Hamtramck Star

About the Village of Norris: Norris was founded by Philetus Norris, who is remembered by the City of Detroit Planning and Development Department as "an explorer, union spy, cavalry man, land developer,
sanitation expert, politician, poet, amateur archaeologist, and lover of freedom." He was also the second superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. Norris' house, partially-burned and covered in 1960's era brickote, is the oldest remaining building in the area, built in the 1870s.

The white building with rounded windows on the railroad tracks has to be the sawmill. The sign says it was a maintenance building owned by Frank's Nursery and Crafts. The hotel bar is still open and also serves as a motorcycle club. The commercial strip on Mt. Elliott north of Nevada seems relatively successful.

We originally visited Norris because I heard that there were horseshoes in the sidewalks, but they were apparently removed by ADA-mandated replacement of the corner sections. There are still a few slabs near the hotel marked WPA.

I'm sure you know that Mt. Olivet is where most of Hamtramck's early residents are buried.

Most of my family is there.

And, if you're interested, you can see drag racing tonight!!

Royal Oak's "sport bike" night seems to spill over onto the northbound service drive at Clay.
They race from Clay to Holbrook.
Sometimes is more bike stunts than it is racing.

I'm down for some investigating if you are.
Last week they started early....like 9:30. I heard them going until 11:30 when I went to bed.

The motorcycle racing on the service drive you mention is no secret for any Hamtramck resident with a pair of ears. You can hear them well past midnight lots of times. I think it was last year someone was killed, I think by crashing into a telephone pole (probably mentioned/archived somewhere right here on this website).

The sound alone implies so much speed, like our own little ghetto grand prix. What I don't fully understand is why they never appear to get busted by the cops. It's obvious it's no secret. I know Detroit police have a lot of things to worry about, but this is a pretty public event, it's not like turning a blind eye to a car running a red. Am I missing something?

Many weekends the DPD are horrendously backlogged with runs. If you were to call on the crotch-rocketeers they'd put your call in queue with the other non-life-threatening calls.

When they're busy, this might warrant a 12 (or more) hour delay. Figure there's people calling about shootings, stabbings, and the like with surprising regularity.

I suggest contacting the Wayne County Sheriff or the State Police if you've got it in for the squids.

Did you stop at Silverstiens and get your free toy

I am a first time commenteer. This comment may diverge from the topic at hand but I feel that it is relevant to the general aims of this website. I don't live in Hamtramck, but I work here, and I would be heart broken to see it lost. In fact, I plan to move here from Ferndale soon. I have already begun my apartment search. I want to encourage others who reside in the Ferdales, Ann Arbors and the Wayne State area to consider moving to Hamtramck. It is a place that carries with it an utter uniqueness. It is the last livable true urban environment That the entire State of Michigan has to offer.

Peace and Love

Alex.

Right On Alex!!!

Is there someway we could have some sort of protest at Sikora? Anything we could do that would hurt their bottom line enough to make them not want to work with scrappers any longer?

Next time you take Mount Elliot somewhere, you might consider heading south past Mack and checking out the Heidelberg Project. Kidlet and I drove through the other day. I don't think he's quite ready to bike that far, but I need to take him back sometime with his camera so he can get some pictures.

And do you think Beth Olem will really be open this weekend, or do you think we'd have to bug them like you did in April? That's another place kidlet could get some good practice with his camera.

Mel: If we were a real news organization with a budget, I would run an undercover investigation by sending people in to sell legitimate looking things, and then some less legitimate looking things. They could probably get things to scrap for free.

Beth Olem was actually supposed to be open last Sunday, but when I called, I was informed by the cemetery management company that last weekend was "our big remembrance day". When I asked when we would be able to visit, they offered to open it this Sunday. I stated firmly twice that I would be there. I have called twice today to verify, but they have not yet returned my call. (To their credit, they have always returned my calls promptly in the past and I have no reason to believe that it won't be open.)

One of the neighbors suggested we place some kind of identifiable metal item in a conspicuous place and when it's stolen, track it back to Sikora. Like an old aluminum ladder with someone's driver's license etched into it.

What time do you expect Beth Olem to be open? And how do you get in? The main gate for the plant on Grand Blvd?

Beth Olem is supposed to be open from 10 to noon. Just go to the main gate on the Boulevard, and the security guard will point you in the right direction.

The very latest word is that the gates are not open, and I have left another message with Clover Hill Cemetery of Royal Oak who is responsible for managing it. We will check again before noon.