Greenfield Village Opening Day Weekend 2024: A picture book souvenir

December 28 until April 12 is quite a long wait.

I remember the days when the Village would be open into early January.

I wish it was still like that.  Only a couple weeks...but still...

I also wish it was still open daytime hours on weekends in October and December  

(as it is in November).

Ah,  well...never say never,  right?

At least now it's finally open,  and I went twice that opening weekend in mid-April.

Here's how it went~

..       ..       ..

There are actually two opening day's for Greenfield Village.  The first one is for Members Only - for the folks who pay a higher one-time only annual price for the privilege of visiting as often as they'd like throughout the open season,  including visiting the Henry Ford Museum. 

The second opening day is the following day,  and this is when Greenfield Village opens up to everyone who purchases an entrance ticket or has a membership pass.

I usually go to both.

This year's Member's Only Opening Day was almost a wash,  for we pretty much had a steady rain and strong winds throughout the day,  with below normal temperatures  (unlike last year when it was sunny and 80).  Originally I had planned to dress in my period clothing for this,  but wisely chose to go modern,  for there's little worse than wet wool.  I,  instead,  wore my t-shirt & jeans and water-repellant coat.

And brought an umbrella. 

The second day,  however  (as you shall see)  was different.

So,  on a dark and gloomy Members Opening Day,  where do you think I headed as soon as I stepped through the gates?

This is one of my favorite photos.
Of course,  it's of the Daggett House!
But with the thick,  low-hanging dark clouds...I don't know...it has an almost
eerie gloom to it,  just like the day itself.

A welcoming fire in the Great Hall hearth greeted me as I entered.
They had just gotten the fire lit when I walked in.
I was the first Daggett visitor of the season this year!

Elba stoked the fire,  for there was a meal to be cooked.

I do not remember the variety of pumpkin this is,  but I
was told it is an early/heirloom,  and the shape allows
for stacking.  They stored it in the cool winter and
it lasted from fall til now.

Debra was out in the kitchen garden.

It's April - time to get the all-important kitchen garden going!

Gotta love the shape of the lean-to's  (called  "saltbox"  decades later).
There's the well-sweep that Roy & Chuck made last summer.

The Plympton House is the ancestral home of one of my Facebook friends,  Kimberly,  who lives in Massachusetts  (where this house was originally from),  and I try to get a number of pictures for her at each visit. 

In the later 18th century,  this house belonged to Kimberly's 6th great grandfather,  Thomas Plympton.  She posted to me,  "I can easily imagine my 6th Great Grandpa Thomas sitting at the table..." 

Here is a closer look at the table scenario.
I have very similar tableware that I use for reenactments,  though what you see here are the real deal from over 250 years ago,  and most of mine are replicas,  though I do have a few authentic pieces.

The Giddings house.
This house has an interesting history all its own - - click HERE

Now let's check out the latest acquisition that has been re-erected inside the Village walls:

The Detroit Central Market from 1860/61.
"Dismantled in 1894 and moved to Belle Isle on the Detroit River for use as a horse shelter,  public riding stable,  and storage until acquired by The Henry Ford until 2003." 
It was finally erected and ready for the public by 2022.

From The Henry Ford:
"In 1860,  the City of Detroit invested in a new permanent building for the Detroit Central Market to house vendors in the open-air market behind City Hall;  the new building was referred to as the vegetable building or shed.  From 1861 to 1893,  farmers,  market gardeners,  florists,  and nurserymen sold their produce in this building from rented stalls,  marking over 30 years of commerce in its original environment.

The new building captured the exuberance and optimism of Detroit as it grew from a frontier fort and outpost to an important cultural and industry-rich city.  A  "useful and beautiful"  market building in the city's central square was important in framing this image.  Few buildings survive from this first era of Detroit's growth.  This one survived because city officials moved it out of the city center,  thus preserving a rare 19th-century market structure."

And I especially like what they wrote here:
"The Detroit Central Market project sheds light on how museums collect,  preserve,  and interpret history,  illustrating how a more than 160-year-old structure can be recast to serve the next generation."

In other words,  what's old is new --- what's new is old.

Something else I learned,  which sort of ties together the overall story of Greenfield Village,  is the telling of the Ford family’s possible ties to the market:  it could very well be that Henry’s family would have used the central market as did the rest of the large extended Ford family.

