Re: Letter to Editor
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Forum Ambassador
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John, Hundreds of us made that journey, from Belle Isle (not island-we were settled by the French, and there is a lot of French lexicon in Detroit to this day) to the Packard plant via East Grand Boulevard, over 100 Packards in a very slow moving line on a stifling hot day.
I thought the issue was terrific. There is a lot that John McArthur didn't say in the last article, bringing us up to the present, but he is an attorney, And I think he knows what to say and what not to say. The plant remained in such a time warp into the 1980s and 1990s, and with the proving grounds it seemed like there were angels looking out for Packard's touchstones. That all changed in a short few years, thank goodness the proving grounds group acted when they did and saved that 13 acre compound for us to visit and enjoy, entertain and educate.
Posted on: 2010/2/15 15:03
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Re: Letter to Editor
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Forum Ambassador
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John, beautifully written, your letter to Stuart says it better than I ever could have! I couldn't put that issue down until I had finished, tears nearly welling up a couple of times. I must say I've enjoyed the recent approach of multiple articles on a common theme in each individual issue.
I can't resist pitching it one more time, guys, if we want to see the Packard Proving Grounds survive and grow, we need to continue to support it with contributions.
Posted on: 2010/2/15 15:10
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Re: Letter to Editor
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Home away from home
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John,
I was also fascinated by the articles. I was born and raised in Detroit. My formative years were the 1960's and 70's. The drive down the Boulevard was also my favorite as well as the 1940 map. It can choke you up when you realize what the city once was and what it has become. Our family still lives there and while times are hard it is not post apocalyptic. There are still people that take care of their homes and raise their kids as well as they can. Many factors exist as to why this once great city has reached its current depths. A book I am reading, The Origins Of The Urban Crisis by Thomas Sugrue, delves into a lot of it. Bottom line is that the seeds were planted some 60 years ago. It is an interesting read Sorry to digress. I will be reading this issue of TPC over several times I am sure. I was at the 1982 national that toured the plant and I have visited small companies doing business there in the late 80's early 90's as part of my job. Pity it can't be toured again. Lastly, the article Fire At The Packard Plant was particulary interesting. I was born February 5, 1959 and this fire occured on February 9th. I was probably just coming home from the hospital !
Posted on: 2010/2/15 15:11
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Re: Letter to Editor
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John, Being in Canada I haven't received the Winter 2009 Cormorant yet but now I will await it with great expectation! As a youngster I remember Detroit in the late 1940's and early 50's vividly since my father and grandfather (who worked for several years in the 1920's at the prestigious Detroit Athletic Club of which Henry Joy was a prominent member)often took me "across the river" to picnic at Belle Isle or catch the Boblo Island boat for a journey down the river. It was an enchanting and safe place for a kid in those years. I can't recall ever visiting the Packard plant in operation but I do remember the Packard display at the Detroit Auto Shows especially the introduction of the 1955's and the 25000 mile Patrician.
Posted on: 2010/2/15 16:05
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Dave |
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Re: Letter to Editor
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Home away from home
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On reflection, it is amazing that the Plant existed for as long as it did in essentially its' original form. So many have not.
Posted on: 2010/2/15 20:59
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Re: Letter to Editor
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Desi, my friend, you and I go back a long way with MCP, now I find out that you and I (and govenor Grandholm) were born on the exact same day! February 5th 1959!
Happy Birthday, hope to see you again. P.S. I was born at Holy Cross on the East side. My parents must have taken their passports to go to the east side, we were westsiders (NW Detroit)
Posted on: 2010/2/15 23:00
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Re: Letter to Editor
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Home away from home
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What a coincidence ! Happy birthday to you too. I was born at Women's Hospital (now Hutzel). We were eastsiders but moved to the NW side (Fenkel & Schaffer area)in 1968. Then back to the NE side in 1975. So I got a free pass on either side of Woodward
Posted on: 2010/2/16 10:16
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Re: Letter to Editor
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Home away from home
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Stuart does a great job with the Cormorant, and deserves the accolades. Well done!!
Posted on: 2010/2/17 14:01
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West Peterson
1940 Packard 1808 w/Factory Air 1947 Chrysler Town and Country sedan 1970 Camaro RS packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=4307&forum=10 aaca.org/ |
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Re: Letter to Editor
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Home away from home
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Quote:
Dave Do you have any good first-hand stories about some of those prominent members?
Posted on: 2010/2/17 15:31
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West Peterson
1940 Packard 1808 w/Factory Air 1947 Chrysler Town and Country sedan 1970 Camaro RS packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=4307&forum=10 aaca.org/ |
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