Baby Sister says...
I love Detroit and I used to be a resident...well, until I was 7 and we moved to the burbs. About the evidence of fire. During the 1967 riots (rebellion), a lot of houses were set afire. Maybe this one was caught up in that drama. Is there any way to tell?
It seems that the house has under gone multiple fires and it's sometimes difficult to tell where they were. Some may of just been chimney creosotle fires while others may have been the house burning. But there was at least one major house fire in the rear. My guess is that it happened between 1985 and now. That is based on the fact taht in this 1985 picture there is a rear dormer in the 'fire area' (which happens to be centered around a chimney). This dormer did not exsist when i purchased the house.
As far as the 1967 riots go it sounds like it was very bad times for detroit. Poor working/living conditions, a lot of anger, mistrust, prejudice resulted in a lot of looting, arson, violence and death. (43 dead, 467 injured, over 7,200 arrests and 2,000+ buildings burned down)
Not to be confused with the 'race riots' of 1943
Geographically if you don't know the story it started with an incident at 12th street (Today Rosa Parks) and Clairmont. This is about 40 blocks away from my house. The riot then proceeded to sweep clockwise around the city and north.
'Corktown' is approximately south of michigan ave between Grand Blvd and the Lodge. Just outside of the 'riot zone' on the 2nd map and very far from the boundries of the first map.
Ultimately there is a lot to say about the riots. A lot of blame, hurt, and anger still resonates in a lot of people. But the healing has to continue, and I'm in for that.
While isolated incidents could of happened, my guess is that the main fire of my house happend sometime in the late 80's. One of the neighborhood residents that is my age once said they remember the rear of the house being caved in as a child.
Hopefully it's the last fire not in my fireplace.
