| The
untold story of the first 300 years. |
| ...Detroit: Anywhere in the world that name conjures up images of the assembly line and the Motown sound. But beneath the surface lies an unbelievable past that has been swept away from the eyes of the world. We have set out on a mission to cultivate some of this lost history while we create a living documentary of this great city.
She’s been stained by the blood of battles between
Native Tribes and Europeans; she has surrendered to conquering armies,
and 5 different flags have been raised above her; she’s been
repeatedly ravaged by epidemics and financial panics; and once, Detroit
was completely burned to the ground! Yet, she survived, and became
the hub of an industrial legacy that would forever change the face
of the planet. Only 80 years ago Henry Ford was reinventing cars, manufacturing, and the entire foundation of capitalism. The city he chose was fast becoming known as "The Paris of the West." due to of her French heritage, lavish architecture and unprecedented economy, During W.W.II Detroit became a war hero, acting as "The Arsenal of Democracy" while constructing the mobilized armor of The Allied forces.
This almost mythical past can hardly be imagined as it currently lies beneath mile after mile of crumbling and ruined cityscape. This, may be the best and perhaps last opportunity to tell the real stories that lie hidden in her basements, attics, museum archives and most important, the memories of her aging residents. |
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The stories and statistics are staggering, like the all-too-common images of national guardsmen perched above burning streets and block after block of urban blight. While the numbers seem grave and the images may as well, this narrative is not at all intended to be negative. We will ask why, and look for the cracks in the dam, rather than damn the men of the past and the decisions that were made.
©2008 Kevin Leeser |