I remember when they were re-erecting Firestone Farm here in Greenfield Village back in, I believe 1984,  and then my first time visiting it in the summer of 1985.  Back then visitors were allowed to go to the second floor,  but I was told that the insurance company put the kibosh to that,  due to there only being one stairway to go up and down  (no emergency exit).

One thing that has remained a very positive constant is the way the farm is run:
as an actual 1880s farm.
The presenters here do present to the public,  but it's their actions - their 1880s
chores - that tell the real story.  I could spend all day watching these folks.
History come to life. 

Morgan gathers potatoes from the potato bin in the cold room down in the cellar.
Yes,  like most other vegetables and fruits here,  they are of an heirloom variety.

Meanwhile,  out in the Firestone's own Pennsylvania-German bank barn - the original barn that was a part of the Firestone property - we see the....

...Merino Sheep.
Wool produced from Merino sheep is finer than wool produced from other breeds,  therefore were very popular among 19th century wool producers.

From the Detroit Free Press - April 11,  2024

Greenfield Village merino sheep killed by coyote:  'First encounter of its kind'

by Jennifer Dixon

Detroit Free Press

Greenfield Village says a  "wild coyote"  attacked and killed a merino sheep at the historic venue in Dearborn.

The village,  one of the venues at The Henry Ford in Dearborn,  said the mauled sheep was found in the early morning hours on Tuesday.

"To our knowledge,  this is the first encounter of its kind,"  the village said in a statement.

A spokeswoman for the village said it based its finding that a coyote killed the sheep  "due to the nature of its injuries."

According to the statement,  no other animals were harmed,  and The Henry Ford  "has put additional measures in place to thwart future issues." 

And there are cows in the pasture.
The cattle at Firestone Farm in Greenfield Village are Shorthorns,  a breed originally developed in northeast England.

Firestone Farm is perhaps the finest example of Victorian living history I have witnessed yet.  The past comes alive here like nowhere else,  inside the house,  in the barn,  and in the fields.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So,  the next day,  Saturday  (opening day for the general public),  just happened to be the perfect spring day - sunny with highs in the mid-60s.  My friend,  Lynn,  joined me for this visit and we both wore clothing of the later 18th century.  

This was my second Greenfield Village trip in as many days.

Other friends,  Jackie and Norm,  originally planned to join us,  but sometimes life steps in and,  unfortunately,  neither could make it.

I'll get them to come another day.

There are numerous Facebook pages dedicated to The Henry Ford
which are filled with visitor photos:
Greenfield Village Friends
Friends of Greenfield Village
Friends of the Daggett House
Firestone Farm
Friends of Cotswold Cottage
and
Friends of The Henry Ford Museum
And when I saw the current  (at the time of this writing)  cover photo for
Friends of the Henry Ford Museum,  in my mind I saw colonial folk, 
so I knew what I had/wanted to do.
Upon arriving at the complex,  before entering Greenfield Village, 
I asked Lynn if she would join me in a few photo shots to help make my
vision come true,  which you see in the above picture.

One day I'll visit the original.

I also wanted a couple of solo images captured as well.

Now,  I know that this is a replication of the original Independence Hall in Philadelphia  (called the Pennsylvania State House until 1876)  - but it is an exact replication.  Henry Ford not only had the bricks made from the same brick-maker of the original,  but also included measurement mistakes as well!
However,  one thing that most people are not aware of - this building we know and love - our Independence Hall - did not look quite like this back in 1776 at the time our Founding Fathers held meetings inside,  preaching sedition,  and the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Independence Hall in Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania was renovated in 1897-1898.  During the renovation, 16 of the original beams holding up the floor on which the giants of the era debated the future of the 13 Colonies were replaced. 

Rather than discarding the old beams,  which felt the footsteps of the titans of the Revolutionary War era,  project manager and superintendent of the Independence Hall,  Samuel S.  Reeves,  retained possession of the original timbers.  Over the years,  most of the beams were sold and subsequently cut up into slivers,  producing thousands of history cards and memorabilia that were sold during the Bicentennial in 1976 all over the country and in many major department stores.

So...lucky for me I own one of those souvenir relics - it is,  in fact, 
an  "Authentic Wood Chip From an Original Beam of Independence Hall" 
during the renovation.  What's more,  this chip of an original artifact dates
back to 1735 when construction of Independence Hall was completed!

