USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. I > Part 2
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CHAPTER LI
THE STORY OF A TITLE-A LOST DEED 1268
xix
CONTENTS
PART VIII MISCELLANEOUS
CHAPTER LII CITIZENS AND FAMILIES OF EARLY DETROIT
BY CLARENCE M. BURTON
DIRECTORY OF CADILLAC'S VILLAGE, 1701-1710-DETROIT RESIDENTS IN 1789-IN 1795-DETROIT IN 1820-THE PROMINENT FAMILIES AND NAMES OF THE DAY. 1314
CHAPTER LIII
AMUSEMENTS OF EARLIER DAYS IN DETROIT
1405
CHAPTER LIV
CEMETERIES OF DETROIT
1420
CHAPTER LV
GRISWOLD STREET. 1438
CHAPTER LVI
STATISTICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
GROWTH IN POPULATION AS SHOWN BY CENSUS REPORTS-PRESIDENTIAL VOTE SINCE 1836-PUBLIC OFFICIALS-GOVERNORS-MAYORS-CITY CLERKS-CITY TREASURERS-CITY CONTROLLERS-BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS-COUNTY CLERKS -REGISTERS OF DEEDS-SHERIFFS-COUNTY TREASURERS-PROBATE JUDGES- CIRCUIT COURT COMMISSIONERS-PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS-SURVEYORS- CORONERS-ASSESSORS-MUNICIPAL PROPERTY-TAX EXEMPT PROPERTY- FIRE OF 1703-GREAT FIRE OF JANUARY 1, 1842-EARLY CHRISTMAS DAYS IN OLD DETROIT-BUILDING COSTS-OLD HOTELS-EARLY MASONRY-EARLY ODD FELLOWS. 1503
Xx
CONTENTS
PART IX WAYNE COUNTY
CHAPTER LVII
EVOLUTION OF WAYNE COUNTY
UNITED STATES COUNTY SYSTEM COPIED FROM ENGLAND-ILLINOIS AND KENT COUNTIES-WINTHROP SARGENT'S PROCLAMATION-ERECTING WAYNE COUNTY -DISPLEASURE OF GOVERNOR ST. CLAIR- ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES- SELECTING A NAME-ACT OF MAY 7, 1800-OHIO ADMITTED-HARRISON'S PROCLAMATION- WAYNE COUNTY IN 1805-BOUNDARIES OF 1815-PROCLAMATION OF 1816- SUBSEQUENT CHANGES. 1546
CHAPTER LVIII TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES
TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT - WAYNE COUNTY TOWNSHIPS - BROWNSTOWN - CAN- TON-DEARBORN-ECORSE-GRATIOT - GREENFIELD - GROSSE ILE-GROSSE ILE BY C. M. BURTON- GROSSE POINTE-HAMTRAMCK-HURON-LIVONIA- MONGUAGON-NANKIN-NORTHVILLE - PLYMOUTH - REDFORD - ROMULUS -SPRINGWELLS-SUMPTER-TAYLOR-VAN BUREN-WAYNE COUNTY VILLAGES -BELLEVILLE-DEARBORN-DELRAY - ECORSE-ELOISE - FLAT ROCK- FORD CITY-GIBRALTER-HAMTRAMCK-HIGHLAND PARK-NEW BOSTON- NORTHVILLE-PLYMOUTH-REDFORD-RIVER ROUGE-ROCKWOOD-ROMULUS -TRENTON-WAYNE-WYANDOTTE-LIST OF MINOR VILLAGES-EXTINCT VIL- LAGES. 1559
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Portrait Clarence M. Burton
Opposite title
Cadillac Village in 1701. 73
Plan from Conveyances of Cadillac. 79
De Lery's Plan of Detroit, 1749. 99
Old "Moran" House, built about 1734 107
Detroit in 1763, from Bellin's Atlas of 1764.
115
Southeast Corner Farmer and John R Streets, House built about 1811.
