career. (He eventually became a Chief Engineer.) I hadn’t realized this was shot on a ship until after I scanned it (look to the lower right of the photo and you can see you are on the deck), which helped my identify him as my Uncle. As for when it was shot, well he was born in 1912, and he appears to be in his early 20s. So let’s say between 1922 to 1926. 

It’s rather apparent that these two photos were taken one right after the other. Not only do they have the same setting, but they also have the same printers mark on the back. As a matter of fact it appears that these two were from the same roll of film as the previous two photos I posted. (I’ve included a scan of the back of the second photo so that you can see the printer’s mark that I often reference.)

It looks like my Grandma Gen is in the first shot, sitting right in the middle. On her left (in the dark dress) is Melva Mazuka and on the other side is Tillie Czapka (which is also a Polish word for hat). What’s also nice is that she noted on the back of the second photo the location, date, and the names of those in the image. (That makes the person in the middle on the second image Sophia Doppka.) That would mean my Grandma 17 when these were taken. As for the little boy in the background, well I can only guess. Most likely it was one of my Grandma’s (or one of her friend’s) younger brothers. 

This was my Uncle John Zabowski (one of my Grandma’s brothers) with his wife Madeline (DeMars) taken outside of her parent’s home in Fair Haven, Michigan. It appears to have been taken at the same time as this other photo of him I posted back in November. These photos were taken in June of 1943 and I would guess that he was on leave at that time. (The uniform he is wearing is of the U.S. Merchant Marine.) My Grandma wrote on the back her mother’s name, so I’m guessing she had planned on giving her this copy but never got around to it.  John spent his entire adult life on the water. While I don’t know what his service record was like, I can tell you that he spent his peacetime on the Great Lakes. He ended up becoming a Chief Engineer on an ore boat for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company. Sadly, I never got to meet him; he was killed by a drunk driver 8 months before I was born. 

This was my Uncle John Zabowski (one of my Grandma’s brothers) with his wife Madeline (DeMars) taken outside of her parent’s home in Fair Haven, Michigan. It appears to have been taken at the same time as this other photo of him I posted back in November. These photos were taken in June of 1943 and I would guess that he was on leave at that time. (The uniform he is wearing is of the U.S. Merchant Marine.) My Grandma wrote on the back her mother’s name, so I’m guessing she had planned on giving her this copy but never got around to it. 

John spent his entire adult life on the water. While I don’t know what his service record was like, I can tell you that he spent his peacetime on the Great Lakes. He ended up becoming a Chief Engineer on an ore boat for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company. Sadly, I never got to meet him; he was killed by a drunk driver 8 months before I was born. 

This was my Uncle John Zabowski taken in front of his home in Fair Haven (off of Lake St. Clair on Anchor Bay) in Michigan.  The date on back dates this as June of 1943 so I’m going to assume he was on leave from The War.  If the uniform hat looks a bit odd to you that is because it’s one of the lesser known branches of service - The United States Merchant Marine.   The US Merchant Marine, in short, is in charge of all transport of goods and men at times of war.  While at war they are uniformed and become an auxiliary of the US Navy.  Many Merchant Marines were lost in WWII (along with other wars) but weren’t recognized by the Government as Veterans until the 1980s.  I have no idea as to why it took so long for them to receive those benefits.  If you look at their overall service record you can see that it is well deserved. 

This was my Uncle John Zabowski taken in front of his home in Fair Haven (off of Lake St. Clair on Anchor Bay) in Michigan.  The date on back dates this as June of 1943 so I’m going to assume he was on leave from The War.  If the uniform hat looks a bit odd to you that is because it’s one of the lesser known branches of service - The United States Merchant Marine.  

The US Merchant Marine, in short, is in charge of all transport of goods and men at times of war.  While at war they are uniformed and become an auxiliary of the US Navy.  Many Merchant Marines were lost in WWII (along with other wars) but weren’t recognized by the Government as Veterans until the 1980s.  I have no idea as to why it took so long for them to receive those benefits.  If you look at their overall service record you can see that it is well deserved. 

This photo is interesting for two reasons.  First of which is that it is a really cool shot.  I like this composition from the fender and light of the car the camera is in, to the lines of the curve of the road, to the reflection of the trees in the hood.  Overall this is one of my favorites. The other interesting aspect of this photo is what is printed on back: “Aug. (19)29 – Belle Isle – N.Y. colored couple in highly polished Ford Roadster.” Now I never heard my Grandma say something that could in the most broad of terms be even considered slightly racist, and if you had ever met her you would know that she just simply wasn’t that type.  So then why did she mention the color of the couple on the back?  If you look at the Great Migration and Detroit it might give you an idea of why she found it worth noting. The Great Migration affected Detroit more than any other Northern industrial city.  To give you an idea of this growth, in 1910 (six years before the Migration began) there were an estimated 5,741 Black people living in Detroit.  By 1920 that number increased to over 40,000, and this was just the opening act.  In the summer of 1922 it was estimated that 3,500 immigrated per month.  The overwhelming majority were poor and could only be hired (if they could find a job) as unskilled labor or domestic help.  Also, these migrants moved into and lived very segregated lives.  So, I believe that this notation on the back was because frankly my Grandma most likely had never seen a couple like this before.  If you think about it this makes sense.  Not only did they have a car, but it was a nice one, they were out “touring” in an area that was predominately (if not entirely) White, and they were from New York (many many years before you could hop on an interstate and drive far from home).  All facts that made this couple stand out and worth taking note. 

