Preserving your city. Are you up to the challenge?

To contact us Click HERE

A new book is coming out about Detroit's Architectural History. This one is written by a woman who married into the Taubman Family (real estate magnate).

What is interesting is that are hundreds of book on Detroit's architecture; but this book will combine modern day scenes, current buildings and what they looked like at the turn of the century and now.

I'm betting this book will be gobbled up(no pun intended) by land developers. What better way to get an introduction into the city and its landscape than for someone who is passionate about the city to give a view of the city by showing her finds from 3 years of walking and exploring every street and neighborhood of Detroit. Yes. She walked up and down, escorted by police at times, and driving her own car and not escorted on most of the trips. She ruggedly camera in hand met the streets and people of Detroit.

I bet this book will be on the best sellers list once it comes out. Here is a link to the book Detroit 138 Miles to be released on Amazon on December 31, 2011.

Ok so why am I sharing this? Here's the deeper message. Have you thought of documenting the history of your own town? All it takes is committment and passion. I can surely say that there are only a couple of books on my city: Inkster, Michigan. The challenge is out for someone to drive and walk each street of Inkster, take pictures and tell its story of how it once thrived. Show the world the Inkster they never knew.

Each city has a story. I believe the story of Inkster is its people, primarily African Americans, and their entreprenurial spirit and efforts to survive in a place unknown during the post migration of masses amounts of people from the south during the highlight years of the development of the Auto Industry particularly Ford Motor Company. (circa 1940- 1950)

Are you up to the challenge?

It took her 3 years of intensive research to do Detroit. It should take about One year to do Inkster's history block by block. Who knows? You may just find me out there walking each street one day at a time.

Willie C. Williams