127
Old Campau House, Erected in 1813
139
Old Hamtramck House in 1891
139
Early view of Woodward Avenue 147
Campus Martins, South from Woodward, 1894. 147
View of Detroit in 1796. 161
Detroit River Front of Jones and Cass Farms, 1819. 161
Detroit River from Windmill Point, 1838. 161
Ste. Anne's Street (Jefferson Ave.), in 1800. 171
Detroit in 1826, from Drawing by General Macomb 183
James May, Early Merchant and Trader 251
Solomon Sibley. 279
Original plan of Detroit, after fire of 1805 297
Mullett's map of Governor and Judge's plan, 1830. 301
S. W. Corner Griswold Street and Lafayette Boulevard, 1873. 307
St. Andrews Hall, 1882. 307
View from City Hall tower, Westward, about 1877 313
Eastside Woodward Avenue, about 1885. 313
Corner Michigan Avenue and Lafayette Boulevard in the '90s. 317
N. E. Corner Woodward and Campus Martius about 1881 317
Campus Martius in 1919. 323
Detroit Skyscrapers. 329
Vinton Building
335
Book Building 335
Real Estate Exchange 339
Majestic Building 339
Kresge Building
345
Recreation Building
345
Old State Capitol, later used as High School.
349
Municipal Court Building 349
Wayne County Building. 353
Old City Hall, Campus Martius, 1870. 357
Old City Hall and Surroundings in 1862. 357
Old and New City Halls 361
Removal from Old City Hall, in 1872 361
Old Post Office and U. S. Custom House 367
xxi
xxii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Excavation for old Post Office, Griswold aud Larned 367
Water Works Park. 375
Highland Park Railway, early '90s. 393
Detroit Railway Company. Opening day, 1895. 393
Municipal Building, Clinton and Raynor Streets, 1890.
399
Old Firemen's Hall, 1870. 403
Fire Headquarters, 1881. 403
Old Block House. 407
Old Jail, stood on the site of Public Library 407
Gratiot Avenue Police Station, 1874. 407
Police Courtroom, rear of jail 1870. 413
Old Detroit Jail. 413
Protestant Orphan Asylum, Jefferson Avenue, 1881 417
The First Industrial School Building in 1879 423
Second Industrial School Building, still standing 423
Dedication and Opening of Grand Boulevard 431
Old Belle Isle Casino 439
The Casino, Belle Isle, 1922. 439
Old Belle Isle Bridge, destroyed by fire. 449
Burning of Belle Isle Bridge. 449
First State Eleetion held in Detroit, 1837 465
Old Finney Hotel, built in 1853. 479
The Old Finney Barn 479
John Palmer homestead, built in 1823. 495
Residence of Gov. J. J. Bagley (site of Statler Hotel) 495
Old Sheley House, Woodward, near Gratiot, in 1867. 495
N. E. Corner Woodward and Jefferson Avenues, 1858.
499
Woodward Avenue, Grand River to Clifford, 1876. 499
East side of Washington Avenue, 1897. 503
503
Broadway Market
507
Old Market on Cadillac Square
507
David Whitney Building.
511
Site of David Whitney Building, 1881. 511
Southeast Corner Woodward Ave. and John R Street in 1883 517
North side of Michigan Ave., East of Griswold St., in 1891. 517
Newcomb-Endicott Company 521
Scotch Store, N. E. Corner Woodward and Jefferson Avenues. 521
Fyfe Building 525
N. W. Corner Woodward and Adams, in the '80s. 525
General Motors Building 531
Thomas Berry 539
Merrill Mills
539
Daniel Seotten 539
Christian HI. Buhl 539
Frederick Stearns & Company 547
Parke, Davis & Company. 547
Berry Brothers Plant. 553
Dodge Brothers Motor Car Company 553
Old Abbott Homestead, built in 1835.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
xxiii
Michigan Stove Company
559
Burroughs Adding Machine Company. 559
Packard Motor Car Company 567
Maxwell Motor Company.
567
Ford Motor Company.
576
Paige-Detroit Motor Car Company
585
Home of the Hudson Super-Six.
585 593
The Timken-Detroit Axle Company.
Main Factory of Hupp Motor Car Company.
593
The J. W. Murray Manufacturing Company
605
D. M. Ferry & Company
605
Penberthy Injector Company
611
Roberts Brass Works. .
611
George H. Hammond, Sr.
617
Simon J. Murphy
617
Alexander McGraw
617
Francis Palms
617
S. E. Corner Griswold and Congress, about 1881. 623
Site of Union Trust Building in early '90s. 623
Wayne County Savings Bank and Masonic Hall in the '90s 629
Michigan Exchange, cor. Jefferson and Shelby 629
637
Hiram Walker
637
John S. Newberry 637
Henry B. Ledyard 637
Old Russell House, site of First National Bank Building 646
Demolition of Pontchartrain Hotel, 1920. 646
Russell House in 1881 646
Pontchartrain Hotel. 647
New First National Bank Building, erected in 1921. 647
Wayne County Home and Savings Bank.
