Postcard showing one of the old recreational waterways on Belle Isle, Michigan. Belle Isle Park is situated in the Detroit River, and is America’s largest city-owned island park at 982 acres. It was designed based on the plans of Frederick Law Olmstead, who also designed New York City’s Central Park. Native Americans called it “Mah-nah-be-zee.” (Swan Island) Early French settlers called it “Îsle Ste. Claire.” It later came to be known as “Île aux Cochons” (Hog Island, literally Island of the Hogs) due to local farmers using the island as a safe haven for their animals. It’s present name was adopted by 1845, and of course, means beautiful island, (but there may have been a tie-in to Henri Bélisle, an early French physician in the Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac party.) The City of Detroit bought the island in 1879 and it became a park in 1881.
Note the horse and buggies on the right side of the postcard. This is a great card, showing early recreationists enjoying this beautiful park. Hopefully Belle Isle gets the needed upkeep and renovations it deserves. It’s a beautiful place that has great memories for me. I’ll never forget the late ’70’s late night beer-drinking, (have to be honest, sure was fun) excursions to Belle Isle with friends, walking around in the James Scott fountain, visiting the beautiful conservatory, cruising around the park after working overtime at the Ren Cen, traditionally topping that off with early morning Middle Eastern cuisine (some kind of bread with cheese fresh out of a brick oven, like pizza without the sauce – soooo good) to then come home to the bachelorette (lol) upper flat on Forrer St. and read books on physics.
Undivided, unused postcard. About 1902-1907. Published by The Rotograph Co., New York, NY. Printed in Germany. #D3827a.
Price: $10.00
Sources: Rehabilitation of the Belle Isle Lakes and Canals. Douglas Denison and Gary Crawford, JJR Incorporated. Cynthia Silveri and Richard Hautau, City of Detroit Recreation Department (http://riccawu.mnsi.net/story1.html)
City of Detroit (http://www.detroitmi.gov/DepartmentsandAgencies/RecreationDepartment/BelleIsle/BelleIsleHistory/1800s.aspx) showing early timeline for Belle Isle for years 1811-1899.
Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Isle_Park)