Last post I mentioned that the Meijers is being built on land that used to be a farm prison. I thought it would expand on that a little.
The Detroit House of Corrections, or what we affectionately used to call DeHoCo, was established in 1860 in the city of Detroit. Eventually, due to overcrowding in 1919 the city purchased 1,000 acres of farmland from Northville Township and Plymouth Township and built a farm prison. The prisoners actually were housed in tents before the buildings were built! And yes, prisoners would escape but the area was so rural that they really didn't get far!
Anyway, here's a diagram of where it used to be:
The black circle was the prison land. The red circle is where I live now and the blue mark is where the Meijers is being built. The top half of the black circle was the prison buildings and the bottom half was prison farm, where I guess the inmates grew fruits and vegetables to feed the prison population.
In 1979 Detroit sold the land to the State of Michigan and it became the Western Wayne County Women's Facility.
Soon the area started to become more populated with houses and restaurants. Before the prison closed for good the only building left was the one at the bottom of the picture. There was a big walking track and I remember when we would go to dinner at one of the restaurants, we would see the girls out walking the track!
In 2004 the facility closed down and the land was sold back to Northville Twp and Plymouth Twp. This is what it looks like now.
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It's getting blooms in the circled areas! This is the goofiest plant ever!
Yesterday was the boys last day of school for the summer. Brad always goes with them for drop off on the last day.
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That was a lot of land. So where did they move the prison?
ReplyDeleteHope the boys have a great summer.
I think they moved the women to the Women's Huron Vally Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti.
DeleteIt's always fascinating to me to see how areas change over the years. I have had zero luck with azaleas since we left Florida and I have no idea why. I hope you and your family have a great summer.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting, Jeanette. I know you will enjoy your Meijers once it is built. The state prison in town here has been moved as well, to a tiny town nearby. I'm sure the folks in that tiny town are "dying a thousand deaths" as no one wants a huge state prison facility to disrupt the small town atmosphere. I feel sorry for them. As to the land of the former prison here, the city council is salivating with ideas...expensive houses, more retail businesses that the people in town can't afford (only the folks from Chicago with summer homes on the lakefront can!) and property tax income galore. *sigh* Turning it into a beautiful green space with picnic tables & playgrounds, so that even the poor can enjoy it? Nah...not a chance. :-/
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ReplyDeleteThose backpacks look huge! At least the land is being put to use. A lot of facilities that close around here just sit abandoned for years.
Interesting about the prison!!
ReplyDeleteNot sure when school lets out here. I'm still seeing the school buses so is hasn't happened yet.
That land has quite a history. That's interesting that they actually housed inmates in tents while they were building. I can see how that would make it easier for them to escape.
ReplyDeleteThank you for clarifying. What an interesting history for that area. It seems you're in a growing part of town, what with the new stores popping up.
ReplyDeleteThose boys will grow into their backpacks sooner than later. I hope they have a fabulous summer!