Detroit Strange

Latest Episodes:

Ep.43 - Let's Go On a River Cruise! (Boblo Island) May 19, 2020

Show notes

On this week's episode Jess and Alex give more of their quarantine updates, playing line games to pass the time, and discuss their citrus based drinks. Alex goes on to tell Jess about Bois Blanc Island, or as most know it by; Boblo Island. What was the island originally used for? What happened to the beloved amusement park and the Boblo boats that used to carry Detroiters to the island? Also what did the island have to do with the Vietnam War? All this and more on this week's episode of Detroit Strange! #stayStrange

Ep.42 - Dear Nancy (Nancy Brown, Detroit's Dear Abby) May 12, 2020

Show notes

In this episode Jess & Alex both sip on margaritas from their respective homes (jalapeno/frozen strawberry) while Jess tells Alex all about the mystery that was the writer of the Detroit News' Experience column from the late 1920's into the early 1940's. Her identity was kept secret as she went by the pen name "Nancy Brown." Her readers trusted her so much that they helped her raise money to construct a peace carillon on Belle Isle to be a home for a series of Sunrise Services. How was the construction? Who was the mysterious Nancy in real life? What kinds of advice did she give her readers? Tune in and find out!

You can check out the rest of the Peace Carillon's song here - Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCxEAk1lgtc&t=33s

Ep.41 - The Lyon's Share (The Feud Between Sophie Lyons and Theresa Lewis) May 06, 2020

Show notes

On this weeks episode, Alex and Jess talk outdoor activities and various hard seltzer brands before diving into the story of Sophie Lyons, Queen of the Underworld, and Theresa Lewis, one of Detroit's first female detectives, and their vicious rivalry. How did Sophie get her early start in crime? How did Theresa Lewis go from running a boarding house to undercover detective? And how far did their rivalry go? Learn this and more on this week's episode!

Ep.40 - Death is the Doorman (Yondotega Club) Apr 28, 2020

Show notes

In Episode 40 Jess & Alex sit down to a nice zoom chat with better equipment set ups as they talk about what movies & shows they've watched to keep themselves occupied during quarantine. They share their Quarantini's with each other (Rum & Crystal Light, Tequila Sour) and Jess tells Alex all about Detroit (and one of the World's) most exclusive clubs; the Yondotega. The club has been around for over 100 hundred years, doesn't say much about their selection process (other than you need to be a gentlemen who does gentlemanly things), and new members are only selected when a previous member has passed away. Why did they have to go to trial in the 1930's? Where are they located? Who pays for their parties? Tune in and find out!

Ep.39 - Now You See Her, Now You Don't (Mother Elinor and the Flying Roller Colony) Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

In Episode 39 Alex and Jess try at live streaming again while Alex takes Jess on a journey! He tells her all about Mother Elinor (a woman of many identities) and the Flying Roller Colony and the New Eve Cult. What did she do for Houdini to call her "one of the most extraordinary fake mediums and mystery swindlers the world has ever know"? How did her past catch up with her and where did she go? Listen to find out! #staystrange

Ep.38 - No Lye (The Tasty Cafe Bomb) Apr 14, 2020

Show notes

In this episode Jess and Alex kick back with their Quarantini's of choice and they go on a little "Road Trip" to Marshall, MI. Jess then goes on to tell Alex a little about Marshall, including a story of the Crosswhite family whom the citizens of Marshall stood up for in the most amazing way possible in 1840's. Jess then goes on to tell Alex about a mysterious package containing a bomb delivered in 1967 to Nola Puyear, one of the owners of the Tasty Cafe. Who sent it? What was their motive? What happened to them next? Tune in and find out!

Ep.37 - So, I Married an Axe Murderer (Nellie Pope) Apr 07, 2020

Show notes

This episode was created as a livestream: On this week's episode, Alex and Jess catch up on how they are doing during lockdown before sipping on some dealer's choice cocktails. Then Alex tells Jess the story Nellie Pope, one of the most notorious murderesses the city has ever seen. What drove her to kill? How did she do it? What's the Detroit House of Corrections? And will she get away with it? Listen in this week to Detroit Strange's second live stream episode to find out!

Ep.36 - Zoom, Zoom, Zoom (Carhartt) Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

Our first livestream! In this episode Alex and Jess meet via a live stream from their quarantine houses using Zoom (which can explain some of the audio issues) and they both mix themselves up a Quarantini (which is whatever you have around.) Jess then goes on to tell Alex all about the history behind Carhartt and it's founder Hamilton Carhartt. What kind of work week could employees of the Carhartt company expect? What did they try to auction off during the election of 1912? Has Alex watched either Mama Mia yet during quarantine? Tune in and find out!

Ep.35 - All Aboard! (The Michigan Train Station) Mar 21, 2020

Show notes

In this episode Alex serves up some Bourbon Sours and Tells Jess all about the history of the Michigan Train Station. When it was built, the trains coming and going, who bought it after it was closed, what their original plan was, what it's being renovated to be now, and much more! Won't you join us?

Ep.34 - Avoid the Noid (The Nain Rouge) Mar 10, 2020

Show notes

It's Michigan Primary day! Make sure to cast your vote!

In this episode Jess has Alex try his first ever Bloody Mary while he gives his reaction. She then goes on to tell Alex all about the history of one of her favorite detroit legends; the Nain Rouge. Where does the tale come from? Who was told to beware of the nain? How old is the yearly celebration Marche du Nain Rouge? Who cries out "Stop Nain Shame" to stand up for the Nain? Tune in and find out!

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