Much More to Bloomfield Hills Than Its History of Affluence and Cranbrook

Bloomfield Hills, MI — Beyond Bloomfield Hills' consistent mention as one of the nation’s most affluent communities and as the home to Cranbrook, what else do you know about your hometown?

Longtime resident and writer Christine Blackwell goes beyond the stereotypes in her book, “Bloomfield Hills: Home of Cranbrook” (Arcadia Publishing), a collection of historic photos and colorful anecdotes about the city, the first hardcover book emphasizing Bloomfield Hills’ local history.

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“I hope this book’s contents will inform and delight readers, as well as inspire them to share more Bloomfield Hills history with each other,” Blackwell told The Birmingham Eccentric. “For many locals, the book might serve as a wonderful keepsake of the city’s history.”

From Arcadia Publishing:
“During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, much of the area’s rolling farmland was purchased by wealthy Detroit residents who had first discovered ‘the hills’ when they went touring northward in their new horseless carriages. Seeking refuge from Detroit’s summer heat and crowds, the newcomers built weekend homes that ranged from elaborate farmhouses to large manor estates.
“Philanthropists George Gough Booth and his wife, Ellen Scripps Booth, envisioned more than a manor house for themselves, however, and built what is now a National Historic Landmark, the Cranbrook Educational Community.
“In 1932, Bloomfield Hills incorporated as a city. The city retains its mystique as an enclave of elegant living and exceptional schools, but its history also includes instances of poverty and mayhem. …”

Blackwell, a former editorial director for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and regular contributor to Bloomfield Hills Living magazine and other publications, has a master’s degree in journalism and has taught writing at Michigan State University, Lawrence Tech and Valencia College in Florida.

“George donated his entire $12 million fortune to building a community that we can all now enjoy,” Blackwell said. “Booth said, ‘The only way to have is to give, the only way to keep is to share, and the only thing worth finding is opportunity.’ ”

Oh, and there’s an obligatory bit about Jimmy Hoffa in the book, too. He was last seen in the parking lot of the former Machus Red Fox Restaurant, now Andiamo.

»You can read more of her interview with The Birmingham Eccentric’s Jay Grossman on hometownlife.com