Learn More About Hamtramck at Oakland County Pioneer Historical Society Small Talk

405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI | Get Directions »
$5.00

From athletics to education, Hamtramck has had an impact far beyond its narrow borders. Once a township that stretched from the Detroit River to 8 Mile Road and from Woodward Avenue through the Grosse Pointes, Hamtramck sliced out a 2.1-square mile section of the township in 1901 to form the Village of Hamtramck.

In 1910, the village had 3,500 residents. In 1920 its population topped 48,000, making it one of the most densely populated towns in America. The incredible growth was due to the Polish immigrants drawn to the city to work in the Dodge Main factory.

As Hamtramck grew, so did its influence. Through the years, the city made a national impact in the areas of education, science, entertainment, education, labor and industry. Some people and events linked to the city even had a world impact.

Hamtramck remains a vibrant and viable city. There are many misconceptions about Hamtramck today, and people who tour the town routinely are amazed at what the city is really like. Now possibly the most diverse city in Michigan, it is a fascinating town that people from all over the world call home. Hamtramck today is a bustling town with a huge population of artists, where festivals and fairs are frequent events, and which will soon have its own historical museum and cultural center.

Presenter, Greg Kowalski, chairman of the Hamtramck Historical Commission, has written six books on Hamtramck and conducted numerous tours of the city as well as programs on the city’s fascinating history. A professional journalist and editor of the Birmingham Eccentric newspaper, Kowalski has been exploring Hamtramck’s history since the city’s Historical Commission was formed in 1998.

Refreshments will be served.

For more information, visit www.ocphs.org or call 248-338-6732.