Fitzgerald: Geography of a Revolution

Chapter III: Detroit Envelops Fitzgerald

Chapter III: Detroit Envelops Sub-division of the land for urban home conFitzgerald (1925-1960) struction started in earnest in the mid-twenties and was fairly well completed by 1929. Yet, urbanization was uneven and for a few years many open spaces existed, especially west of Wyoming , providing play space for the young. Other undivided lands were commercial; a special strip around Marygrove College on the Marygrove and Greenlawn sides of the campus was set aside in 1922 by the College in speculation of higher values to come. Considering the liberal policies of the College in the sixties, it is interesting that it originally advertised the lots as in a "highly restricted" neighborhood. The last of the farm people on the lots of the campus-to-be was Williams, who hunted and skinned small game, especially skunks, as mentioned earlier. 45 The Suburban Edge In 1931, Fitzgerald had changed a lot from the farm days, and other changes would soon take place as well. 111-1 1931. Suburban Fitzgerald. Facing east, the photograph looks toward the city. Marygrove College with its woods extending close to Fitzgerald School is clearly seen. On the other side ot the school campuses are two additional dark areas ot trees. The area furthest foreground is the remnants of the wood lot that stood behind the Fuersts' farm near Puritan. The area furthest in the background adjoins Livernois; it was the ten acres pastured by the Holmans and known as "Holman's Woods." The influence of Detroit's original French street pattern is seen in the diagonal line that eventually intersects McNichols. Downtown is off the picture, to the right horizon, but Belle Isle is dimly seen in the Detroit River. Most of Fitzgerald's features are established, including the University of Detroit and the golf courses beyond, but the commercial property is underdeveloped, especially along Wyoming in the foreground. These northwest suburbs, nearly a semi-rural region, would in little more than thirty years be part of the inner city. 46 111-2 1931. Suburban Fitzgerald. Facing northwest, the photograph looks toward the countryside. The intersection in the center foreground is Puritan and Wyoming. The conspicuous swath of new road is the beginning of what eventually became the expressway. "Old Jake" Phillips, as a working man, turned the first shovel of non-ceremonial dirt tor this road, the last built in the neighborhood. The woods in the left center are the back acres of the Fred Siterlet farm which ran over to Meyer's Road. Following Meyer's Road across the future expressway and then across the intersection of Curtis (the earlier Lover's Lane), the Fred Schulze farm can be seen almost intact. The woods immediately to the north of the Schulze's farm is where the Klan held mass rallies in the 1920's. Fred Siterlet describes the place and the events: "At the southest corner of Seven Mile Road and Meyer's Ftoad was a sand knoll. We used to call that place Hungry Hill because of the fine red sand. Nothing would grow on the place. It was used by the Ku Klux Klan as a parade ground. There was an old farm building on the property that they used as a dressing place, to put on their robes. 47 111-3 This map illustrates the juxtaposition ol farm and town within Fitzgerald. About halt ol the region has given way to subdivision; their roads are named and houses numbered. The other half remains farm settlements. The City of Detroit annexed the Fitzgerald portion of Greenfield Township in 1922 and erected the first units of the Ella Fitzgerald Elementary School in 1925, and of the Post Junior High School in 1931. Post was racially integrated from the start since it served the predominantly Negro elementary school, Higginbotham. True to the pioneer tradition in the neighborhood, these children walked over three miles to school. At least one of Post's former students from Higginbotham, James Garrett, lives in Fitzgerald today. Garrett, a Negro successful in society, business and city government, had gone to Post in the sub-division days; so had Doris Grozner,a white housewife who lived south of Fitzgerald, but who attended Post and was a member of its first graduating class. Garrett was one year behind her, but they knew each other. Both Doris Grozner and Garrett have been on the Executive Board of the Fitzgerald Community...