Yep---the numbered cedar chip seen in the photo is from one of those preserved beams removed during the 1897 renovation/reconstruction/stabilization!  This very cool memento was produced in 1976 to honor the 200th Anniversary of the founding of the USA.  To me,  it is a very historical item to possess,  and it comes in the original storage box.

(Much of the information above came directly from THIS site)

Okay...now we can head over to historic Greenfield Village
on such a beautiful early spring day!

My friend,  Bob Jacobs,  took the photos of us at the replicated Independence Hall.

The sunnier side of the Daggett House!
Ed Davis took this pic~

Just like the previous day,  I zipped over to the Daggett House first thing,  only stopping once to set a spell due to my bad back and sciatica.  Not only was I excited to finally be back at Greenfield Village and especially the Daggett House,  but I was also wearing my new waistcoat and coat,  purchased from Samson Historical at the Kalamazoo Living History Show the previous month.  I certainly received many kind compliments from most of the presenters,  and while at the Daggett House someone mentioned they don't usually see me dressed so finely,  for usually I have my farm/work clothes on.

This is true,  though every-so-often dressing in my go-to-meeting clothing isn't such a bad thing.

Most of the following photos were taken by Mary Marshall - - thank you kindly,  my friend!  It has been very much appreciated.

It's been since December last that I've visited the Daggett House!
It's good to be  "home!"
And in my new suit of clothes,  too---except the knee breeches.  Those
I had made for me a few years back.

Roy retired after the Christmas season,  so,  sadly,  he will not be
back at the Daggett House.  However,  Chuck is still there,  and for
the past few years he has really been honing his own
wood-working skills.  I look forward to seeing him do period projects.

Lynn and I took a nice sort of group shot with Chuck and Ruth.

As I glanced toward the kitchen  I saw my friend,  Jennifer,  working as
a presenter.  I am so happy for her - this will be such a great job and
experience.  She had participated in a few of our colonial reenactments, 
including the 4th of July and our Washington's Birthday gatherings. 
Now she's working at Daggett - she will be learning so much!

Jennifer & Lynn~

There's Jennifer,  bringing a pot o chicken for the hearth!
And that's Jane behind her - Jane has been with the Village for quite a while now - Jennifer has a good teacher!

Checking out the kitchen garden.
Soon,  each raised bed will be covered in plants for medicine and for cooking. 
I was told there was a plan to grow some heirloom apple trees in the Daggett vicinity.
I hope that comes to pass and is still part of the plan,  for that would top it all off. 

This is one of my favorite pictures taken on this day.  Maybe because you can't see my face?  lolol
No,  but seriously...I just like the look and feel and naturalness of it.
Thanks Mary!

Ed Davis took a good and a bit unusual photo,  utilizing the window reflection.

One more walk-through before moving on to other areas inside the Village.
See you next time,  ladies.  It won't be long.

Next stop - - - the home of Thomas Plympton.

As I mentioned earlier,  I am Facebook friends with a young lady from Massachusetts - the state in which this house was originally built  in the early 18th century  (in Sudbury,  Massachusetts) - and I like to sort of pose as her 6th great grandfather,  Thomas Plympton,  who was a member of the Provincial Congress in the 1770s. 

Because the house is not staffed with an employee,  it is plexi-glassed
off and we can only stand in the carpeted front entryway.  But,  with
a little bit of computer magic,  I was able to remove most of the
look of the plex-glass to give a better feel to the photo here.

Now,  let's head over to a house built in an even older century:

I know little about the 17th century.  Oh,  I am learning more and more,  but my knowledge of the 1600s cannot compare to my knowledge from the 1700s,  1800s,  and 1900s.  Still,  I find this period fascinating.  
Luckily,  I do have a few friends who immerse themselves in this time period,  so from them I learn.

And this next house is not only from that period of over 400 years ago,  but it is also from England!

I snapped Lynn  peeking out the window of this wonderful
slice of British life over from 400 years ago.

A scene of long,  long ago.
Somewhat centered  we have a house that was built about 1750 flanked 
(in this photo)  by two buildings from over a hundred years earlier.

And I was captured strolling along the back walk of this Cotswold Cottage
from 1620 England.
This structure remained in England,  owned by the same family,  and was brought over to Dearborn,  Michigan - stone by stone---one piece at a time - after Henry Ford purchased
it in the 1930s.  This place has seen a lot of history...and historical fashion!

