Surrounded completely by the city of Detroit; Hamtramck is today home to 24;000 residents; but its small size-just 2.1 square miles-belies its expansive history and the influence this remarkable community has had far beyond its borders.Founded as a township in 1798; Hamtramck remained primarily a rural area until the early twentieth century; when auto pioneers John and Horace Dodge opened a factory on the south end of town. In just 20 years; the citys population increased by a staggering 1;600 percent. The majority of these newest residents were Polish immigrants; who brought with them a strong work ethic; a rich culture; a genuine joy for living; and an intense appreciation for democracy. Legendary to this day for its fiery politics; the solidly Democratic Hamtramck openly flaunted Prohibition; received a visit from President Franklin D. Roosevelt; strongly supported the early labor unions; and even served as a key headquarters for the Communist Party in North America. In Hamtramck: The Driven City; an engaging narrative combined with more than 100 black-and-white images will take readers on a fascinating journey into the past and breathe new life into the memorable characters and events; the conflicts and scandals that formed the citys distinctive identity.
#640551 in eBooks 2006-12-13 2006-12-13File Name: B009A6I2SM
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A stunning. concise gift of talent and history to the USABy V. WEAVERKristin Baggelaars "The Copacabana" is a stunning. concise gift of talent and history to the United States of America. especially for New Yorkers. and for artists who performed there and the guests who enjoyed those performances. The covers photos immediately attracted me and drew me in. I couldnt wait to devour it with my eyes. my mind. and my heart as my only opportunity to almost experience the Copa as my father. Carroll Webster (of the ballroom-dance duo Diane and Carroll). did when he performed there in the 1940s. long before I was born. I was told that the author interviewed every surviving Copa girl and nearly anyone else who was associated with the Copa in order to be able to paint such a complete and visually descriptive portrait of the place where every entertainer worth his or her salt went to make it in the entertainment industry while at least rubbing shoulders with the top-drawer and upcoming performers of the day. As a writer and an editor. I can only imagine how the author. after amassing boxes of informative treasures. decided how to distill so many facts and beautiful photos into this thorough yet compact book; it was a Herculean effort undertaken. quite simply. with vision. clarity of mind and purpose. and the finest brush strokes. That such a successful. well-run. and special venue was allowed to close is beyond comprehension. leaving me to wish that I could have experienced it. My thanks go to Kristin and to the interviewees. and more. whose cooperation brought this book into being. Thank you!2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. cool bookBy glue stickfascinating photos accompanied by just enough historical information. in fact. i think it could have done with more. I wanted to know more about the mob controlled nightclub and the inns and outs of how it ran. but what was there was interesting. think I should have bought the hard copy for the pictures.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Loved the bookBy K. Schmidtbought this book as a gift for an older ladies birthday. who used to be a dancer at the Copa. She loved the book. It cam quicker than expected so she got it on time even though I ordered later than I had intended. the photos and the stories were just fascinating!