653
People's State Bank.
653
The National Bank of Commerce.
659
Peninsular State Bank.
665
City Hall and Dime Bank Building
665
Michigan Central Railroad Buildings in 1861
689
Michigan Central Terminal.
689
Michigan Central Depot, 1853-1883.
695
Michigan Central Depot Yard, about 1868.
695
David Bacon 715
First Free School Building, 1838-42 733
Central High School
733
Ruins of Detroit High School, burned 1893.
739
Old Detroit High School. 739
Original Cass School, about 1881 747 Bishop School, about 1881 747
Rev. John Monteith. 753
Old University Building, Bates Street, 1858. 759
Jesuit College (University of Detroit) about 1881. 765
Hugh MeMillan
xxiv
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
University of Detroit. 765
Detroit Female Seminary, built in 1834 771
German-American Seminary, 1882. 771
Old Catholic School Building on Gratiot Road, 1864. 781
Academy of Sacred Heart, about 1881 781
James E. Scripps 791
William E. Quinby
791
William H. Brearky
791
Richard S. Willis 791
Detroit Daily Post Building 801
Ruins of Detroit Tribune Building, 1873. 801
Free Press Building S09
Evening News Building
815
Journal Building
821
Evening News Building, about 1881
821
Detroit Public Library in 1881
839
New Detroit Public Library
839
Old Arsenal, built in 1816. 859
Fort Lernoult, location compared with present city plan 863
883
Old Pontiac Tree, in 1881
883
Henry Hamilton
911
Fort du Detroit in 1775.
921
View of Detroit in 1796, from Original painting in Paris.
959
Detroit, 1796. (Plan of town.)
971
Plan of Gov. William Hull in 1809
981
William Hull 991
Facsimile of Hull's First Letter to Broek 991
General Lewis Cass. 1001
Facsimile of Hull's Second Letter to Brock. 1015
William Evans drew this map during War of 1812 1025
Administering the Oath of Allegiance, 1861. 1073
Presentation of Colors to First Michigan Infantry, 1861. 1079
Meeting on site of City Hall, 1865, account of Lincoln's death. 1085
Old City Hall and site of present City Hall, 1091
Triumphal Arch, Woodward and Jefferson, August 27, 1862 1091
Unveiling of Soldiers' and Sailors' monument, April 2, 1872. 1101
House occupied by U. S. Grant, at 253 Fort Street, East. 1105
Honse occupied by U. S. Grant, at Corner Jefferson and Russell 1105
John R. Williams, First Mayor of Detroit.
1121
Judge J. V. Campbell 1121
Joseph Campau 1121
Judge Isaac Marston. 1131
Judge Thomas M. Cooley 1131
Judge James Witherell
1131
Judge Ross Wilkins 1131
Theodore Romeyn 1141
Alexander D. Fraser 1141
HIalmor II. Emmons 1141
Old Pontiac Tree,
XXV
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Charles C. Trowbridge
1141
Alfred Russell
1151
Charles I. Walker.
1151
Divie B. Duffield
1151
Joseph F. Marsac.
1167
Dr. Herman Kiefer
1167
Dr. Marshall Chapin. 1167
Providence Hospital
1175
Ford Hospital
1183
Harper Hospital
1183
Alexander Chapoton
1198
Frederick Bates
1198
John Winder
1198
George Jerome
1198
Judge Benjamin F. H. Witherell.
1201
Henry Ledyard
1201
William C. Maybury.
1201
Hon. Benjamin G. Stimson
1201
William Woodbridge
1205
John J. Bagley
1205
Henry P. Baldwin.
1205
Hazen S. Pingree
1205
Russell A. Alger
1209
Thomas W. Palmer 1209
James McMillan 1209
1209
Rev. Gabriel Richard. 1213
Ste. Anne's Church, built in 1818. 1217
Ste. Anne's Church, Fourth one erected. 1217
Ste. Anne's Roman Catholic Church (French), 1887. 1221
St. Joseph's Protestant Episcopal Church, about 1881 1221
St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church 1225
1225
Rev. George Duffield. 1229
1229
Old Scotch Presbyterian, about 1871 1229
Fort Street Presbyterian Church. 1233
View of Churches on East side of Woodward, 1849 1233
St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, in 1881 1237
Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul (formerly St. Patrick's) in 1880 1237
Original Christ Episcopal Church, in 1860. 1243
Church of Our Father; Michigan Conservatory of Music. 1243
First Congregational Church, 1857 1249
First Brick Building of the First Baptist Church 1249
Central Methodist Episcopal Church.
