Corktown Historical Society

1940’s Corktown on 6th street 🏠
A dapper young Alfred Herrada stands outside of his 6th street home (before the Lodge freeway project construction).

This wonderful photograph was shared with us by Alfred’s daughter Elana. Thank you so much for sharing this glimpse into our neighborhood’s past.

Happy Father’s Day to all the Father’s and one’s we will always remember.

Happy Father's Day! ⚾️
Corktown 1929, this photograph shows two Detroit Tigers, Charles "Boss" Schmidt and his son Charles Schmidt Jr.

"After the 1929 collegiate baseball season, Schmidt Jr. and the university baseball team traveled to Japan as part of a baseball tour. When he returned, he received word from his father to report to the Detroit Tigers. His father was a pitching coach with Detroit at the time and that connection likely helped him earn a tryout with the team. Despite his strong physique and his father's solid reputation, the Tigers decided Charles Jr. needed minor league experience. As a result, Schmidt was sent to Toronto of the International League. He played one game with Toronto in 1929 before he was released in January during the offseason."

Photo courtesy Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library.

History courtesy The Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia.

Happy Memorial Day 🇺🇸

Detroit in 1891, 297 Michigan Avenue decorated with American flags and bunting for the G.A.R.’s (Grand Army of the Republic) 25th National Encampment, with people walking on the sidewalk.

The G.A.R. became among the first organized advocacy groups in American politics, accomplishing many notable contributions including helping to make Memorial Day a national holiday.

Photo courtesy Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library.

Wishing you wonderful Mother's day from Corktown Detroit! 💐 💖

We always love when people share their family photographs and histories from Corktown.

This wonderful 1970’s photograph submitted by Milete Jimenez Carmen of her mother and sister at their Corktown home on Wabash & Marantette streets.

If you have any photographs or histories of Corktown, North Corktown, and Southwest Detroit you would like to add to our archives please send us a direct message! 💐

Did you know that the oldest family farm in Michigan is only TWO DAYS younger than the United States of America itself?

That’s right…while the United States was declaring independence from Great Britain, brothers William and Alexander Macomb—Irish-born fur traders and land speculators—were purchasing Grosse Ile from the Potawatomi. Michigan’s oldest family-owned farm, Westcroft (meaning West Farm) Gardens, was founded there on July 6, 1776. It is currently owned by seventh generation Macomb family descendants and operated by the eighth generation. Apples, cherries, grapes, peaches, and pears were the first crops produced at Westcroft Gardens, and some livestock was raised on the farm as well. The most lucrative crop was hay, which was shipped to Detroit to feed work horses in the 1800s and early 1900s.

The Michigan Centennial Farm program recognizes farms that have remained in the same family for 100 years or more and highlights the farm’s contributions to the state. Learn all about it at https://hsmichigan.org/awards/michigan-centennial-farmr-program

Detroit Pistons ❤️💙🏢

You know the Pistons won again ❤️ 💙

Happy Easter! 🪺🌷🐇
Wishing you all the happiness for a wonderful Easter, with love from the all of us in Corktown Detroit.

Corktown’s Detroit Tigers on opening day April 13th 1911. ⚾️

Bennett Park (prior to Navin Field) season opener Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox. Detroit Tiger, Davy Jones at bat on opening day. Chicago White Sox catcher Billy Sullivan with umpire Perrine behind. The game was played during snow storm."

The Tigers beat the White Sox, 4–2.

Image courtesy Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library.

Let’s go Tigers!!! 🐅

🐯⚾️