The Tiger Stadium saga continues

Embattled Detroit Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick has given a stay of execution of sorts for the eventual demolition of Tiger Stadium. The original June 1 deadline has obviously passed and the Mayor has given The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy (of which broadcasting legend Ernie Harwell is a board member) until August 1 to come up with the $15 million necessary to preserve the home plate corner of, well, The Corner (Tiger Stadium, that is :) ). The Detroit Free Press quoted Kilpatrick as saying, "History deserves a chance" and it just might be a possibility that the mayor is hoping this helps his chances as well in the form of goodwill and keeping himself in office. But, that is a different and extremely long story.

Demolition of the parts of the stadium not designated as being saved by the Conservancy will begin shortly. If you're looking for any last photos of the old stadium before it is torn down you'd better head on down to Michigan and Trumbull asap.

I'm surprised as anyone that Tiger Stadium is still standing. It's demolition has been given extension after extension with one thing remaining constant - no group, club, or other well-meaning organization has been able to raise the funds necessary for preservation of any sort.

Do I love Tiger Stadium and it's history?

You bet, look at the page I created about it - Tiger Stadium.

The one thing I am longing for is some closure on this whole deal. The final game played at Tiger Stadium (by the Detroit Tigers anyway) was September 27, 1999 and for nearly nine years the residents and businesses around the stadium have had a front row seat to this Grand Cathedral's slow and steady slip into an eyesore.

Read my previous posts on Tiger Stadium

New book available on history of Mackinac Point Lighthouse

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse - A History & Pictorial Souvenir is produced by the Mackinac State Historic Parks and is available for $10.95. The book covers the lighthouse from its construction to its decommission in 1957 when it was made obsolete by the lights of the Mackinac Bridge. The lighthouse is currently undergoing a restoration to its 1910 appearance and tours are available. As part of the tour you can climb to the top of the tower and look out upon the Straits of Mackinac.

You can purchase the book at the lighthouse gift shop (in the old foghorn building) or by calling the Mackinac State Historic Parks at (231) 436-4100.

See Michigan.gov for more information.

Detroit Thanksgiving Parade video circa 1973

I found this old footage of the J.L. Hudson Thanksgiving Day Parade on YouTube a few weeks ago. I'm not sure how it was that I stumbled upon it, but I thought it was a neat peak at Detroit's past.

Here are some related links from the Detroit Free Press: Parade is a family affair About the parade America's Thanksgiving Parade

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Special 50th Anniversary Mackinac Bridge DVD

For $10 you can get a 33 minute DVD commemorating the hard work, dedication, and engineering feat of spanning the Straits of Mackinac. Historic footage is blended in with present-day interviews and the whole shebang is produced by MDOT and the Mackinac Bridge Authority. You can purchase the video at the Michigan e-Store.