1255
First Methodist Episcopal Church, in 1860
1255
First Unitarian Church. 1261
First Church of Christ, Scientist 1261
Temple Beth El 1265
Zachariah Chandler
St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church in 1882.
First Presbyterian, or First Protestant Church, in 1874.
xxvi
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Detroit.
1265
Elliott T. Slocum 1459
Shubael Conant 1459
Chauncey Hurlbut 1459
Frederick Buhl
1459
Theodore H. Hinchman
1473
D. M. Ferry
1473
Thomas McGraw
1473
Christopher R. Mabley
1473
Richard H. Fyfe.
1487
Joseph L. Hudson.
1487
Martin S. Smith
1487
Henry A. Newland.
1487
Campus Martius and Majestic Building Corner
1505
Campus Martius, Looking up Mouroe Avenue, in 1873. 1505
Ruius of Detroit Opera House, October 9, 1897
1511
Detroit Opera House and Surroundings in 1878.
1511
Whitney Opera House 1876.
1517
Y. M. C. A. Building 1523
University Club 1523
Old Biddle House 1529
Steamboat Hotel 1529
Hotel Statler 1535
Hotel Fort Shelby 1535
1541
Elks Club
1541
Maps of Wayne County
1551
Maps of Wayne County 1555
Detroit Athletic Club. 1561
Detroit Club 1561
Country Club
1575
Masonic Temple
Detroit Golf Club House. 1575
The City of Detroit
PART I INTRODUCTORY
CHAPTER 1
DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY
A GENERAL VIEW-LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES-LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE-TOPOG- RAPHY-TIIE DETROIT RIVER-ISLANDS OF THE RIVER-DRAINAGE-EXTINCT STREAMS- GEOLOGY-LIMESTONES-IRON ORE-CLAY, PEAT AND MARL-THE GLACIAL EPOCII-SOILS-CLIMATE-THE NAME "DETROIT."
Wayne County, of which Detroit is the county seat, is situated in the southeastern part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It is bounded on the north by the counties of Oakland and Macomb; on the east by the Detroit River, which separates it from the Dominion of Canada; on the south by the County of Monroe, and on the west by the County of Washtenaw. According to Rand-McNally's Atlas of the United States, the area of the county is 626 square miles. (For changes in area and boundary lines see Chapter LVII.) Observations made by the United States Geological Survey show Detroit to be located in latitude 43º 19' 50" north and in longitude 83º 2' 5" west of Greenwich.
TOPOGRAPHY
In January, 1839, Bela IIubbard, then assistant state geologist, submitted to Governor Mason the first official report concerning the topography of the county. This report says: "Nearly the whole of Wayne County is included in that portion of the peninsula constituting the eastern border, in which no considerable prominences occur, and the descent to the coast is gradual and uniform. In this county, consequently, if we exeept the township in the northwest corner, the general level is varied only by gentle undulations or isolated sand ridges, forming no continuous ranges and seldom exceeding the relative height of twenty feet. Along the whole eastern border of the county the altitude at a distance of six miles from the coast varies but little from thirty-three to thirty-six feet. At a single point only, in the vicinity of Detroit, it attains to forty-five feet above the river."
Below the River Rouge, beginning about two or three miles from the Detroit River, was in early days a chain or network of wet prairies, the ground gradually rising until at the west line of the county it was about one hundred and forty feet higher than at the river. The streams in the southwestern part of the county therefore have a swifter current and are available for water power. Mr. Hubbard reported sixty-three square miles of marsh land, dis- tributed over the county as follows: Eleven sections in Brownstown Township :
Vol. 1-3
33
34
CITY OF DETROIT
eighteen sections in Ecorse; four sections in Greenfield and Redford, which he describes as "good cranberry land;" ten sections in Hamtramck; ten sections in Huron and ten in Romulus.
About the little lakes and ponds in these wet prairies and marshes was once a fruitful field for the trapper. Beavers were plentiful here until about the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, when they disappeared. The early settlers eut large quantities of wild hay from these wet lands to provide sustenance for their live stock during the long, eold winters.
In the northwestern part the ground is more rolling and broken into frequent ridges, which often rise sixty or eighty feet above the general surface. The dividing line between the lands of this character and the more level tracts, which constitute the remainder of the county. is marked by a low gravelly ridge, supposed to have been at some remote period in the past the shore of the lake. The course of this ridge is from northeast to southwest, passing through the northwest corner of Livonia Township, entering Plymouth about two miles from the northern boundary, and erossing the west line of the county near the southwest corner of Canton Township.
