From time to time I have recevied eMail corespondence and short comments from people who have visited the Old Delray web site. The content was not long enough for a full "As remembered By" featured entry, but usually contained interesting insights as to life in Old Delray. With their full permission, I have reproduced these snippets here for you.
Vol 1, Covers August '08 thru June '09
Margo Koroknay-Palicz
I'm so glad that someone has taken up the challenge of documenting our old home. It may take me a bit, but I would be happy to send you all the information that I have. Books of both Holy Cross and the Hungarian Reformed churches, of area businesses and photographs going back decades. While I'm not comfortable parting with my photos, I can scan and create a CD for you. This may take a bit of time, but something I am willing to do.
My great-grandparents, Paul and Appolonia Eory lived on Dearborn along with their family of 6 children. Paul and his brother Michael owned and operated a tavern restaurant on Vanderbilt and Appolonia owned a candy store on the corner of Vanderbilt and Dearborn.
My grandparents, Alex and Emma Ivan owned the building (no longer there) 2 doors from the Reformed church at 523 Harbaugh and ran the restaurant and later a florist shop there. The building also had 4 apartments, one of which they made their home.
In 1959 my parents, Alex and Yolanda Koroknay moved into that same building with a five year old (me) and my one year old sister. We attended Holy Cross church and school, while dad attended the Reformed church.
My parents, grandparents, great-grands and a slew of aunts and uncles are all buried at Woodmere.
I will write down the stories I've been told and ones I remember growing up there..... like the chicken place on Dearborn where you could buy live chickens and they would kill and pluck them on site, or Al's bar on West End, or the Hungarian club on Jefferson, or the Szuerti Bals at the churches.
I enjoyed viewing your website.. you've done a good job putting that together. There however is one photo labeled incorrectly, it was the photo of the Greek Catholic Church on the corner of Harbaugh and South Street that was labeled as St. John Cantius.
I live in Holland Michigan and about twice a year or so, we get back to Detroit, usually for a short visit to the Jumbo market in Lincoln Park for a supply of Hungarian foods or to the Rhapsody restaurant in Southgate.
Thanks for the memories.
Denise Hohf
A friend of mine is looking for a book that is by Arthur Burdeno – titled ‘About Old Delray’. Do you know where I might find that book? I’ve tried Amazon and Book Finder.com but haven’t had any success. Perhaps you know where? Thank You very much!
One more question. Do you know the history of the wooden ‘Angels’ on the buildings on Jefferson? I remember when they went up, but didn’t know if they were just to add a colorful touch to the buildings or if they signified something more.
Chris Lakatos
I didn't see my parents name in the list , we all grew up there to his name was Sandor Lakatos, wife Maria Lakatos, we lived on Barron steet.
I have recently had contact with people that used to live there as well, I will try to gather as much as I can so you can add it, I am also trying to locate the famly that used to own Delray supermarket on Jefferson at the time, I will see what I can come up with,just need alittle research to do it , just got back in tough with one of the people who used to live next door to us, I remember the RR Tower, lived just behind that a ways, I will forward all that I can soon, gotta go through old stuff from those years so I will get back to you soon as I do, feel free to add anything that I say or send to you.
That's it, Mary Nagy, she was my moms best friends they called their place Delray supermarket, later moved it out to Allen Park , Michigan but kept the name, I do remember the Toth family as well, not sure what happened to the Nagy family either, I just lost touch witl a lot of people over the years
Sandi McCollum
I'm not sure how current your website is, but, I did enjoy reading everything this morning. I grew up downriver in the 50's-late 60's and remember a lot of the old neighborhoods. During the late 60's I went on quite a few dates to restaurants in the Delray area. If you're still sending out newsletters. . .please add me to it!
Thanks for the trip down memory lane this morning! Have a good one!
James M. Walters (Mick)
I went to St. John Cantius school, born at Delray General Hospital, lived on Pulaski and later White street. I remember a Bujacki family that lived on Pulaski street in the 50's and 60's and had a friend David Ferry that was related to them, possibly some of your relatives??
I mailed the DVD "Tribute to St. John Cantius" today and you should get it in a couple of days. It's an original through the church, I didn't pirate any copies. The Archdiocese of Detroit has the copyrights to it. I don't think there's anything wrong if you post any of the scenes from this disc on your Old-Delray website. You aren't doing anything for a profit and there are many people who would enjoy seeing this. There's probably many people out there who didn't know about this DVD. I sent you my last extra copy. In the future if I know of someone who wants a copy I'll make them one. I know that would be violating copyright laws but we all have one thing in common, love of Delray as it once was. You do what you want as far as posting anything on internet or making copies for family and friends. They only printed so many copies of disc and this was over a year ago and I don't know if any are available through the church. I will post a message on your visitors page of website. Looking forward to info on your website from Jack Nykiel of Joey's Stables. I went to St. John Cantius school with his son and two daughters.