At the time we are depicting in this photo - about 1774 - this house was already 150 years old,  and I still had a few 5th and 6th great grandparents living in England,  though I had other sets already in the colonies. 
Yep,  I do have English blood running through my veins,  yet I've had direct lines in the colonies since 1710!

And yet another 18th century house comes our way in the form of the upscale
Giddings House.

The clothing I had on - at least my green jacket - was a
bit more suited to the Giddings House rather than the
more rural Daggett House. 
Maybe I should get a fancy silk waistcoat!

The room to the left of the staircase is the  hall/best room/drawing room/the Sunday parlor - - take your pick at what to call it,  for during colonial times,  it went by all four titles,  though  "drawing room"  seemed to be the term used in the wealthier homes,  especially in the early 19th century.

During the late part of the morning we were walking along,  and,  at one point we noticed a group of homeschoolers roaming about with their teachers,  and I noticed a few were staring at colonial me.  So we moved up to the group and spoke with the kids and their educators;  since we were only a week away from Patriot's Day - The Battle of Lexington & Concord - I asked the kids a few questions about what had occurred that day.

And they got the answers right!

I was proud!

One young lad wanted his picture taken with me, so I removed my tricorn hat and placed it upon his head for the photo.

He was beaming!  I certainly wish I had a copy of that pic...

Time for our noon-time meal!

Off to the Eagle Tavern.

Now,  the Eagle Tavern was built in 1831.

When I wear my period clothing,  I try to make it a point to not visit any homes or structures that were built out of time.  I try to stick to buildings of the time I am representing,  though sometimes I can make an exception.  

The Eagle Tavern is one of those exceptions.

The 1831 Eagle Tavern

In the same way that a log cabin is a log cabin is a log cabin,  a tavern is a tavern is a tavern.

This means that even though the building may not have been around during the 1770s,  I will still enter,  for buildings such as taverns and log cabin generally  had changed little from the 18th to the 19th centuries,  meaning,  if you take a log cabin from,  say,  1840 and compare it to a log cabin built in 1740,  there will be very small,  slight details that may make them different from each other.  Chances are most in the public may not even notice those details  (except for those historians who have studied such things).

In other words...it works  for what we are doing.

The food available at the Eagle Tavern is served seasonally.  And it was on this day that I ordered a roast.

Lynn snatched this shot of my hat,  the menu,  and the candle - good one!

And a non-alcohol beverage,  for I don't drink adult drinks.

Effervescent drinks have actually been around since the 18th century,  though I'm not sure if they tasted anywhere near as good as those made in our modern times.  Unfortunately,  though I've found plenty of information on the drinks as adult beverages,  I cannot find anything on the non-alcohol variety,  which is what I was hoping to find.  I will continue my research...

A toast to our cherry effervescent drink!

But what's that sticking out of our drinks?

A straw??
Did they have straws back in those days of old?

Well...

(From The Henry Ford's blog):

Most notable among these is the presence of a piece of macaroni in place of a straw or a stirrer in their drink.  The reason for this is quite simple.  In documenting drinks of the mid-19th century,  we found that several,  including cobblers and juleps,  were invariably served with a straw or  "sucker,”  as it was often called.  Paper straws were not known in 1850,  and we were at a loss to understand how we could properly serve such drinks in a 19th-century manner.  As fortune had it,  the following entry was noticed in an 1848 American dictionary:  “Sucker,  a tube used for sucking sherry-cobblers." 

Next stop - - the 1880s Firestone Farm.

Okay,  so I didn't go inside the farm on this day all dressed the way I was,  for that's one of my rules,  though every-once-in-a-while I may bend the rules and do a quick visit to say hi.

Yes,  I do have rules for myself:

My number one rule is:  I am not an employee,  therefore,  if I am in a home with Village presenters,  I always back off when visitors come in and let the workers do their jobs.

My 2nd rule is I always try to be courteous & kind to visitors,  for most do not know that I don't work for Greenfield Village,  therefore I will not do anything that may be cause for complaints.

The 3rd rule for me is I do not make any attempts to present myself as an employee.  Yes,  if I am walking along the sidewalk and someone asks me a question,  I will happily answer any question I can,  but also letting them know I am not an employee;  that I am  "a nut who enjoys dressing from times past."  Or if they want to take my picture,  well,  absolutely.  With a smile!

These are my own simple rules that work well and will ensure a very good time without problems or issues!

