Downtown Synagogue of Detroit

Posted on by farlane

An Amassment of Colors

An Amassment of Colors, photo by DetroitDerek Photography

The Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue (of Detroit) explains that:

The Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue (IADS) was established in 1921, at a time when there were many synagogues located in Detroit. Its principal mission was to address the unmet needs of the Jewish community ― particularly for those who worked downtown, were unaffiliated with another synagogue, or were visiting the city―by providing a traditional (Conservative) Jewish presence in the heart of Detroit.

…As much of the Jewish community migrated to suburban Detroit, the IADS―like the city itself―has suffered from a shrinking population and a depletion of resources. In recent years, daily services have, of necessity, been eliminated. However, the Downtown Synagogue proudly continues to offer weekly Sabbath services, as well as High-Holiday services, the latter of which attracts hundreds of worshippers.

The Synagogue is currently housed in a historic four-story building, a building that it has occupied and owned since the early 1960s. Located at 1457 Griswold Street, it is well situated, but is in serious need of major repair. Currently, parts of it are unusable. However, the unique triangular design creates an uncomparable, interesting space. The potential for this building is far from being realized.

This Sunday (August 19), they are offering J-Cycle, a bicycle tour of historic Jewish Detroit. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Back Alley Bike Project, at the Hub of Detroit, a non-profit organization providing cycling education and services with a focus on youth development, sustainable practices and community access.

See Derek’s photo on black and in his massive and amazing Detroit slideshow.

Also see a few more pics from the Absolute Michigan pool.

Christmas in Old Detroit

Posted on by farlane

Untitled, photo by BareBonesDetroit

The Detroit News has a fantastic feature titled Christmas traditions in Old Detroit: Pigeon pie, horse racing, tapers on trees that is a wonderful look at the history of the Christmas holiday in Detroit. They begin:

Although Protestant churches in Detroit did not embrace the Christmas holiday until the 1840s, it was long celebrated in the French Catholic Churches such as Detroit’s oldest parish, St. Anne’s. (pictured above)

Before Christmas trees became the rage, the French holiday tradition in Detroit was represented by yule logs, reveillon feasting, and horse races. Yule logs were enormous logs or sometimes entire tree stumps that filled the hearth along with a half cord of wood to get it started. Holiday feasting began on Christmas Eve in a tradition called reveillon (pronounced Ray-veh-yon), which is still celebrated in Quebec and New Orleans (at least for the tourists).

In Detroit, families would carry a lantern to midnight mass and leave it with a beggar at the church door. When the Christmas mass was over, they would pick up their lantern and give a Christmas tip to the beggar. They then would go home for the feast that would last until 8 a.m.

The reveillon supper was a sumptuous menu that included la tourtiere — a meat pie made with pigeons in the 19th century and later with pork, veal or other game. Other dishes might include a stew of meat balls and pork, minced pork pie, turkey, pumpkin pie, mince pie and new cider.

There’s a whole lot more including holiday menus, toys, the hazards of decoration and even holiday horse racing through the streets of the city by the French and Ulysses S. Grant! Definitely read the rest and check out the photo gallery which includes some great old photos! About this photo from December 2010, BareBonesDetroit wrote:

Day Six: During the holidays, many of us end up donning our Sunday best and heading over to our local place of worship. Lucky for us here in Metro Detroit, the city overflows with churches, and even has a synagogue. Ste. Anne’s is the oldest church in Detroit. It’s massive structure is a beacon from both sides of the International border we share with Canada. For the season, it’s facade becomes even merrier. If you’ve never visited, for the history lesson and stained glass alone, it’s worth a visit.

View this photo bigger and see more in his Twelve Days of Christmas slideshow. Also be sure to check out barebonesdetroit.com for a cool photographic tour of the D!

More Christmas traditions on Michigan in Pictures…

 

Mr. Ambassador, the Governor is on the line

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Good Morning Detroit / Explored

Good Morning Detroit / Explored, photo by . : : v i S H a l : : ..

In Michigan Governor Rick Snyder delivered his first State of the State address, he expressed support for the proposed Detroit River International Crossing bridge saying (in part):

Last year, Canada was the top market for our products. In 2009, Michigan did roughly $4 billion in trade with Canada . We also know that one out of every eight jobs in Detroit is in the export industry. In Grand Rapids, it’s one out of seven…

To satisfy growing demand, we must move forward towards building a bridge, a new bridge from Detroit to Windsor, The Detroit River International River Crossing.

