A Little History
..From the Clawson Historical Museum ...
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A Note fromthe Curator
The "Roaring"Twenties?
Welcome to the first issue of the new
The decade that followed the end of the First World War
newsletter. I hope you will find it interesting
was characterized
and informative.
fueled greater consumption
It was with true pleasure I became curator of
young men and women grasped for all the fun and
by youth and excess. A booming economy
the Clawson Historical Museum this past December upon
materialism
the retirement of Deloris Kumler. Everyone who has met
the war years behind them.
and even greater frivolity, and
they could get, hoping to put the deprivation
of
Mrs. Kumler and worked with her over the years knows
what a tremendous friend she has been to the museum,
and I'd like to personally thank her for the help and
encouragement
she has given me as I undertake
to
continue her good work.
The museum has come a long way since it began nearly 35
years ago, and much of it was due to excellent leadership
and many, many volunteer hours. If you wish to help in
any way, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me.
There are many opportunities for involvement, from
Clawson High School Class of 1928, enjoying their trip to Washington, D.C. While
scanning accession books, photographing
fashionablY dressed, and sporting bobbed hair, Jew of the girls look like typical
artifacts,
cleaning, providing guided tours to the public, and
"flappers," although a risque hint of garter can be seenpeekingfrom under one very
short skirt!
creating exhibits. What's more, all volunteer training is
absolutely FREE!
The older generation
was often shocked with the dress and
behavior of the younger set, as women, especially seemed to
I welcome your comments and suggestions for this
cast off the rules of behavior that had governed previous
newsletter. I'll try to provide a little history and humor in
generations.
each edition, so pass it on to your friends, children,
parties, shortened
grandchildren - anyone who wonders what you find so
cars with men, and rolled down their stockings to dance
interesting about history.
crazy, syncopated
"If you don't know history, you are a leaf that doesn't
fiction and movies of the time depicted these Flappers and
know it is part of a tree." - Michael Crichton
Sheiks as decadent, carefree, and occasionally, morally
ruined.
So pass it on, and visit the museum this month!
Women smoked, drank, attended petting
the hair and their skirts, rode around in
dances learned &om jazz halls. Popular
-Melodie Nichols, curator
continued on page2
~~-_.~-----------------------------------------------------------------------'----Museum Exhibits
Roaring Twenties, continued ...
But just as life often imitates art, or in this case, fiction and
movies, often it does not. Life in Clawson during the twenties
A new exhibit "Roar of the Small Town, Clawson in the
had undergone some stunning, fundamental changes. The
1920's" is on view now. It features photographs and
rural crossroads had moved into the 20th century, and by
artifacts of life in the village, and explores how small town
1920, when it became a village, a thousand people called it
life differed from the typical stereotypes of life during the
home; that number grew to 3500 by 1927.
decade that followed the Great War. Listen to some jazz,
and learn a few steps of the Charleston or the Black
Bottom, popular dances of the era. Stop by Wednesdays or
Sundays to learn a little more about the rich and colorful
history of Clawson.
Clawson had made incredible progress in just a few shon years. This photo oj S. Main
New On-Line Exhibit
Street shows the electrical lines that provided power to the DUR
trains. Just a few
years later, these streets were paved and residents enjqyed electricity in their homes.
Forever a Bride
Change was inevitable. Over six miles of roads were paved;
An on-line exhibit of wedding
water, sewer and gas lines were laid, electrical lines were
gowns is currently being
strung, schools were built and business began to grow
planned. It will feature
quickly. A weekly newspaper brought news from the
several wedding gown from
surrounding areas and the world abroad. Telephones lines
museum's collection, worn by
began to crisscross the village.
Clawson women, from 1910
Dozens of new houses were built - by 1927, there were 900
to 1974, including the lovely
gown at right,worn by
•
Mrs. Russel Harrison in 1923~
Check our website: www.cityofclawson.com/museum.htm
homes, 112 of them built that year alone. Police and fire
departments were established; the Police department
consisted of three men, and 15 men served as volunteer
firefighters. While the public services often struggled to keep
Visit the Museum
pace with the growth, the village fathers were proud and
optimistic. Clawson adopted the motto "Pivot of Progress,"
Wednesdays and Sundays, 1-4 p.m.
Group tours by appointment
Curator Hours:
to highlight their intention of moving forward and growing
into a modern city.
But how much did life really change in the bustling litde
Monday through Thursday, 1-5 p.m.
village? How much of the big city influence was felt on the
248-588-9169
farms and bungalows just 14 miles north of Detroit?
email: [email protected]
-continued on page 3
Roaring twenties, continued ...