Since the Firestone Farm is showing life of the 1880s,  and there is no question of its time,  I remained outside to watch as Morgan and the other farmers work the fields. 
I believe they were spreading manure this day.

I very much enjoy watching the farm work being done as the seasons change.
For over 30 years I've watched the seasonal farm work done at Greenfield Village - and have even taken part here and there - and I never tire of it.

I have to admit,  I enjoyed this few minutes of peace,  watching the farmers do their work.  

Upon turning around,  I saw another scene from the 19th century:

The Liberty Craftworks section of Greenfield Village has a history all its own.

From left we have the 1832 Loranger Gristmill originally built by Ed Loranger in Monroe,  Michigan,  where grain was ground into flour.  The little white building is the printing shop,  which was built inside the Village in 1933.  And the red Gunsolly Carding Mill was originally built on the outskirts of the Michigan town of Plymouth in about 1850.  This was where wool from sheep could be prepared/carded in preparation for spinning.  As for the next building,  made of brick,  we learn that Henry Ford,  by using surviving bricks and the wooden framework from the original 1825 Boston and Sandwich Glass Company located in Sandwich,  Massachusetts,  was able to rebuild the structure in his new Village in 1930,  which continues to be used for glass blowing.  And the red bricks on the far right are just part of a walkthrough archway near the store from 2003.

Then there's the Mill Pond.

As The Henry Ford explains on their placard:

This millpond is connected to other ponds in Greenfield Village based on an original 1929 design by Henry Ford.

In many early villages and towns,  millponds were created by damming streams and rivers to build up a reserve of water.  Millers controlled a release that directed some of the water through channels toward the mills,  like those in the Liberty Craftwork district.  The water the turned a water wheel that powered the mill machinery.

Created in 2003 in Greenfield Village.

Notice the bridge in the middle of the photo above.  This was built inside the Village in 2003 and,  as I was told,  is based on what is known as the Burnside Bridge in Sharpsburg,  Maryland,  where a major Civil War battle occurred in September of 1862:

About 500 Confederate soldiers held the area overlooking the Lower Bridge for three hours.  Union General Burnside's command finally captured the bridge and crossed Antietam Creek,  which forced the Confederates back toward Sharpsburg.  

Here is a picture I took of the original while visiting Sharpsburg,  Maryland a number of years ago: 

This is the original historic  Burnside Bridge in Sharpsburg,  Maryland that the bridge in Greenfield Village is based on.

Known at the time of the battle as the Rohrbach or Lower Bridge,  this picturesque crossing over Antietam Creek was built in 1836 to connect Sharpsburg with Rohrersville,  the next town to the south.  It was actively used for traffic until 1966 when a bypass enabled the bridge to be restored to its 1862 appearance.  

And Greenfield Village replicated a portion of it – pretty cool.

Finding history sometimes where you least expect it.

Next up,  the Weaving Shop,  where all sorts of historic looms and spinning wheels are located,  was another stop for us,  but instead of going in,  which I've done quite often,  I like the aesthetic appeal of the exterior of this 1840 structure,  for it does have the look and feel of an even earlier time.

This building once housed cotton gins used for separating the seeds from the cotton.  At that time,  most of the first floor was open,  allowing access for horses to the drive mechanism for the gin.  Once brought to Greenfield Village,  initially the first floor remained open,  but by 1944 the lower level had been enclosed.

Yeah...lotsa pictures of both my friend Lynn and I.  But having your likeness taken is part of the whole dressing in period clothing and visiting a historic place such as Greenfield Village experience.  At reenactments or living history events,  there are plenty of pictures snapped,  certainly,  but visiting a historic open-air museum leaves for plenty of photo-opportunities.

I've often been asked what that sack is I carry flung over my back.

It's called a market wallet.

According to Samson Historical,  where I purchased mine,  it is a simple over the shoulder style market wallet,  which is based on original examples and period descriptions,  and is often made from natural coarse linen,  of which mine is.  They were very popular for shopping trips and trips to the market place,  and could hold a good amount of items.  They are easily balanced,  for there is an opening in the center,  making them very practical.  Market Wallets were used by civilians and military personnel from the 16th through the 19th centuries.

I utilize mine a bit differently:  I tied up the one end,  leaving the opening easily accessible,  and I just carry it normally or fling it over my shoulder,  holding the knotted end in my grip.  I prefer to use it in this manner so I don't need to worry so much about balancing items on both ends.

