“Out of the Smoke Zone into the Ozone” was the persuasive slogan. It lured city dwellers to the nascent Rosedale Park. Imagine those early days. Wide-open fields replaced the lovely homes, trees, and paved roads we see today.
Rosedale Park began its journey in October 1835. President Andrew Jackson deeded 80 acres to Mr. Otis C. Freeman. The same year, he granted 40 acres to Mr. George Bellamy. The land changed hands many times. In 1916, the Rosedale Park Land Company bought a portion and subdivided it for development.
Early residents displayed courage. They showed foresight. They ventured into what was essentially the countryside. Fenkell Avenue was then known as 12th Street. Southfield Road was Mill Road. It was a narrow, unpaved lane. Elderberry hedges, wild grapes, trees and bushes grew along its sides. The Rosedale Park Land Company envisioned a premier residential community. They set firm restrictions on the types of homes allowed.
November 15, 1917 marked a milestone. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Barkley, with their infant son, became the first residents. Their new home stood at the northwest corner of Ashton and Chalfonte. A red barn stood at Fenkell and Grand River, where Chase Bank is today. The Barkleys disliked the barn’s smell. The Rosedale Park Land Company had it removed. Initially, only the first blocks on Ashton and Rosemont were developed. Wildflowers filled the remaining land. You are now standing in the original Rosedale Park. The area north of Grand River was later subdivided as North Rosedale Park.
Life in early Rosedale Park had a rural charm. Residents had rural mail delivery with boxes on Fenkell Avenue. They used country phones with a distinctive five-ring signal. Artesian wells provided water. There were no streetlights. Farmland and woods surrounded the area. A.J. Stahelin owned much of it. His home was on Fenkell Avenue, now the Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church. Stahelin’s nursery was where the Grandland Shopping Plaza now stands. Fenkell Avenue was a mud road. Grand River was a narrow strip with one streetcar track. The streetcars turned around at the southwest corner of Grand River and Fenkell.
Edison Detroit Public School, then called Grandmont, had a good reputation as a country school. A small Kroger store was nearby. However, most shopping occurred in Redford and Strathmoor. Fire protection posed a significant challenge. Residents stored a manual drive fire hose in a shed on Glastonbury. To get fire trucks from the City of Detroit, they had to post a cash bond. They then needed to gather more subscriptions for a new bond. This spurred the creation of the Rosedale Park Improvement Association.
In 1924, a construction boom began. In 1925, Rosedale Park became part of Detroit. Annexation brought no free fire protection. Residents now paid higher city taxes than city dwellers. Some city residents quipped, “That’s what you get for moving beyond the prairies.”
Fourth of July celebrations were spectacular. A parade started the day. Parents spent days creating floats. Children decorated wagons and bikes. Prizes went to the most beautiful, comical, and original entries. Afternoons featured games like tug of war. There was horseshoe pitching. A ball game pitted the ladies against the men. Hot dogs, lemonade, coffee, ice cream, and cake were served. Families paid a small fee. Local merchants donated prizes. One year, a bald man won a bottle of hair tonic. Evenings concluded at the Great Lakes Theatre.
Corn and Hot Dog Roasts were another tradition. They took place each fall. Ladies baked pumpkin pies. The picnic grounds on Grandville hosted the annual event. Rosedale Park has maintained a small-town feel. The slogan “Small Town Living in a Big City” was formally adopted in 1998.
The Rosedale Park Improvement Association continues traditions. The summer picnic in Flintstone Park is very popular. It offers food and entertainment. The Easter Egg Hunt at Stoepel Park and the Children’s Holiday Pancake Breakfast before Christmas remain special events for dues-paying residents. As you enjoy Rosedale Park remember its rich history. Each action you take contributes to tomorrow’s history.