This project isn’t just a Detroit issue. Every farmer and manufacturer in our state can tell you why it’s important to have world trade. This new bridge will create jobs, strengthen our economy, help establish Michigan as a hub for global commerce. So let’s work together so this opportunity does not slip away.

Sounds like a sensible idea to me. The owners of Ambassador Bridge don’t seem to agree…

Check this out big as a bridge and see more in Vishal’s Detroit slideshow.

Also see the Ambassador Bridge slideshow!

Cathedral

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Cathedral

Cathedral, photo by Mike Lanzetta.

For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.
~Martin Luther

See it bigger in Mike’s slideshow.

Happy weekend to everyone, and I hope all you folks without power get some soon!

Take a walk through the trees on Michigan in Pictures.

Dark Mood: Basilica of St. Adalbert

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Dark Mood

Dark Mood, photo by Rudy Malmquist.

The web site for Basilica of St. Adalbert (of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids) tells a little of the history of this ornate church that has always fascinated me as I’ve driven past it on the freeway going west out of Grand Rapids.

The Saint Adalbert Aid Society was formed in 1872. At that time the purpose of the fraternal aid societies that sprang up in the primarily ethnic areas of the city, was to assist new immigrants in settling in the area, finding housing, and employment. With the help of the Saint Adalbert Aid Society, and on the initiative of the many Polish people of this area, two lots were purchased in 1880 at the corner of Fourth Street and Davis Avenue, NW, and in June of 1881 construction of a small wooden church was begun. Thus, St. Adalbert Parish was soon established. In 1891 the original church was enlarged to accommodate the every growing Polish population.

In early July of 1907, work began on the present church building. The cornerstone was laid on August 18, 1907, and the building was completed in late spring of 1913 for a total cost of about $150,000, including all of its furnishings.

The basilica is one of a few Minor Basilica in the US and the only church of this rank in Michigan. Wikipedia has more about Polish Cathedrals in America and says that these ornate churches were built by Polish Catholics in rememberance of the glory days of the Polish Commonwealth in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Be sure to check Rudy’s shot out background bigalicious and see more pics in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan group on Flickr.

Getting ready for Valentine’s Day

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Building_Silhouette

Building_Silhouette, photo by jmsmith000.

All across the state husbands, wives, lovers and friends are thinking about what to do for Valentine’s Day.

If you’re one of those folks, you might want to head over to Absolute Michigan to check out our thoughts on Celebrating Valentine’s Day the Michigan way (with bonus song!) and also the Mondo Valentine’s Day Rundown.

More photos from Jeffrey on his photography web site.

The Door Into Next Year

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Detail from the House that Father Coughlin Built...

Detail from the House that Father Coughlin Built…, photo by “CAVE CANEM”.

As we prepare to leave 2008 at the docks and set sail on 2009, I think there’s probably a lot that we hope to leave behind, and much that we hope to discover in the year to come.

I hope that all of you find what you’re seeking in the year to come and that you have very happy and safe celebrations tonight!

Be sure to view this larger and check out C.C.’s In Through the Out Door set (slideshow).

You can read more about the National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak on Wikipedia and the story of the “venom and compassion” of the man behind its construction 1930s radio priest Father Charles E. Coughlin.

Orchard Lake and the St Mary’s Polish Festival

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Campus panorama 1940s

Campus panorama 1940s, photo by Orchard Lake.

I noticed that Memorial Day Weekend is the time of the annual St. Mary’s Polish Country Fair & Festival on Orchard Lake. The event billed as “America’s Largest High School Fair” and is a fundraiser for Orchard Lake Schools and you can get an idea of what has changed (and what hasn’t) in this aerial view of Orchard Lakes Schools.

You can see a lot more cool old photos of the seminary in the Orchard Lake photo set from the Adam Cardinal Maida Alumni Library at the Orchard Lake Schools.

A Beautiful Gloom: Fall Vines

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Fall Vines

Fall Vines, photo by William Couch.

William Couch has a cool set of photos titled A Beautiful Gloom that he took last November.

I think these are especially nice for two reasons (in addition to the obvious “The photos are great!”):
1. He’s got them all “wallpaper sized” and
2. They serve as a reminder that fall is fleeting – get out and enjoy it!

a temple in detroit

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

a temple in detroit

a temple in detroit, photo by artsy_T.

The other day when I blogged the exposure.detroit Selective Focus photography show (this Friday, July 20), I was pretty shocked to see that I had never blogged a photo from Tina (aka artsy T) to Michigan in Pictures.

She’s been a regular contributor to Absolute Michigan and (in addition to being one heck of an art teacher) she has a great eye for the yellows and reds and azures that surround us.

She has some cool socks too.