This photo is interesting for two reasons.  First of which is that it is a really cool shot.  I like this composition from the fender and light of the car the camera is in, to the lines of the curve of the road, to the reflection of the trees in the hood.  Overall this is one of my favorites.

The other interesting aspect of this photo is what is printed on back: “Aug. (19)29 – Belle Isle – N.Y. colored couple in highly polished Ford Roadster.” Now I never heard my Grandma say something that could in the most broad of terms be even considered slightly racist, and if you had ever met her you would know that she just simply wasn’t that type.  So then why did she mention the color of the couple on the back?  If you look at the Great Migration and Detroit it might give you an idea of why she found it worth noting.

The Great Migration affected Detroit more than any other Northern industrial city.  To give you an idea of this growth, in 1910 (six years before the Migration began) there were an estimated 5,741 Black people living in Detroit.  By 1920 that number increased to over 40,000, and this was just the opening act.  In the summer of 1922 it was estimated that 3,500 immigrated per month.  The overwhelming majority were poor and could only be hired (if they could find a job) as unskilled labor or domestic help.  Also, these migrants moved into and lived very segregated lives.  So, I believe that this notation on the back was because frankly my Grandma most likely had never seen a couple like this before.  If you think about it this makes sense.  Not only did they have a car, but it was a nice one, they were out “touring” in an area that was predominately (if not entirely) White, and they were from New York (many many years before you could hop on an interstate and drive far from home).  All facts that made this couple stand out and worth taking note. 

My Aunt told me that this was the very first photo of my Grandma Gen & Grandpa Pete taken together.  They were dating and it most likely would have been at the very end of the 1920s in Detroit.  I don’t know where they were, but I do have one other shot at this same location with a baby sitting on that pillow (which will be posted later).   I love this shot.  It is strangely surrealistic to look at a photo of my Grandparents when they were both much younger than I am now, yet both are long gone.  As a matter of fact, I sadly never had the chance to meet my Grandfathers because they both passed before I was born.  Not to sound maudlin, but in that sense the photo has an added feeling of a reality that is just out of ones grasp. 

My Aunt told me that this was the very first photo of my Grandma Gen & Grandpa Pete taken together.  They were dating and it most likely would have been at the very end of the 1920s in Detroit.  I don’t know where they were, but I do have one other shot at this same location with a baby sitting on that pillow (which will be posted later).  

I love this shot.  It is strangely surrealistic to look at a photo of my Grandparents when they were both much younger than I am now, yet both are long gone.  As a matter of fact, I sadly never had the chance to meet my Grandfathers because they both passed before I was born.  Not to sound maudlin, but in that sense the photo has an added feeling of a reality that is just out of ones grasp. 

People (and apparently many politicians) have some notions about history that are honestly a bit off.  A common misbelief was that the youth of the 1950s were the first to truly embrace the car as their own.  Pop culture productions like Grease, Happy Days, and American Graffiti were a strong catalyst of this theory.  I submit this photo as evidence to the contrary.  My Grandma was born in 1906, three years before the first mile of paved road was put down.  This happened in Detroit on Woodward Avenue as a test, which of course was a great success.  By the time she was 18 there was already the first paved highway and it too was in Detroit (connected to Pontiac).  This meant that her generations’ “coming of age” was the first to be able to realize the potential of the auto, and according to her photos they took full advantage of this gift.  They wasted no time incorporating the car into their lives, so much so that it quite often appears with them in their photos.  This is the group that not only embraced car culture, they created it.  Everything we now take for granted about dating and simply getting away was first field-tested by the kids of the 1920s.  So next time you hear someone yammering on about how great the youth of the 1950s were, you can feel smug knowing that they are off by about 30 years. 

People (and apparently many politicians) have some notions about history that are honestly a bit off.  A common misbelief was that the youth of the 1950s were the first to truly embrace the car as their own.  Pop culture productions like Grease, Happy Days, and American Graffiti were a strong catalyst of this theory.  I submit this photo as evidence to the contrary. 

My Grandma was born in 1906, three years before the first mile of paved road was put down.  This happened in Detroit on Woodward Avenue as a test, which of course was a great success.  By the time she was 18 there was already the first paved highway and it too was in Detroit (connected to Pontiac).  This meant that her generations’ “coming of age” was the first to be able to realize the potential of the auto, and according to her photos they took full advantage of this gift.  They wasted no time incorporating the car into their lives, so much so that it quite often appears with them in their photos.  This is the group that not only embraced car culture, they created it.  Everything we now take for granted about dating and simply getting away was first field-tested by the kids of the 1920s. 

