Customer Reviews

Oakland Police Department (CA) (Images of America)

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Thank you authors, James Conway and David Jamroz, for putting together a wonderful book on a jewel in Detroit's history. Historic Fort Wayne was built in the early 1840's and saw troops going off to fight, from the Civil War in the 1860's through VietNam in the 1960's and all the wars in between. This book highlights the very beginnings of the fort's history (even before - a bit on the founding of Detroit starts the book off) and, through hundreds of photographs, moves us right up to the 21st century where this gem is now (very slowly - much too slowly) being restored.
My favorite pictures are from the Civil War - but there are quite a few from all the wars of the 19th and 20th centuries. And there is even a chapter on its restoration.
Detroit has a history of forgetting its history. I cannot tell you how many historic structures were torn down for one inane reason or another. In fact, it's still happening to this very day - plans to tear down the beautiful and classic structure of Tiger Stadium - built in 1912 - are being discussed as I write this.
But, that's the way Detroit is.
Unfortunately, Detroit has all but ignored Historic Fort Wayne (oh, the powers that be will throw a few pennies toward restoration here and there, but hardly enough to justify any acclamations). It's the Detroit Historical Society that is doing the real restoration work by having Civil War reenactors have mock battles and the such in order to raise money. Maybe some of the city fathers can give a little of their own cash (are you listening Mr. Illitch?) and bring this gem to where it should be. Folks, Historic Fort Wayne is a true ORIGINAL historical fort that just happens to be one of the few remaining structures Detroit has from the first half of the 19th century.

"Detroit's Historic Fort Wayne" is a great picture book, but it cannot and should not be taken as a serious historical work. While the building descriptions and physical facts (acreage, wall height, fort trace, etc.) seem to be fairly accurate, the authors' exploration of Fort Wayne's intangible past is severely limited and leaves much to be desired. The authors rely on dangerously thin research and provide inadequate substantiation for their work, despite their claims of having used a multitude of source material. After reading the book, it is difficult to understand how two historians failed so thoroughly at such a simple task -- writing picture captions.

In all fairness to the authors, who undoubtedly have some affection for Fort Wayne, their book spotlights the fort and demonstrates a good faith effort. Good intentions, however, are not grounds for a good review. "Detroit's Historic Fort Wayne" presents an excellent collection of photographs, but it is rife with shallow analysis and shoddy history. It is an absolute and unmitigated shame that this book is the only "history" of Fort Wayne, Detroit widely available to the public.

I ordered the book, but your review is not for Oakland California!
Your review is for Oakland County, Michigan!
Please correct.