I will be 54 later this year. I am the youngest of six children. My oldest brother is 64 but we moved to Delray in early 50's. By that time, your family had moved to Saginaw, I think it said in the 40's on the website. I did know some families that lived on Graham street. When you get the DVD, a little old lady in there a lot is Mrs. Irene Pilch. She and her family was associated with St. John Cantius for over 60 years. Her parents and grandparents are founding fathers of the church. Her family owned the meat market and party store on Pulaski street by Pulaski Bar. They also owned a hall that was closed by the time we moved to Delray but in the 20"s thru. the 40"s was a big time place called the "Orange Blossom" I sometimes attend St. Pius church in Southgate and there was a priest there but since retired from Delray, that grew up on Vanderbilt street and attended Holy Cross. His name is Father Albert Sandor. They celebrated his 75th birthday last year and he retired. Another priest from Delray, Father Eugene Wojtowicz, is at St. Hugh in Southgate and he is retiring this year, probably about 70 to 75 in age.
(Webmaster's Note) A real big thanks to Mick for providing me with a copy of this DVD. I plan to reproduce the contents on this web site as soon as I can receive permission from the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Susan Angyan
I have been slowly working my way through your website which a friend sent to me about two weeks ago. My sister and I were also raised in Delray on Melville Street where my parents and grandparents had a home since early 1920’s. My grandparents lived in Delray since 1907 when they migrated here from Hungary. They briefly left Delray to run a dairy farm in Ohio but returned when Ford Motor Company started hiring. My grandfather was the yard Forman at the Ford Rouge Plant. I too was born in Delray Hospital in 1946, baptized by Reverend Nagy (also attended Reverend Nagy’s Hungarian school), went to Morley Grade School and graduated from Southwestern High School. I grew up shopping on Jefferson and remember many of the stores and people from that area. My sister Germaine was born in 1940 and we were raised Hungarian Reformed. I never heard anything about the men being raised Hungarian Reformed and as you state, it is a good story. Most of our neighbors and friends were Catholic and attended Holy Cross Church and School. Many of them went on to All Saints or other Catholic High Schools in the area.
When I first viewed your website I wondered into your church site and was a little confused about the information regarding the Hungarian Reformed Church. When I grew up, there were two protestant Hungarian churches in Delray. One was the church on West End and the Hungarian Reformed Church on the corner of Dearborn and I believe Thaddeus. The Hungarian Reformed Church on Dearborn was the one that moved to Allen Park. I believe they built the new church around the early 1960’s but am not sure of the date. The pastor at that time was Reverend Tibor Toth and he remained there until he retired.
I have many, many memories of growing up in Delray and if you would like to include any of those on your website I would gladly write a few paragraphs for you.
I notice that neither my grandparents or parents are in your listings.
My grandparents owned their home in 1930 at 7831 Melville. Their names were Frank and Elizabeth Katona. My parents also resided there from 1936 until we sold the home in 1968. Their names were Joseph and Vilma Angyan. Our home was on Melville Street between West End and the railroad tracks. My father and mother also owned a Tool & Die Shop on Harbaugh Street between Dearborn and Fort Street. When I-75 was built the shop was destroyed and the property used by the Fleetwood Plant as part of their storage yard. Their business was Angyan Tool & Die.
Thank you for the lovely website and music. May I ask who is playing the gypsy music? I have an idea who it might be and would like to see how well my memory serves me.
My retirement job is at a church and this is our busy season but in January I will go through my archives and see what articles I have regarding Delray. I’m not sure what I have left but am willing to scan and email you anything I do have.
Thank you again for all the work you have done to produce this very nostalgic website.
Dan Fodor
I personally think this is a fine and outstanding effort you have put into the making of this site... It brought back a lot of old memories.. However, you missed a family or two .. My name is Dan Fodor, The son Of the owner Dan Fodor Studio and Fodor Radio and TV. Which was located at 8147-9 West Jefferson.. Directly across from the Delray Pastry Shoppe and the Old (original) Hungarian Village.. My Grandfather Rev Kozma was the minister of the First Hungarian church which was located at Sloan and Burdeno in the 40's.
My sister and I were both born at Delray Hospital and that is where my father passed away.
If you had your Communion at one of the Catholic Churches mentioned.. My father probably took your photographs....