THE DETROIT RIVER
The Detroit River, which flows along the eastern border, forms the inter- national boundary between the United States and the Dominion of Canada, though the United States exercises jurisdiction over the greater portion of the stream. By act of Congress, approved by President Monroe on December 19, 1819, the river was declared to be a public thoroughfare for the passage of vessels. It receives all the waters of Wayne County except the Huron River. The name, which is of French origin, means "The Strait."
From the point where it leaves Lake St. Clair to the point where it empties into Lake Erie, the distance is a little less than twenty-eight miles. At its narrowest point, in front of the City of Detroit, it is a little over half a mile wide. The greatest width, at the foot of Grosse Ile, is about three miles, and the average width is about one mile. The average depth is about thirty-five feet and it is navigable for the largest vessels on the lakes. There are but few rivers in the world that surpass the Detroit in the volume of water that passes through its channel. It is the outlet of the largest three of the Great Lakes- Huron, Michigan and Superior-and all the streams that empty into them. The area drained by the Detroit is as great as that drained by the Ohio, though the latter is nearly one thousand miles long. Likewise, there are but few rivers that present more attractive scenery. Along its course are Immerous islands, which rise like emeralds from the clear, tranquil water, and passengers upon the great steamers never tire of watching the constantly changing pano- rama.
ISLANDS OF THE RIVER
Beginning at Lake St. Clair, the principal islands in the Detroit River are as follows: La Peche, or Isle of the Fishes, which is on the Canadian side of the river and was once the summer home of Pontiac, the great chief of the Ottawa nation. Belle Isle (formerly called Rattlesnake and later Hog Island) is now the property of the City of Detroit and one of its most beautiful parks. (A history of Belle Isle appears in another chapter.) Turkey Island (also called Fighting Island) a long, narrow island on the Canadian side, takes its
-
35
CITY OF DETROIT
name from the great numbers of wild turkeys found there in early times. This island was the scene of the contest between the Indians under Pontiac and the vessel sent to relieve the fort at Detroit in 1763. The remains of an old Indian earthwork at the upper end were plainly visible in the early years of the Nineteenth Century. Near the foot of this island are Little Turkey and Mammy Judy islands. The latter, containing about thirty acres, was named for an old Indian squaw who used to come there every year during the fishing season, and who finally died on the island. Mud and Grassy islands lie between Turkey Island and the Michigan shore.
Grosse Ile is the largest in the river. An old French document of 1717 says: "It is very fine and fertile and extensive, being as it is estimated from six to seven leagues in circumference. There is an extraordinary quantity of apple trees on this island, and those who have seen the apples on the ground say they are more than half a foot deep; the apple trees are planted as if methodically and the apples are as large as small pippins. Abundance of excellent millstones are found on this island; all around it are very fine prairies. It was a long time doubtful whether Detroit should not be founded there. The cause of the hesitation was the apprehension that the timber might some day fail."
About the foot of Grosse Ile are grouped a number of smaller islands, viz. : Bois Blanc (or Whitewood), Calf, Celeron (or Tawa), Elba, Fox, Hickory, Horse, Humbug and Sugar. Several of the islands in the river were the scenes of stirring events during the early wars.
DRAINAGE
1180292
As previously stated, the Detroit River receives the waters of all the streams of Wayne County, except those of the Huron River, which empties into Lake Erie at the southeast corner of the county. The Huron, the largest stream in the county, has its source in the lakes and marshes of Livingston and Washtenaw counties. At first it flows in a southerly direction, but near the City of Dexter it turns eastward and enters Wayne County about nine miles north of the southwest corner. Near the Village of Romulus it turns toward the southeast and follows that direction until it empties into Lake Erie, near the mouth of the Detroit River. During the last eight or ten miles of its course it forms the boundary line between Wayne and Monroe counties.
Next in importance is the River Rouge, which is formed by the north, south, east and west branches. The North Branch is formed near Redford Corners by the Belle River, Powers Creek and some smaller streams. Its general course is southeast until it unites with the West Branch near the center of Dearborn Township.
The South Branch rises near the western boundary of the county and flows east through Canton, Nankin and Dearborn townships, uniting with the main stream near Dearborn Village. It is sometimes called the "Lower Rouge."
