Around about 1894, Bloody Run, a creek running through the east side of Detroit, was being filled and used as a dumping ground. It was about two blocks wide and as I remember it, about twenty-five feet deep, full of junk, ashes and all the trash of this growing city. It ran under a bridge across Gratiot Avenue and Jefferson Avenue. With bonfires all over the place, poor people and kids digging and hunting for anything they considered usable or saleable, horses and wagons dumping more stuff all the time--this made it an interesting and smelly place. It was hard for mothers to keep the boys from going there and coming home loaded down with junk and dirtier than pigs.

I depended on the dumping grounds for wheels for wagons, boards and nails for bunks, iron and other metals to sell to the junk men for money. I think it was an economical asset to the poor families of that part of Detroit, as I would see men, and women, digging and pulling carts loaded with stuff that must have been of some value to them. I had a slight knowledge of the history of Bloody Run, but I never thought of its former beauty as a beautiful stream through rolling country as that was a period gone with Pontiac and his Indians.

It took a good many years to fill this valley, or dump, but as soon as it was filled it was sold as lots and before you knew it, people started building homes. Why this ground never settled and disturbed these homes I can't tell you--but these homes stood for many years. Many a successful politician, lawyer and doctor were born, raised and educated in these homes which eventually had large trees, gardens, grass lawns and everything a true home requires.

In after years, I learned what a history this section had. It must have been a beautiful place with trees, birds, with animals. Many a fight between Indians, English and French soldiers had taken place there. Chief Pontiac just have held powwows here and as the name, Bloody Run, indicates there was plenty of English and Indian blood that had been mixed in that stream at certain periods. A certain section of this valley was turned into two cemeteries "Elmwood" and "Mt. Elliot". It is worth going to see them as they are beautiful and you can really see what this part of Detroit looked like a hundred years ago. The valleys, hills, trees, streams and duck ponds are still there all covered with grave stones and mausoleums--but you do not need much imagination to picture this beautiful valley as it was back in the days of Chief Pontiac. Boy, these grave stones are like a record of old Detroit: its heroes, politicians, working men, and doctors all of whom lived, worked and died leaving their marks on Detroit.

I have often sketched and made water colors in these cemeteries and really think every Detroiter should visit them some time, especially in the fall when it is at its best. You will come back to your modern home, and modern problems, with a feeling that other people lived, loved, worked and died before we come here, and that the same thing will eventually happen to us and why worry about all the problems we take so seriously as they will pass and be forgotten.

Elmwood, a catholic cemetery, is an interesting place. Here the Monks, with sandals, cassock and a rope around their waists (some bald headed, some with beards and other clean shaven) dig the graves, clean up and take care of the cemetery. It gives it a continental flavor. These Monks, of the Caupuchine Order, besides taking care of the cemetery have a beautiful church right outside of the cemetery. They have a proud record of feeding the sick, the old and hungry people at all times. There are no questions asked, just walk in and they will feed you. Go out and see these cemeteries, visit the Monks, look over the rolling hills, think of Old Chief Pontiac, put a dollar in the poor box of the Church, and you will feel better and maybe be a better citizen of Detroit.