Hello Dave,
Congratulations on your 80th birthday - hope I make it that far. Also hope that things are going well in Cresskill and you get your vaccine soon.

Received my 1st vaccination last Friday and can't tell you how much it improved my outlook.

Hang in there.

Best, --Roger--

Hello to One and All,

Hope everyone was able to find some joy in the Covid suppressed holiday. For you viewing pleasure I thought I would post some images the wife and I took on Christmas Eve touring a local Amish community.

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Techincally this photo was not taken in Detroit, but rather at the Packard Proving Grounds in Utica (now Shelby Twp,) Michigan. This is but one of a series of photos taken by LIFE magazine photographers on Sept 1, 1940 for an introduction party for the 1941 models.

Party was a huge affair drawing dealers from around the country. A huge tent, stage and bleachers were constructed to hold the crowd. Notice the number of buses used to bring the visitors from the plant in Detroit.

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Sorry, but the forum won't let me post a PDF file of the article from Crain's Detroit Business - says "detecting a foreign object" or something like that.

Here are links to the two Detroit Newspapers.

Detroit News: Grand plan to redevelop Packard plant is scrapped; eyesore goes back on market
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2020/10/29/grand-plan-redevelop-packard-plant-ruins-in-detroit-scrapped/6076466002/

Detroit Free Press: Packard Plant owner switching gears from rehab to demolition
https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/2020/10/29/packard-plant-demolition/6077326002/

Hello Leeedy,

Sorry about the link not working. I'll fix that first thing in the morning. Worth reading the entire article.

--Roger--

Packard Plant owner makes U-turn on ambitious redevelopment vision; sweeping demolitions planned

The owner of the Packard Plant has placed the property up for sale or lease, throwing in the towel on his original ambitious but unrealized redevelopment plans for it.

Details here:
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/packard-plant-owner-makes-u-turn-ambitious-redevelopment-vision-sweeping-demolitions?utm_source=crain-s-breaking-news-alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20201029&utm_content=hero-readmore

You heard it here first.

So glad we are woring to save the Proving Grounds

--Roger--

Hello Packard Fans,

Here is the Youtube linkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oPvI3BjwMs

Have not seen it yet myself and I hope you enjoy it. Again, this was meant for a general audience and I wish I had more time to get into some details.

One of the reasons I did this was to experiment with Zoom or virtual tours. Would like to try out some regularly scheduled, 30-minute, virtual tours where the PPG could highlight individual artifacts in our collection and introduce you to some of our staff and volunteers.

I would appreciate your ideas and advice.

Best, --Roger--

Hello Gerry,

Yes, once I hear from the MotorCities National Heritage Area that it has been posted then I will post a link here.

If you don't have Zoom, then this is a good alternative to view it.

Best, --Roger--

Hello All,

The Packard Proving Grounds is a member of the MotorCities National Heritage Area - a partner with the National Park Service. This is a group of automobile related museums in and around southeastern Michigan.

They asked me to put together a PowerPoint presentation to share with the other museums in the heritage area. The date is Thursday, August 27 at noon. You will need to have ZOOM on your computer and make a FREE reservation here:https://www.motorcities.org/motorcities-at-home-series?fbclid=IwAR10pDQ_767Kf1D_2_HvdldBekwKcmDatA3V4hzK57RtfDMHSydkVCS1PDY

You don't need a camera or microphone on your computer - you can watch and listen if you so desire. The presentation will be recorded and available on YouTube at a later dateif you cannot make it tomorrow.

--Roger--

Nate & Keene Packard automobile dealership, Belmont Avenue and E Pike Street, Seattle, ca. 1908 Courtesy Paul Dorpat

https://www.historylink.org/File/20630