Detroit 300 Tri-centennial Celebration

On January 31, 2001 nearly 5,000 participants were honored with a Heritage Recognition Breakfast at Cobo Hall. All of those in attendance had been in business for more than 50 years and could show a connection with the City of Detroit. Local 892 was chartered on July 23, 1941 in Brooklyn, Michigan and was tied to Detroit through the International Union. Local 892 President Don Cattell and Financial Secretary Dan Shepherd represented our Local at the Recognition Breakfast and accepted the plaque recognizing our 60 years of commitment to the city of Detroit.

George Jerome & Co. received a special award for being the oldest continuous business in Michigan. In 1828, Edwin Jerome in Detroit founded the surveying firm, George Jerome & Co., nine years before Michigan became a state. The company has been involved in many of Detroit's most important projects, including the City-County Building, Detroit/Windsor Tunnel, and Harbortown on the riverfront. George Jerome represents the fifth generation of the Jerome family to run the business.

The Catholic Church, Sainte Anne of Detroit, was recognized as the oldest organization in Detroit. The beginnings date back to July 26, 1701 when Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac built a chapel in honor of Ste. Anne. The parish's most renowned priest, Father Gabriel Richard (1767-1832) is often called "the second founder of Detroit." He was also the first priest to serve in the U.S. Congress and co-founded the University of Michigan, among many other notable achievements.

Emery King, WDIV/TV4 News Anchor, hosted the event and introduced Edsel B. Ford II, the Chairman of Detroit 300. He unveiled the sterling silver cup, (shown above) atop a riser of silver spacers with all the engraved names of the businesses and organizations that were being honored. Edsel presented an overview of what to expect throughout the year as we continue to celebrate. 

* July 24th will be the day Detroit 300 Festival will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the landing of Cadillac on July 24, 1701. This reenactment will begin at Belle Isle and the landing will be at the new Riverfront Promenade Park on the Detroit River.

*  July 19-21 will be Sail Detroit when they will be having Schooners, brigs and other classic sailing vessels on the Detroit River. 

* July 25th will be Spiritual day. Ste. Anne de Detroit will celebrate their 300th anniversary. Ste. Anne is the oldest church in Michigan and the second oldest set of continuous records in the United States, dating from 1704 to today. The present church was erected in 1886 located near the later built Ambassador Bridge. Tours will be available of this French neo-Gothic style construction with its beautiful stained glass windows. 

* October will be the dedication of the Underground Railroad Monument.

* December 15, 2001, will be the Detroit 300 Gala Dinner. 

* December 31, 2001 will be the installation of the time capsule that will be opened in 2101. Windsor is going to be included in the celebration because of the close ties between the two cities.

Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar and plan to make this celebration a part of your 2001 vacation plans. Be a part of the festivities that will be talked about for the next one hundred years.