So next time you hear someone yammering on about how great the youth of the 1950s were, you can feel smug knowing that they are off by about 30 years. 

I don’t know where this was taken.  From what I know about where their family house was at this time it doesn’t look like it was shot from there.  So… Once again, your guess is as good as mine. I do like the photo, even though it is somewhat blurry and overexposed.  And apparently my Grandma liked it as well because she kept it.  I wish I could see the name of the diner on the corner. That might have helped me narrow down this location.  There also appears to be a little park across the street, which might be the same park she shot some other photos in like this one.  Wherever it was the shot does give the viewer a nice feel of what an average street corner looked like over 80 years ago. 

I don’t know where this was taken.  From what I know about where their family house was at this time it doesn’t look like it was shot from there.  So… Once again, your guess is as good as mine.

I do like the photo, even though it is somewhat blurry and overexposed.  And apparently my Grandma liked it as well because she kept it.  I wish I could see the name of the diner on the corner. That might have helped me narrow down this location.  There also appears to be a little park across the street, which might be the same park she shot some other photos in like this one.  Wherever it was the shot does give the viewer a nice feel of what an average street corner looked like over 80 years ago. 

This is what summer is all about.  Through most of my 20s and 30s I too owned a convertible, and I can tell you that not much beats this scene right here: a warm summer’s day, top down, date in the seat next to you, and a gathering of friends.  This photo exemplifies my unabashed love of summer.  One thing I hadn’t noticed until today is the guy isn’t driving, making this photo a good reminder of the changes for women that were taking place.  The 19th Amendment had only been ratified for about a decade to give you an idea of how things were evolving.  So while the modern eye may see her in the driver’s seat and think “so what,” you have to take it a step further and see that this was probably the first generation to also think “so what.”  One other note, this car didn’t have power steering (not available until the 50s), that means that even though this was a small car it still took some oomph to turn that wheel.  With all of this in mind it really gives one a good sense of respect for that generation. 

This is what summer is all about.  Through most of my 20s and 30s I too owned a convertible, and I can tell you that not much beats this scene right here: a warm summer’s day, top down, date in the seat next to you, and a gathering of friends.  This photo exemplifies my unabashed love of summer. 

One thing I hadn’t noticed until today is the guy isn’t driving, making this photo a good reminder of the changes for women that were taking place.  The 19th Amendment had only been ratified for about a decade to give you an idea of how things were evolving.  So while the modern eye may see her in the driver’s seat and think “so what,” you have to take it a step further and see that this was probably the first generation to also think “so what.”  One other note, this car didn’t have power steering (not available until the 50s), that means that even though this was a small car it still took some oomph to turn that wheel.  With all of this in mind it really gives one a good sense of respect for that generation. 

This is what it looked like 84 years ago today in Detroit.  It was June 12, 1927 and my Grandma must have had a few friends over to celebrate her 21st birthday.  Of course today your 21st birthday means a bit more than it did back then, especially when you consider that this was shot in the midst of Prohibition.  But still it meant enough for her to keep this photograph long enough for me to find it many decades later. 

This is what it looked like 84 years ago today in Detroit.  It was June 12, 1927 and my Grandma must have had a few friends over to celebrate her 21st birthday.  Of course today your 21st birthday means a bit more than it did back then, especially when you consider that this was shot in the midst of Prohibition.  But still it meant enough for her to keep this photograph long enough for me to find it many decades later. 

The last of three of this series of the girls going out (the two others were posted just before this one).  I’m pretty sure the name of the first person in that very cool Art Deco looking dress is Sophie, and I’m positive that the next person is my Grandma, and then the last person was another of her best friends Melva (who appears in many of my Grandma’s photos).  In two of this set they are posed with this car (that I can’t identify) which shows how important the automobile had quickly become to this generation.  The other thing that strikes me is how much things really don’t change.  Yes yes, the car and the clothes are very different, but other than that this photo could just as easily been shot by three 20 somethings yesterday.   Reminds me of the saying “the more things change the more they stay the same.”

The last of three of this series of the girls going out (the two others were posted just before this one).  I’m pretty sure the name of the first person in that very cool Art Deco looking dress is Sophie, and I’m positive that the next person is my Grandma, and then the last person was another of her best friends Melva (who appears in many of my Grandma’s photos).  In two of this set they are posed with this car (that I can’t identify) which shows how important the automobile had quickly become to this generation.  The other thing that strikes me is how much things really don’t change.  Yes yes, the car and the clothes are very different, but other than that this photo could just as easily been shot by three 20 somethings yesterday.  

Reminds me of the saying “the more things change the more they stay the same.”

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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