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Rosemary Spatafora
Rosemary Spatafora was a teenager in 1967 and remembers fires nearby and hearing gun shots at the local Domestic Linen Supply. Later she read an article from the perspective of business owners that changed her perspective of the snipers.
Sharon McNeil, December 6th, 2017
In this interview, McNeil discusses her divergent experiences as a student in the suburbs (Clawson and Madison Heights) as compared to her brief time living in Highland Park and working at her father’s store there. In contrast to the suburbs awash…
Buddy Atchoo and Michael Dickow, August 17th, 2016
In this interview, Atchoo and Dickow discuss their recollections of the 1967 unrest as recent immigrants and as grocery store owners. Dickow owned Consumers’ Fruit Market which was on Blaine and Twelfth; his store was a mere block away from where the…
Tarya Simo
Tarya Simo and her siblings were children whose mother owned a shop in 1967.
Mary Romaya, August 16th, 2016
In this interview, Mary Romaya discusses growing up in Northwest Detroit with her Chaldean family. Romaya talks about her experiences before during and after the July 1967 events. Romaya additionally discusses her father’s supermarket business and…
Josephine Sarafa, August 16th, 2016
In this interview, Sarafa discusses growing up in Detroit's Chaldean community, where her family owned stores, including a store that was destroyed during the events of July 1967.
Frank DiMaria, August 11, 2016
In this interview, DiMaria discusses his childhood growing up on the east side of Detroit and his memories from the week of July 23, 1967. His brother was a musician who played at a bar on July 22 and later in the week the two drove downtown to…
Dennis Vatsis, August 18th, 2016
In this interview, Vatsis discusses what it was like growing up in the Linwood area and leaving the city to move to Dearborn Heights. He recounts an encounter he had with a soldier during the incidents of ’67 and his thoughts on the future of the…
George and Joe Zainea, August 24th, 2016
In this interview, the Zaineas discuss their history owning and operating bowling alleys, including the various leagues they ran and the different clientele they had over the years. They tell of allowing police, firemen, National Guardsmen, and…
Ronald Acho, August 16th, 2016
In this interview, Acho discusses life as an immigrant in Detroit, as well as his extensive ties with Detroit's Chaldean community.
Frank Boscarino, August 2nd, 2016
In this interview, Boscarino describes how he came to own his business in Detroit and his relationships with his (primarily black) customers. He tells of how his customers called him when the unrest started and assured him that they were protecting…
Harvey Greig, July 14th, 2016
In this interview, Greig relates how he first heard about the events of July, 1967; his week at work as an essential personnel member at AAA in Detroit; and his experiences driving to and from work.
Marvin Myers, July 7th, 2016
Marvin Myers opened a corner store on Grand St. and Linwood one week before the unrest in 1967. He discusses the impact the week had on his store as well as later altercations with customers. He also briefly mentions his time serving in the Korean…
James Boucher, June 29th, 2016
Boucher narrates the unrest from the experience of a commuter. He recalls taking the train from Ann Arbor to Detroit–where he worked at the National Bank of Detroit on Woodward–and noticing that the normally bustling finance district was deserted.…
Sharon Schafer, June 25th, 2016
In this interview, Schafer discusses growing up in Detroit and the importance of the Michigan Bell Telephone Company during the 1967 disturbance. She also discusses changes in Detroit since the 1960s.
Eva Amine
Eva Amine was 12 years old in July of 1967. She remembers her grandfather determination to keep his store open and provide food for the people of Detroit.
Tom Shipley
Tom Shipley was a student at Schoolcraft College who worked at a local gas station during the summer of 1967. He remembers the gas rationing and how his uncle asked his dad to bring alcohol for his workers who were accustomed to buying some after…
Sandra Smith, May 16th, 2016
In this interview, Smith discusses growing up around Detroit, and how she sought to be an active member of the Detroit community. She also talks about her experience at the family-owned dry cleaners during the unrest. More specifically, she talks…
Donna Palmer, August 11th, 2015
In this interview Donna Palmer discusses her experiences living in Detroit over the past sixty years. From her childhood in Corktown to her apartment on Clairmount, Donna discusses her ups and downs in the city. Living only blocks away from Twelfth…