George A. Fields
To Mr R.S. Bujaki, I would like to commend you on your memorial on old Delray.Eventhough,I did not grow up in Delray per say,I lived close enough to know and have a lot of friends there.My home was on Lane St.,which is about one mile north of Fort St.&Springwells.My dad worked at Fleetwood and is buried in Woodmere cemetary.My memories of Delray & the neighborhood in general were fond ones.We had such a diverse mix of nationalities,the predominate being Hungarian&Polish but many more like myself.I never even thought of my friends as being a certain nationality but only as my friend.My how times have changed.We were truly blessed to grow up in such a diverse ethnic environment don't you think?For those who didn't grow up there,they will never know what you are talking about when you mention the feeling of a neighborhood or the different aromas.I do remember,and most of the smells were good except Solvey Processes-lol.Again,I commend you on such a fine piece of work.Thanks for the memories............Sincerly,George A. Fields-Now retired and living in Phx.Az.but my heart is still in the Detroit I remember and of course Delray.
Good to hear from you Richard and I hope this is one of many correspondance.Of course it is okay to use any stories or memories for the web site.We can be assured that old Delray will live on in those stories.I just lost my best friend in August. His name was Richard Nyilos and he lived on Lewrentz between Fort & Lafayette. His father Joe Nyilos was raised in Delray and is 93 yrs. young and now lives up in Escanaba.When I told him about the site, his mind went back to his childhood and he couldn't stop telling me stories.He was Hungarian and he met and married his wife [she was Polish] in Delray.He raved about all the good looking girls in the neighborhood.He said," all of his dates were chaperoned [sp] and you didn't get far with a girl until the whole damn family approved,including the brothers.I think, I ate my first stuffed cabbage at their house.Hell,I'm getting hungry for some just thinking about it.Do you remember the horse drawn Wayne Creamery wagons? The horse knew the route better than the driver.There was the Shennie man going up and down the alleys calling out the scrap items he was looking for and the vegetable trucks out front where you could buy anything from the farm and it was all fresh.Everybody ate three meals a day sitting down at a table and talking.What a novel concept.A lot of the problems in our world today could be solved if only they would look back a few years at places like Delray and how the families interacted with each other.If you earned praise,you got it. If you earned a ass whipping, you got that too.Now days they call that child abuse,and put you in jail and they don't understand why the kid grows up with no morals.We didn't know how lucky we were to grow up there.Hell,I thought we were poor and maybe we were but it was a happy poor if there is such a thing.At least,we were all in the same boat...........I could go on but its getting late,so for now I will end.
Kathy Hornok
Dear Richard - My niece sent me your Delray website. I grew up in Delray at 8091 Melville Street. My parents were Andrew and Elizabeth Hornok. The house I grew up in was built by my mothers father early in the 20th century and was occupied by family members for over 80 years. Thank you so much for your work on the website. We were Holy Cross parishoners and some of us went to school at Holy Cross. Is it possible to add our family to your website list? If so, here's our info:
Andrew and Elizabeth Hornok - 8091 Melville
Lisa Rolands
I found your site just looking up Delray. Delray has been my home since 1981 when my mother came up from Chicago. I grew up on Fortune st. I seen on your page that someone asked about the Tulak family and wanted to give an update. Paul (born Andy) Tulak just apssed away about 2 years ago. His familly owned a house on Sire and Fortune. I know from talking with Paul who after was like my Uncle, that his family built the house that he and his brother shared. Paul was one of the last originals left in Delray. He was a member of Holy Cross right there on South until the day he died. I loved to here the stories from him and see the pictures I believe I can get some pictures of the Tulak family. When Paul passed away at home his house was sold to a fellow Delrayer and they kept a lot of the things left behind, just didnt have the heart to throw away history. I am proud to say I am from Delray, it does not matter to me that today its a slum, up until last year it was still home. My mother still lives on Fortune. I know a few neighbors have been there a while if i can be of any help just ask.
Hi My Delray Friend,
I would be honered to have this on your sight! I do know where Graham is I have friends who live there. I'm glad to be of some help. I will talk to Mindy Donovan and see what pictures she has of the Tulaks and pass them on to you she also has/had the origianl papers for the house's on Fortune and Sire showing how much Pauls parents paid..think it was two hundred dollars Ha Ha. Oh I also forgot to tell you I also owned a house on Sire and lived there until 2002 it was right next to the freeway 9123 Sire. Hope I can help.
Your fellow Delrayer!
Margaret Scsaszny
An old friend called me last night and told me about your website. I loved it. Looked through everything and had a good cry. Whenever my husband and I can get back to Michigan, we always go to Delray and remember the old days.
Thank you so much. Your website has made us so homesick.
