Michigan

Birmingham

My Home Town
May 2000

Birmingham | Beverly Hills | Detroit

Introduction

During Memorial Day weekend, May 2000, my mother and sister Joni and I drove to Birmingham, Michigan, for a trip down memory lane.  These pictures are from that trip. 

Unless otherwise indicated, all photos were taken by Joni.

My Background 

Before I was born, my parents moved from the east side of Detroit to a small new house on Southfield Road, the 4th house down from 8 Mile Road.  When I was I was 2 years old, my family moved "way out" to the suburbs--Village of Beverly Hills, which is a part of the City of Birmingham.  Our old house address is 16925 Madoline; it is located one block north of 13 Mile Road, between Southfield and Greenfield Roads. 

We lived in the same house on Madoline the entire time that we lived in Birmingham. I attended Greenfield Elementary School, Berkshire Jr. High School, and Wylie E. Groves High School.  Greenfield and Berkshire were brand new schools when I was enrolled. 

In 1961, our family joined the brand new Beverly Hills Athletic Club, where I spent most of my summer. 

In 1969, I started at Michigan State University where I received a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. After graduation, I worked at the Oakland County Health Department.  In 1978, I enrolled full-time at the University of Michigan, where I received a Master of  Public Health.  I met my future husband at U. of. M, and we were married May 5, 1979.  That fall, we moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and in 1982, we moved to Richmond, Virginia.

In 1984, several months after my dad died, my mom and Joni, moved from the house on Madoline to Richmond, Virginia.  My other sister, Susan, was living in New Orleans at the time.  Since I do not have any relatives in Michigan, I rarely get back anymore.  So this was indeed a special trip.  (I did go back for my 20th and 30 the high school reunions.  The reunion web site is at http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Forest/7316/index.html


Some Thoughts on Going Back Home

Birmingham is as pretty as ever.  This  cosmopolitan metro Detroit city  has become much more upscale, and most of the homes near the downtown area have been renovated.  It must be one of the prettiest towns in the U.S.  And, except for its winter weather, I would love to be able to live there again.


Birmingham Map


Source: http://www.baldwinlib.org/directions.html


Downtown Birmingham


U.S. Post Office
Martin St.

 


Baldwin Public Library
Bates and Martin St.

I remember that I was always of afraid of getting locked in its bathroom.

 

 
Baldwin Public Library Entrance
300 W. Merrill St.

In 1983 the library in its present form, with a new Adult Reading Dept., and its entrance on Merrill St., was opened.  The library will  celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2002. 
Source: http://www.baldwinlib.org/index.html

 


Birmingham Police Station
Martin and Pierce St.

 


Birmingham Police Station
Martin St.

 


Shain Park

Do they still have a spring carnival?

 


The Community House at Bates and Merrill
or 
Town Houses (?)

 


The Community House at
Bates and Merrill or Town Houses (?)

 
 
Downtown Birmingham, W. Maple

On the left were the shops of Kay Baum, Winklemans, B. Siegels, and Machus Bakery (I bought my wedding cake there). Capezios were sold at Hansel and Gretel shoe store on the right.  Also on the right used to be a Kresge Dime Store, where my girl friend and I used to buy french fries and Cokes on Saturdays at their lunch counter.  Also on the right was Grinnell's Music Store, where I used to buy my clarinet reeds.

 


Maple and Old South Woodward Ave.

 


The GAP used to be Wilson Drugs
Woodward Ave. and Maple

 


Jacobsons, Maple

 


Jacobsons, Maple

 


Downtown Birmingham
Old South Woodward Ave.

 

Birmingham Theater, Old South Woodward Ave.

We used to watch scary movies here in the 1950s...admission was $0.25.  The Bloomfield Theater used to be down the street to the right.
(Night photo source: http://www.ci.birmingham.mi.us/)

 


Pierce Street
Two Blocks South of Maple

The Village Store used to be on the right.

 


Varsity Shop, Pierce St.

Glad to see this is still here! We used to get our bathing caps here.


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