Algonac MI.

[Guest]

I remember back in the early 50's that Gar Wood had a building on Point Tremble with a bunch of Allison V-12 war surplus aircraft engines stored outside the building in wooden crates. I seem to recall that most of his racing boats had Packard engines. I believe that he built most of his racing boats in that building and tested them on the river, just outside the building.

I'm sort of vague on my family's connection with Gar Wood as I concentrated more on freighters than racing boats. I do, however, have a Gruen pocket watch given to my great grandfather by Gar Wood with an inscription thanking him for his many years of service and for his help in retaining the Harnsworth Trophy. The inscription is dated 1932.

[ed]

I remember back in the early 50's that Gar Wood had a building on Point Tremble with a bunch of Allison V-12 war surplus aircraft engines stored outside the building in wooden crates. I seem to recall that most of his racing boats had Packard engines. I believe that he built most of his racing boats in that building and tested them on the river, just outside the building.

[Guest]

Thanks to everyone for bringing me up to speed on Algonac. I sure miss that old town. I also traveled up north to Marine City. That great town looks almost the same as I remember in the 50's and 60's. Many old memories were reborn when I saw the old buildings and homes. Do they still have tours of the homes in Marine city ? Many workers at the Chris Craft plant were able to take home unused lumber from the plant and build beautiful woodwork in their homes. I would like to thank the folks who took the time to reply to my post and help an old timer relive the past.

My grandfather, W. Lisee, and great grandfather worked at Chris Craft in Algonac. My great grandfather was instrumental in the design and construction of Gar Wood's Miss America X (U-10) and I believe a number of other wooden craft both of the racing and pleasure variety. My grandfather (he died when I was around 3 years old) made a bookshelf for me shortly after I was born that has been moved all over the world during the past 47 years and is as strong as I remember it as a child. I appears to have been made from high quality lumber that most likely came from the Chris Craft plant.

[ed]

Thanks to everyone for bringing me up to speed on Algonac. I sure miss that old town. I also traveled up north to Marine City. That great town looks almost the same as I remember in the 50's and 60's. Many old memories were reborn when I saw the old buildings and homes. Do they still have tours of the homes in Marine city ? Many workers at the Chris Craft plant were able to take home unused lumber from the plant and build beautiful woodwork in their homes. I would like to thank the folks who took the time to reply to my post and help an old timer relive the past.

[JH]

Ed,

I grew up in Marine City. I believe Henry's closed in 2001 and was torn down the next year or so. I think the major downtown urban renewal occurred in the early 70's. I think it was completed by 72-73 or earlier?.. i don't know exactly when the old Christ Craft plant closed and then several years later they developed the harbor and yacht club/marina on that property.

[Don_Detloff]

I grew up in the Algonac area during the 50's and 60's. Last week I took a ride to the downtown area and boy - things have changed a lot ! What year did they remove the stores along the waterfront and why ? I remember Pool's grocery store, the Ford dealer and Henry's. Those stores were the downtown tax base. It's good to see the union building still stands - how did they survive when all others were torn down ? It's good to see progress I guess but, I miss the old town a lot.

Downtown Algonac was torn down around 1970 with Federal money for urban renewal. I agree, along with losing all the old businesses, Algonac lost its character. Henry's remained for several years and was sold to new owners that kept it open for a few more years. It was finally torn down just a few years ago and the property is now a parking lot for the residents of Russell Island.

St. Clair also tore down their old businesses about the same time using money from the same Federal program.

Fortunately, Marine City didn't follow along and still retains the character of a small waterfront town and seems to be doing quite well.

Where did you live in Algonac? My grandparents lived on the corner of Washington and Dixie.

- Don

[Guest]

I moved to Algonac in late 1979 at the age of 11 and always heard that the town went through an urban renewal during the 1970s. I remember seeing a billboard for many years portraying a high rise motel/apartment complex (can't remember which), but, obviously, this never went anywhere. I lived near the intersection of Mill and Michigan streets and remember seeing the old rails of the interurban service that used to run through town through cracks in the cement Michigan street. The downtown has changed quite a bit since I grew up.

[ed]

I grew up in the Algonac area during the 50's and 60's. Last week I took a ride to the downtown area and boy - things have changed a lot ! What year did they remove the stores along the waterfront and why ? I remember Pool's grocery store, the Ford dealer and Henry's. Those stores were the downtown tax base. It's good to see the union building still stands - how did they survive when all others were torn down ? It's good to see progress I guess but, I miss the old town a lot.