Hidden History of Detroit
Amy Elliott Bragg, author of Hidden History of Detroit, was the guest speaker at the Rotary of Grosse Pointe's luncheon meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. She was introduced by Jenny Boettcher, Program Committee chair. Following the meeting and before autography copies of her book for Rotarians, Bragg is pictured, above, with Rotary President Fred Ollison III. (Photo by John Minnis)
When asked about Detroit, Bragg said she would provide the standard story: the French arrived and helped develop the area which didn’t really grow until Henry Ford’s assembly line turned it into an extremely successful city. Violence and rioting in the 1960s caused residents to leave leading to its eventual bankruptcy.
After a brief time in Wisconsin, Bragg returned to Detroit and wanted to learn more about the city. She learned that its history was not a straight line but contained all sorts of trials and tribulations. Her talk focused on the Lewis Cass home at the foot of what became Cass Avenue and the Thomas W. and Lizzie Merrill Palmer log cabin in Palmer Park.
Bragg is also on the board of Preservation Detroit (www.preservationdetroit.org) and writes a blog about the city’s history at www.nighttraintodetroit.com.