The conservatism of Clawson also spawned some radical
activities, dominated by the Ku Klux Klan. This group,
Throughout the decade, Clawson remained a mosdy
which contained many influential citizens, sought to keep
conservative village, with some important exceptions.
Clawson free of blacks, Jews, Catholics and others who they
Speakeasies sprang up all over the state during
felt were undesirable members of society. The sentiment was
Prohibition, which Michigan adopted in 1917, two years
before the Volstead Act banned the sale of alcohol
apparendy wide-spread; as land subdivision increased,
clauses were added to prohibit the sale of lots to white
nationwide. There was at least one in Clawson, and
people only. This group was responsible for several acts of
several more in the surrounding areas. Small Michigan
intimidation and vandalism, especially against Catholics.
towns were prime areas to make and sell illegal liquor,
Many people still believe that the Catholic Church was
with Canada so near. Occasionally, the local authorities
were even in on the business.
burned by the Klan in 1929. The cause of the fire was never
•...•...
investigated, and the church was rebuilt.
How much progress Clawson might have made will never be
known, as the Depression halted all growth and even
curtailed social activities to a great extent. By the mid-1930's,
the library had closed, as well as the elementary schools - all
dI...w-"'''''~'-YIIIb•• __ iiii.·iiI.1IIi
students met for half-days in the high school building.
-~~~~~:'~
Electricity was turned off in many homes, and even street
Ma;ry building in downtown Clawson have remained little changed since thry
were construaed in the 1920's. This is the current site of the Black Lotus
breweryand Pairwqy Tile
lights were turned off. The bank and the movie theater both
closed, and the streetcars that had once linked Clawson to
Detroit and beyond were gone, only their cold tracks and
empty stations a reminder of more prosperous times.
Pool halls, boxing matches, dance halls and movie
theaters became popular as the working class had more
leisure time and more money to spend. There was a
movie theater that seated 500 on East 14 Mile Road, and
a dance hall at the corner of Main and 14 Mile Roads. If
the local amusements weren't enough, the Interurban
street car was available to take the villager to movies and
ballrooms in Detroit for about 20¢.
Despite these modern amusements, churches also
~
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,
...
- ---~----"--_"-'"
increased in the 20's, as many people hoped to hold on
to the quieter times past, and influence the young people
The Blair Memorial Library wasfirst housed in this building, the Blair familY
to a less frivolous way of life. The Clawson Women's
homestead, located on the cornerofPisher Court and N. Main Street. While it grew
Club sought to improve life in Clawson and provide
during the 1920's, it closedduring the Depression, and was used as a distribution
some culture as well. They reviewed books, poetry and
sitefOr government surplusfOod.
music and provided social events. This group was
responsible for founding the Blair Memorial Library and
helped finance a good share of book purchases, which
numbered 2000 volumes by 1927.
Glimpses of a Modern Girl
mini photo essay
Mildred Baker Parady was born was born in 1904. Her brother was Lyle Baker, who served on the Clawson School Board and for
whom Baker School was named. Mildred married Charles Parady and lived on Jefferson Street.
These photos of her through the years provide a glimpse of a daring and fashion-forward young woman.
~
I
Left: Mildred as a small child in a
studio photograph
Below: with an unknown relative, about
1913
Right: sporting a fashionable hairstyle
and sailor outfit, probably about 1918 .
..-
childhood friend on a
summer day, probably
about 1912. The
DUR station on Main
Street is in the
background.
'.
Right: again sporting
a curl in the middle of
her forehead. How did
that old poem about
~
the curl go?
Left: enjoying the great
outdoors, probably about
1921.
Right: sporting jodhpurs
and an intimidating stance.
Below: with a group of girls
at a picnic, about 1916.
or
••.•
...
---~-
--~
Left: Mildred with her future
husband, Charles Parady,
about 1921. Note her
knickers and masculine
necktie.
Right: No more kiss curls, it
was the bob for Mildred. This
photo, likely dating from the
j
mid-twenties, shows Mildred
with a thoroughly modern~
look.
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Clawson Historical Museum
Place stamp
41 Fisher Court
here
Clawson, Michigan 48017
Mailing Address: 425 N. Main Street
Clawson, Michigan 48017
TO:
Stormy Weather
We've been enjoying the winter
weather in Michigan this time of
year, and we don't need to be
reminded that our weather is often
severe and unpredictable. Long time
residents may recall the damage
caused by a cyclone as it passed
through town one June day in 1936.
Flooded Custer street, 1960's
Floods and snowstorms have also
left their marks, as these pictures
will remind us, just in case a glance
out the window doesn't.
Above and at right: Damage
from the 1936 cyclone
-):
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