This one is interesting. Anyone know where Hamilton Park is or was?
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It is still there at Root, 5th Ave, and King. Just a small triangle. An old marble drinking fountain is the only landmark.
ReplyDeleteWhat year is that postcard? Is it a postcard?
ReplyDeleteYes, an old postcard I found on the web, but no date. Any guesses?
ReplyDeleteThe lady in the right side of the postcard appears to be in twenties garb as she enters the park area.
ReplyDeleteWell, from the trees and the woman's fashion I'm guessing around 1900 or 1910. But that's a BIG guess.
ReplyDeleteYour photo postcard Gordy is the site of the Durant Hotel. That is Detroit (now MLK) on the left with Saginaw on the right. The fountain was moved to it's new location many years ago.
ReplyDeleteGerry, so this is the current McFarlan Park before they build the Durant? Not the little park at Detroit, Root and 5th?
ReplyDeleteMy Dad's last store location before he sold and retired faced the 5th/Detroit(MLK)/Root park, just across the street. I looked at that park a lot in the 60s. I don't think it ever was particularly important.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gerry's conclusion...except I don't think the fountain was ever moved. Rather, I think probably the park triangle became maybe thirty feet narrower when Detroit Street was widened from two to four lanes, because there already were buildings along the opposing side of the street.
The Durant was built in 1920. I'd guess that Detroit Street was widened before that construction, as Flint north of the river became much more built-up.
I have been doing a little research on this park lately Gordy and what I think has happened here is, whoever labeled this postcard got the McFarlan park confused with the similar but entirely different Hamilton park.
ReplyDeleteI'm still not sure and have been looking at the numerous photos taken of McFarlan over the years and just maybe they used the same style fountain in both parks, because this postcard shows the fountain closer than it should appear if it were McFarlan. I will keep you posted.
ReplyDeleteCheck out the sidewalk, it is identical to the current (strange) Hamilton Park configuration. McFarlan Parks sidewalk pattern is much more complicated.
ReplyDeleteI was told that the current fountain in Hamilton Park was unearthed during demolition at some nearby site in the late 70s.
Trees on the west side of Detroit St. would have been in front of the old block where the College Inn as located. Given the location that block would have been pretty full circa 1925. By contrast the Vogts building across from Hamilton Park appears to be late 20s or 1930s vintage.
Cool website with info on historic Flint parks. I wanna wanna go to Crapo Island.
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/lapeer/gen/ch29/parks.html
Could this have been at the intersection of Detroit and Ave C?
Excellent link, thanks.
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