So apparently the Detroit Police once had their own private country club on Lake Erie, just outside of Wheatley. It was built in 1926, but I can’t find any other information about the place. These are construction photos I’ve come across, so it was actually built. I’m hoping someone out there knows something about it… Like where exactly it was, what happened to the building, the club?
From the Border Cities Star – November 20, 1926:
Surrounding the club house is 23 acres of beautiful landscape, while in front there is a stretch of 700 feet of bathing beach. Officials of the organization hope to hold the opening next spring.
A 9 hole golf course was one of the features of the property. The second and third floors contained a total of 41 bedrooms, for the accommodation of club members, for weekend getaways and longer vacations as well. There were also plans to run a bus service for members who didn’t want to drive.
Quite a place, and a bit of the forgotten history of Essex County.
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Awesome i have always wondered about the life of that building. The design and structure of that building being a balloon type structure is gorgeous. i wished there were more pictures on it i have never seen new ones. Thank you i have known that building since i was a kid. I had to laugh from the shorter trip the Wheatley FD would have i would have to agree.
At the turn of the century my grandfather, Milton Crewe purchased the 23 acre property on lot 198 with intentions of setting up his commercial fishery there. He also purchased lot 199 which is next to the lakeside Village trailer park. He sold the lot 198 to the Detroit police Country Club after that.
When the stocks crashed in 1929 construction immediately stopped. They walked away from it all leaving concrete to solidify in the mixers . My grandfather held the mortgage to the place so he got it back at that time. My aunt got a group together and organized dances at the place for a short time.
Milton died in 1937 and my grandmother Rose Crewe, sold the property shortly before my parents were married in the 1940s. It was purchased and operated by a local chapter of the Penticostal Church and as far as I know it was still theirs when it burned in 1960. I have old 35mm movies of the fire. As a keepsake, I still have the keys to the front doors.
This place was just west of the Craig Hurst orchard. Mr. crewe did you know Mr. T Craig or his partners in his apple orchard?
Yes I know Tom and Shelly quite well. They recently moved this summer.
The orchard they had was run in partnership with Tyherst orchards in Leamington. They removed the apple trees there about 10 years ago.
Aaron was not quite right with his map, but George Crewe's information is correct. The property is just east of Robinson
Motorcycle on the lake shore. I have aerial pictures from my Mom and Dad, of the building with large event tents set up in the yard. It is quite interesting looking at the old cars in the yard as well. Mom told me stories of the beautiful building, the marble dance floor, the huge fireplace. They used to hold pageants on the stage in the large auditorium.
As a result of some construction work being done on the second floor making bedrooms, there was an electrical fire. The night that it caught fire, my Mom thought it was the "moon" over the lake, but it was actually the fire. The building was destroyed. Some time later, my parents bought the property and its still in the family today.