History
**Detroit Strange**

Jess and Alex explore and celebrate the strange and unusual history of Detroit with a side of humor. They tell stories, share a cocktail, and have some laughs while discussing the great and sometimes ooky spooky city they love.

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 102 - How to go Bankrupt (The History of Stroh's) Aug 04, 2021

Show notes

This week Jess & Alex explore the deep questions like "how do I walk?," they chat about some fun upcoming ideas, beer cocktails, and a listener updated. Then Jess tells Alex about the history of Stroh's. Which Strohs family member came here originally? How did the company survive during prohibition? What decisions led to the company being sold?

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Email us your interesting Detroit stories, story suggestions, or just to say hey: detroitstrange@gmail.com IG & Twitter: @detroitstrange Patreon: @detroitstrange And check out our Threadless shop for merch! (detroitstrange.threadless.com)

Ep. 101 - Flying Machine (The Boeing Family) Jul 28, 2021

Show notes

Join us this week as Alex and Jess talk about Iced Tea, kayak scavenger hunts, & the wonders of water shoes. Then Alex tells Jess all about the Boeing family, the ones with the jets! What connection do they have to Detroit? Where did their fortune first come from? How did they end up in the flying machine business? Tune in and find out!

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Episode 100! A Very Special Episode with a Very Special Guest (Karen Dybis!) Jul 21, 2021

Show notes

This is it! Our 100th episode! We're so excited to share this milestone with y'all and even more excited that Author, Reporter, & Writer Karen Dybis was able to join for the fun!

In this episode Alex and Jess talk with Karen D, and even have a small clip from the first time she was mentioned on the show, in EPISODE 1! They talk about favorite strange tales in Detroit and the wonder that Detroit is while finding out a bit more about Karen's Journey into writing about it. Jess & Alex then go on to tell Karen about the history of the Masonic Temple. What unfinished spaces lie in the largest Masonic temple? Who may be haunting it? And, what conspiracies are there about the freemasons? Tune in for this and more!

Karen D IG & Twitter: @karendybis

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Ep. 99 - Buy My Horse (The Bath School Bombing Disaster) Jul 14, 2021

Show notes

Jess and Alex talk about the dangers of Salmon Robo-callers, the upcoming episode 100 spectacular, & how cruise ships avoid Scurvy. Then Jess takes Alex on a small "Road Trip" to Bath, MI to talk about the 1927 tragedy that was the worst school bombing to ever take place. What did neighbors observe from the assailant before it happened? How could one man go over 5 years without paying a mortgage (yet still having his property?) And, how many more explosives were hidden that never detonated? Tune in to find out.

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WARNING this episode contains a lot of information about a very tragic event, while some of the more gruesome details were left out, it may be upsetting to some

Ep. 98 - Fun Logo Though (The Southwest Detroit Hospital) Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

Join this episode as Jess and Alex talk about Alex being a wedding officiate, and cleaning up from all the rain while sipping on some fun summer drinks (together!) Then Alex tells Jess about the quick rise and fall of the Southwest Detroit Hospital. Why did it get built in the first place? What does boxing have to do with it? And what did they do to lose it again? Tune in to find out!

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Ep. 97 - A Duel of the Dogs (Coney Dogs) Jun 30, 2021

Show notes

So happy to be back together recording in the same room! Alex and Jess chat a little up top about camping, Jess embarrassing herself while out in the real world, and the wonder that is the papaya. Then Jess tells Alex the history of the feud that has been going on for almost 100 years between American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island...then they do a blind taste test to see which one they like more...How did the Coney Dog end up in Detroit? Is the feud real? And which one do Alex and Jess officially prefer? Tune in to find out!

Do you have a favorite coney? Let us know on our instagram or send us a message!

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Ep. 96 - Back, Back, Back Again (Palmer Park) Jun 23, 2021

Show notes

We're back from our mini summer vacation! In this episode Alex and Jess catch up to talk about Margaritaville, Grand Rapids, and Celebrity Crushes (who do you think Jess's celeb crush is?) Then Alex goes on to tell Jess all about Palmer Park. Why was a giant log so important to the area? Why is Palmer Park like Epcot? And what would disco balls say if they could talk? All of this and more this week, so join us!

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Ep. 95 - Techno City (Techno, DEMF/Movement) Jun 02, 2021

Show notes

This week Jess & Alex talk about, new haircuts, Alex's new roommate (Minerva the cat,) and the mysterious note in a bottle found at old Michigan Central Station. Next Jess tells Alex about the history of Movement, Detroit's Techno festival and the history of Techno itself! Who started techno? How did the festival's name change so many times? And who is Grandma Techno? Tune in to find out!

And as always...

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Ep. 94 - Temperance (The Women of Prohibition in Detroit) May 26, 2021

Show notes

On this week's Detroit Strange, Jess and Alex talk summertime, and the livings easy..then scramble to find a thesaurus and round things out by talking about Alex's incoming newest family member (hint it has four legs and he's been trying to adopt one for months), before Alex gets into some WAP (Wet ass prohibition). Who was the first to get charged for bootlegging in the city? Who were the ladies who helped keep Detroit from being dry during prohibition? How much of an effect did they have? All this and more on this week's episode!

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Ep. 93 - Lions, & Tigers, & Bears, Oh My! (Paddy's Pub & Paddy McGraw) May 19, 2021

Show notes

This week Alex and Jess catch up on Book Clubs for two, Journaling, & Kid 90. Then Jess tells Alex the crazy life that was Paddy McGraw's. Why was there a canvas curtain down the middle of his saloon? What kind's of animals were in the zoo out back? And what shady political business was he involved in? Tune in for all this and more this week on Detroit Strange!