For this year’s April A-Z Challenge I will be blogging everyday using items taken from the letters written by my grandfather to my grandmother from 1907 to 1912, starting with “A” and moving right through the alphabet to “Z” during April.
Would like to see you Thursday afternoon.
Detroit 9/14/09
Dear Pearl,
I expect to arrive in Indianapolis Thursday morning and if it will be possible for me to see you any where at anytime before Sabbath write me at #910 Fayett St. – Albert
Title: Floral Clock at Gladwin Park, Detroit, Mich.
Caption on back: This Floral Clock is located at Gladwin Park, which contains 75 acres. Here also is the water pumping station were seventy-three million gallons of water are pumped daily for Detroit’s supply. The Clock is run by water power.
“This park — which still exists today but is no longer open to the public — would eventually encompass 110 acres with swimming and picnic areas, play equipment like swings and teeter-totters, baseball diamonds, even a library. It also was a popular place for fishermen. At the turn of the 20th Century, the park also had two islands, three bridges, a small wading lagoon and a winding canal where rowboats could enter the park,” “The First 300 Years” says. “Visitors strolled along pathways lined with chestnut trees, intricately landscaped shrubbery and floral displays,” it continues. Another beloved attraction was a clock near the entrance that was made of flowers and run off water pressure.” Water Works Park Tower – Historic Detroit
That’s a VERY interesting clock. I’m going to have to check that out if I’m ever in Detroit again…and I’ll remember this story!
I’m not sure if the clock is still around. I know it’s not at the park and was moved to Greenfield Village. I hope it’s still there to be viewed. I’m sorry I never saw it.
Amazing to think this was, what, 104 years ago now?
Does that seem like a short time or a long time to you? In some ways it seems very current, as my father was born just a few years later. In other ways, looking at the dress and the photographs – it seems so very long ago.
I often have similar feelings about time. Sometimes things that happened a hundred years ago seen like they happened very long ago–and other times it really doesn’t seem like it is all that far in the past.
It must be because we spend so much time in the past.
wow letters. there is something about the letters that makes me happy.
I am kind of a person that loves to write letters instead of e mails.
This is going to be such a precious collection on your blog
♡
http://holdingajournal.blogspot.in/
I used to write many letters but now I hardly write any. In fact, since the one person who didn’t do email now does email, I don’t write any!
What an interesting clock. I wonder why the park is not open to the public if it still exists. What is the point of a private park? I guess there is a point. Botanical research?
I really like your theme.
Thank you Wendy. I think it’s because it would allow people to get to close to the city’s water supply. I don’t know if that is the case but that is what came to mind. The land is still there but it’s not maintained as a park anymore.
Now how did he keep Pearl’s Mom from reading that? This reminds me of what Daddy told me that when he wanted to court Mom, he would send her letters in the mail to see where they could meet. That was the only way of communicating. So this validates to me what he said. Love the Flower Clock.
Maybe Pearl got the mail. Actually, according to the census, my great grandmother couldn’t read. Albert probably didn’t realize that.
the clock looks great… I am loving your theme 😀