Patrick McManus
My mother grew up in Delray and I am sure she would love to read some of the things it appears you may be planning to post. Any idea when/if this site will be updated? My grandfather Nagy came over from Hungary and established a tailor business and I think they lived in the same house from ~1925 - 1970 or later. My mom went to Southwestern and my Irish dad Northwestern.
Richard T. Gadwell
My Aunt ownes the Merry Go Inn Bar, and my grandmother owned the Cichowicz Grocery store across the street. I attended St. John Cantius School and belonged to St. John Cantius Church. Also Attended Southwestern High School. I hung out with Jim Tury whom you communicate with. I will get some stories and phots together and send them to you. Thanks again, this is great.
Updated Oct, 2009
This is Rich Gadwell From Tennessee, just wondering why my families are not shown in your list of the people of old Delray. They are of course the Frank T. and Anna Gadwell and my Aunts and Uncles; Stanley & Mary Cichowicz who owned and ran Merry Go Inn Bar, My Uncle Walter & Clara Cichowicz and Frank & Vickie Cichowicz who my Grandmother Janus Cichowicz Grocery Store on the Corner of Keller & Leigh Across from The Merry Go Inn Bar. I lived next door to the Store at 9166 Keller st. Remember I told you that my Dad worked on the C&O Rwy and was Hero in the 50's saving the train from a wreck with all the Detroit Tiger Officials on board. He rec'd an accomidation from President Eisenhower at that time. Hope you Post this. I now live in Crossville Tenn 38555, and their are others from Delray down here. Thanks again.
Sally Perles
A friend sent us the link to this site and we are really interested in it since mother my husband's mother lived there before she was married. She was Lithuanian. I believe her maiden name was Romainitis or Romanoskis but they went by Romaine. I didn't see that name in the list.
During the depression she used to climb up on the trains that traveled thru the area and throw coal down to the other children. Her family bought a crucifix for St. John's church years ago. A few years back when the church was closed the crucifix was given back to her. I am not sure if we still have it or if she sent it back to Lithuania. I didn't see any mention of the "Lithuanian" Bakery which just closed about 6 years ago. We used to buy bread from there in East Lansing up until they closed.
Can't wait to show this site to my husband.
Robert Takacs
Hi Richard and what's new with you these days? I've got the photo booklet of Cardinal Mindszenty's visit to Holy Cross Church in May of 1974 and I also have a periodical called Michigan printed by the Detroit News in July 30, 1989 about Delray. On the cover it shows the midget Johnny Phillips with some friends he lived on Keller across from my sister. It shows some residents and also shows Szabos market on West End with Steve and his sister.There is also a photo of Vilma Szabos husband at the Hungarian Club , he belongs to your church in Allen Park.You could probably get a copy from the Detroit Library files. Did you know we had an Orphanage across from Holy Cross school? it was run by our Nuns the sisters of divine charity. My school girl friend named Mary Toth lived directly across from the church. This was just some additional stuff for you. I have a lot of dreams about the old place . Keep up the good work my man. Isten Velled. Bob
Lynn Balogh Maarouf
As a 3rd generation ( half) Hungarian my memories of Delray are limited but I do remember and my grandparents and brother and other family members are of course together in Woodmere Cemetery.
I would like to add the name of my grandparents Stefan & Barbara Balogh who raised four children, two sons and two daughters in Delray and then of course passed their heritage along to multiple grandchildren before they left. Their music,food and culture formed the foundation of my life. Thanks for bringing these memories back ! You did a great job. Are you going to add more pictures over time ?
Thanks for your prompt response - I don't know if you add photos of individuals but these are my Grandparents - I forwarded your email to my father to see if he has any more pictures - I am sure he does. Also want to email some of my cousins to get the other names of their other grandparents on the list. This picture was taken around 1956. Thanks a bunch and my father who is online is SO exited about this site. He called me early this morning to ask me if he had sent me the correct link as he wanted to be sure I had seen the first page. He also told me one of the stories which I had not had time to read yet ( still working ! ) Thanks again Richard and I think many will appreciate keeping this memories alive - are you footing the bill for the whole thing yourself ?
My father, who grew up in Delray - later also became a Policeman ( first in the 4th Precinct) and just before he retired became a plain clothes detective again in Delray - of course being able to speak the local lingo. I am trying to talk him in to putting some things ( stories) on paper.
He is 83 now but with his only " medications" being beer, aspirin and of course hard liquor he is amazingly healthy and his mind is still pretty snappy for his age. Will work on him when I go to FL ( for the 4th) which is where they live now. I know he has old photos of himself and Alex Nagy and George Katona amongst others. My father grew up on Green.