It's here I keep my camera and extra camera batteries well out of site of modern folk - this way I can pull out the camera,  snap a shot,  then quickly hide it away.

You can see I am holding on to the end I tied up.

For Civil War reenacting,  I carry a carpet bag.

Believe me when I say my colonial market wallet is much easier to carry!  

I've also often been asked about my period clothing.  There are plenty of sources I go to when getting period-accurate clothing for my living history excursions,  and I don't just purchase from a single vendor.  For my coat and waistcoat  (vest),  I prefer Samson Historical - historical outfitters.  They have the best,  most accurate ready to wear clothing at reasonable prices.  And I do prefer their cocked/tricorn hats as my main head gear.

For my shoes I prefer Townsends,  for they sell,  at a great price,  straight-last  (no left or right)  long-lasting  (no pun intended)  shoes.  In fact,  their shoes are every bit as comfortable and sturdy as my modern shoes,  if not more so.  I also love their woolen cloaks for winter-wear.

Both Samson's and Townsends have good knee breeches,  though the pair I am wearing on this day I had especially made/sewn for me by a friend.

For shirts,  cravats,  and socks I'll also go to either company.  The same for period accessories  (lanterns,  dinnerware,  etc).

Ah...Lynn and I posing again!

Whether I am  "just visiting,"  such as when I go to Greenfield Village,  or if I am at a full-blown reenactment event,  I do try to be as accurate as I can be.

.

So...that was the opening weekend for Greenfield Village.  One day was damp,  dark,  and dreary,  while the next was sunny,  savory,  and  (sorry - I'm a poet & don't know it)  cheery.

No matter the weather,  I always enjoy spending time there,  and now that I am retired,  I plan to visit weekly,  as I did last summer.  No I do not dress period all the time when there---most of my visits are in modern clothing,  which makes period visits that much more special.

I hope you enjoyed this journey to the past.  We are blessed here in metro-Detroit to have such a quality museum as The Henry Ford,  for,  aside from the open-air Greenfield Village there is also the enclosed Henry Ford Museum,  of which I did an updated blog post HERE.  I also did a posting about a few of the structures relocated here that played a role in America's Revolutionary War HERE.  In fact,  the previous posting to this one carries links to the majority of my Revolution postings (HERE).

Besides my own pictures,  thanks to Lynn Anderson,  Mary Marshall,  Ed Davis,  and Bob Jacobs for their wonderful images---!

But---before you leave there is one more thing I'd like to show you:

The new DETROIT sign on the I-94 freeway - I love it!

Some refer to it as the  “Hollywood-style”  Detroit sign.  The sign,  which is located along I-94 eastbound between Central Street and Cecil Avenue,  went up in early April,  ahead of the 2024 NFL draft,  which the city is hosting for the first time.  Each letter is 8-feet tall and all are perched atop 2-foot concrete blocks.

As I wrote on my Facebook page:
"On my way back from Greenfield Village,  I took a snap of the new Detroit sign on I-94.

I hear a lot of crap about it - (can't please everyone,  I suppose) - but I really like it!  I think it's awesome - - the only thing I  *might*  have done different was have the  "Old English D"  rather than the D they used - - but otherwise,  Detroit,  ya done good!  Two thumbs up!"

Seems that I'm in the general minority,  for a lot of locals do not like it and consider it a waste of money.  Well,  maybe to some,  but sometimes it's these little,  somewhat unobtrusive things that can make a small difference.  Per normal for nearly everything these days,  the division seems to be along political party lines.  The Democrats,  I heard,  came up with the idea,  so Republicans hate it while Democrats generally like it - mostly because it was  "their"  idea.  Those of us who are not political party people - those of us who consider political parties separate cheeks of the same butt - like or dislike it based on our own personal taste,  which I can respect.  And I don't consider it  "Hollywood"  in any way.  There is no comparison - and that's the best part of it.

Detroit needs positive press - we've had nothing but negativity since 1968,  and for good reason.  But we've improved greatly over the past 50-something years,  and sometimes little things like this can give it a bit of a boost and a touch of pride.

So,  yeah...Detroit,  ya done good.

Okay - rant over.

Have a wonderful and very blessed day,  week,  month,  year...

Until next time,  see you in time.

GREENFIELD   VILLAGE