The East Branch, formed by Campbell's, Holden and Knagg's creeks, falls into the main stream near the Village of Delray. Knagg's Creek and some of the others contributing to the formation of this branch are now within the city limits and have been filled in and the "made land" converted into city lots.
The West Branch rises in Washtenaw County. It enters Wayne about four miles south of the northwest corner and flows in a northeasterly direction to Northville. There it changes its course to southeast and unites with the North
36
CITY OF DETROIT
and South branches near Dearborn. From that point the Ronge follows an easterly course to the Detroit River.
The Belle River, one of the principal tributaries of the North Branch of the River Rouge, is only a few miles in length. It is formed in Livonia Township by Collins and Briggs creeks and a few minor streams, flows in an easterly direction and empties into the North Branch near the center of Redford Town- ship.
The southeastern portion of the county is watered by the Ecorse River, which flows through the township of the same name; Big Brownstown and Hunting- ton creeks, which empty into the Detroit River a short distance below Gibraltar ; and Smith's and Silver ereeks, which unite and empty into the Huron about a mile above its mouth.
Connor's (also called Trombly's) Creek, in the northeastern part, flows in a southeasterly course and empties into the Detroit River near the upper end of Belle Isle.
In the southwestern townships are a number of small streams, such as Willow Creek. Swan Creek, Tonquist and Woods' ereeks and Willow Run, which fall into the Huron River or the West Branch of the Rouge.
Probably one of the oldest maps in existence, showing accurately the courses of the various ereeks and rivers of Wayne County, is that prepared under the supervision of Dr. Douglas Houghton to accompany his report as state geologist in 1840. More modern maps show no important changes, except within the city limits of Detroit, where some small streams have been filled in or converted into sewers. Foremost among the ereeks that have thus been obliterated were Knagg's Creek, already mentioned, May's, Parent's and Savoyard ereeks.
May's Creek, so named for James May, one of the early judges of the Court of Quarter Sessions, was known as Campau's River about the middle of the Eighteenth Century and later as Cabacier's Creek, after Joseph Cabaeier, who lived near it. Jacques Peltier built a grist mill on this creek during the old French régime, and the stream furnished water enough to run the mill about one-half of each year. The mill stood just north of Fort Street, not far from the point where that street was afterward crossed by the Michigan Central Railroad.
Parent's Creek was the most historie of all these extinet watercourses. It had its source in Private Claim No. 183, in Grosse Pointe Township, flowed in a southerly direction, passing through Elmwood Cemetery, and emptied into the Detroit River about a mile and a half above the old French fort. The ereek was doubtless named for Joseph Parent, a gunsmith, whose name appears in the records of St. Anne's Church as early as May, 1707. It was on the banks of this ereek that Captain Dalzell was defeated and killed by the Indians during the Pontiac war, after which the stream was known as "Bloody Run."
The Savoyard Creek had its source in a willow swamp, not far from the present intersection of Congress and Riopelle streets and flowed in a westerly course. It is said to have derived its name from the fact that one of the early settlers near it came from Savoy. Farmer says that the Detroit boys had a favorite fishing hole where the creek erossed Woodward Avenue. An old map shows that it emptied into the river near the foot of Fourth Street. The people living along the creek used it as a receptacle for all sorts of waste matter. After Fort Shelby was abandoned, lumber was taken from the fortification and used to protect the sides from falling in. As population increased and the
37
CITY OF DETROIT
quantity of garbage, ete., dumped into the stream grew greater, the stenches that arose from the creek rivaled those mentioned by the poet Coleridge in his description of the City of Cologne. In 1836 the city authorities declared it a nuisance and, at great expense, walled and covered it with stone, converting it into a sewer.
GEOLOGY
According to the report of the state geologist for 1876, the oldest exposed rocks in Wayne County are the limestones of the Helderberg and Water-lime groups. The former is found over an area of limited extent in the south- eastern corner of the state, including Monroe County, the southeastern part of Wayne and the eastern part of Lenawee. In Monroe the rock outcrops in nearly all the streams, but in Wayne, where the drift deposits are deeper, the exposures are less frequent. The upper division of the Helderberg group is found at Trenton, where quarries were opened at an early date. Here the upper ledges are covered only by a thin layer of loamy drift. They are lime- stones of a light color, segregated in beds about six feet in thickness and rich in fossils. The stone from these quarries has been used chiefly for lime, yielding a white, quick-slaking lime of superior quality. Below these beds is found a compact, gray, crystalline limestone in ledges from eight inches to two feet thick. an excellent stone for building purposes.
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