Remembering Flint, Michigan: Stories from the Vehicle City

by Arcadia Publishing

Overview

Remembering Flint, Michigan puts the pedal to the metal for a fast-paced journey through the Vehicle City's halcyon days.

Few cities have as complex and fascinating a history as that of Flint, Michigan. Sit back and enjoy a drive through the good old days - the people, the places, and the cars that have been a part of the city's long road into modernity.

Join local history columnist Gary Flinn as he examines the contributions of oft-overlooked David Buick, the inventive and invaluable Flint auto pioneer who lacked the business savvy to become an auto legend. Travel back to the original Kewpee Burger and wash it down with an old Vernor's Ginger Ale before catching a show at Capitol Theatre. Take a front-row seat as Keith Moon, drummer of rock icons The Who, celebrates his 21st birthday at the local Holiday Inn and creates the blueprint for rock roll excess with his legendary hotel stay. Fast-forward a few years and flip open a copy of the Flint Voice, the alternative newspaper published by controversial filmmaker and Flint native Michael Moore. Come along for the journey and time travel through Flint—the Vehicle City.

This fast-paced and electrifying look at the rich history of Flint compiles and updates articles from the beloved Uncommon Sense alternative press as well as previously unpublished histories, archival photographs, advertisements, and images. A must read for fans of fast lives, faster cars, and huge dreams, fasten your seat belt because Remembering Flint, Michigan is a wild ride!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781609490188
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	10/04/2010
Series:	American Chronicles
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	670,937
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Gary Flinn is a product of the Flint Community Schools and a graduate of Mott Community College and Michigan State University who lived in the Flint area most of his life. His earliest writings were for Flint Central High School publications the Tribal Times and The Arrow Head. Besides the Uncommon Sense, he also contributed articles for Your Magazine, the Flint Journal and Downtown Flint Revival magazine. During the day, Gary Flinn helps run IO Software, a computer store in Flint.

Table of Contents

Preface 11

Acknowledgements 13

A Trip to Flint's Historic Cemeteries 15

Stockton Center at Spring Grove 21

David Buick: A Forgotten Auto Pioneer 27

Driving Underneath the Arches 31

Banks from Flint's Past 35

When Mass Transit Used Electricity 43

Kearsley Park, Then and Now 49

Hamady Sacks and Yankee Hats 53

Flint's Own Brand of Soda Pop 61

Durand Union Station, Then and Now 67

Durant Hotel, Then and Now 73

Remembering Flint Central High School 79

A Tasty Part of Flint History 85

First Street Lofts 89

Goodbye, WFDF 93

Downtown Flint's Coney Island Restaurants 99

The Capitol Theatre: A Downtown Flint Jewel 103

Community Schools: A Flint Invention 107

The History of Flint's Alternative Newspapers 113

Before Don, Before Woody, There Was Bill 117

The Great Flood of 1947 123

Flint's Drive-In Theaters 127

The History of Flint's Rescue Missions 133

Flint's Cartoon Mascots 137

Early TV in Flint, Or the Lack of It 145

The Citizens Bank Weather Ball: A Very Useful Landmark 151

The Bookstore Raids of October 1963 155

The Dort Mall: Magnet for Collectible Buffs 159

Remembering Local Rock Legend Terry Knight 163

Keith Moon's Infamous Birthday Party in Flint 167

Flint's Connection with The Gong Show 171

A Visit to a Sign Company's Boneyard 175

AutoWorld: It Seemed to Be a Good Idea on Paper 181

When Hollywood Came to Flint 187

About the Author 191