I am also ( the "bunches" come into play here ?) going to try to encourage some of my cousins to get their other sets of grandparents listed - as they are all 100% Delray originals. My brothers and I are the only half-breeds in the bunch.
One of my early goals in life was to go to Hungary and we did a few years back. But not being able to speak Hungarian ( at all ) was of course a huge handicap. Food was yummy though and we saw some of Budapest and Lake Balaton and visited some folks in Kiskaros. I was sad that after so many years of communist rule the country was so dirty and the island in the Danube that I had read was a botanical garden had been left to go wild. I inherited the gardening gene from my grandparents on both sides, but my Hungarian grandparents when they left Delray bought an 11 acre farm by the airport where they raised - everything, including chickens and geese.
For one solid generation we also had family picnics out there until my grandmother passed away. Now of course - we have floated away from Detroit and as far south as Texas and Florida BUT the cousins stay close on the Internet - at least more than many American families of today do ?
Albert (Zoltan) Balogh
I WAS BORN (1925) AND RAISED ON GREEN STREET IN DELRAY, ATTENDED CARY SCHOOL, AND SOUTHWESTERN H.S. JUST HAPPENED TO STUMBLE ON OLD DELRAY, AND ENJOYED THE OLE MEMORIES. I WAS SURPRIZED OUR FAMILY NAME WAS NOT INCLUDED FOR LIVING ON GREEN ST. IN THE 30'S, AS WE LIVED THERE FROM 1920-1945. I WENT INTO SERVICE IN 1943, SERVED AS A GUNNER ON B-24 BOMBERS IN ITALY, GOT DISCHARGED IN NOV. 1945. JOINED THE DETROIT POLICE FORCE IN 1947, RETIRED AFTER 25 YEAR SERVICE TO JENSEN BEACH, FL WITH WIFE JO, OF 63 YEARS NOW. ZOLTAN BALOGH, NOW CALLED ALBERT, I DID NOT KNOW MY FIRST NAME WAS ALBERT, UNTIL I APPLIED FOR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE AFTER GRADUATING IN JANUARY 43 CLASS FROM SOUTHWESTERN H.S. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES OF OLE DELRAY
WOULD ENJOY RECEIVING THE NEWS LETTER. ALERT BALOGH, BORN IN 1925 AT 315 SO. GREEN (TORN DOWN YEARS AGO) TO PARENTS BARBARA AND STEVE. WENT TO CARY SCHOOL AND GRADUATED JAN. 1943 CLASS FROM SOUTHWESTERN H.S. ENTERED ARMY AIR FORCE , WENT OVERSEAS AND SERVED AS GUNNER ON B-24 BOMBER. DISCHARGED NOV. 1945 AS S/SGT.
JOINED THE DPD 1N 1947, SERVED AT FORT GREEN TILL 1959, WENT TO # 14 PREC. FROM 1959 TO 1966, TRANSFERED TO RECORDERS COURT, WORKED THE 68 RIOTS WITH JUDGE COLUMBO, (12 HOUR SHIFTS) , WENT THRU 7000 PRISONERS IN ABOUT A WEEK, THERE WERE ABOUT 12 JUDGES WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK
TRANSFERRED BACK TO FORT AND GREEN IN 1969, AND RETIRED FROM THERE IN 1972, AS DETECTIVE SGT.
WORKED WITH A FEW OTHER HUNGARIANS WHILE At FORT AND GREEN, LOUIE PETRO AND JOE KATO.
Dave Gerathy
(Great Grandson of Gustav Kamensky and Ethel Czuka)
I came across your web site about old Del Ray while researching my family history. My mother's paternal grandparents both immigrated to the US from Hungary around the early 1900's. Evidently, sometime around the 1950's, my grandfather's uncle or cousin, Al Kaczinsky (unsure of spelling) owned a bar in Del Ray that was frequented by the local police. Al Kaczinsky also had either a sister or sister in law named Marge Kaczinsky who lived in Del Ray. Any info you could provide about the bar would be greatly appreciated. My grandfather's name was Ernest Kamensky and his father's name was Gustav Kamensky, but I have found a lot of variations of the spelling. My grandmother who told me about the bar was pretty sure Gustav's brother/nephew Al went by the name Kaczinsky. Thank in advance for any insight you are able to provide. Your web site has been an invaluable reference.
I'm so glad that someone has taken up the challenge of documenting our old home. It may take me a bit, but I would be happy to send you all the information that I have. Books of both Holy Cross and the Hungarian Reformed churches, of area businesses and photographs going back decades. While I'm not comfortable parting with my photos, I can scan and create a CD for you. This may take a bit of time, but something I am willing to do.
