The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922; / Clarence M. Burton, editor-in-chief, William Stocking, associate editor, Gordon K. Miller, associated editor. [Vol. 2]

1586

CITY OF DETROIT

Thompson built a log house and opened it as a tavern. After conducting it
for a year or two he turned it over to his son-in-law, John Cochran, who continued in business. In the spring of 1837 Captain Webb, then in command at
the arsenal, set up the claim that the tavern was upon the arsenal grounds
and ordered it removed. Cochran displayed no disposition to comply with
the order, whereupon Captain Webb took about fifty men, marched to the
building and began to demolish it. Cochran and a number of his friends offered resistance and in the conflict which followed a Mr. Potter received a blow
upon the head, which resulted fatally. The tavern was destroyed, however,
and was never rebuilt.
When the arsenal was abandoned, one of the buildings was acquired by the
village authorities and remodeled for a town hall. The others passed into the
possession of individuals. The Michigan Central Railroad was completed
through the village in 1837, and the first car on the Detroit, Ypsilanti and Ann
Arbor electric line (now a part of the Detroit United Railways) was run on
June 12, 1898.
Dearborn has been twice incorporated, the first charter being surrendered
soon after it was granted. The present incorporation dates from 1894, the first
president under the new charter having been William H. Clark.
DELRAY
The Village of Delray, first known as Belgrade, situated in Springwells
Township, on the Detroit and Rouge rivers, was settled about the beginning
of the Nineteenth Century. In 1850 the Detroit and Lake Superior Copper
Works were established near Fort Wayne at the upper end of the village; the
Detroit Steel and Spring Works and the Michigan Car Company began business in the '70s and the Michigan Carbon Company, located near the River
Rouge, a little later. In September, 1889, the Detroit International Fair and
Exposition was opened on the grounds now occupied by the Solvay Process
Company. The Michigan State Fair was held on these grounds in 1884.
Delray was incorporated as a village October 14, 1897, and the following
officers were elected: Frederick J. Clippert, president; Dr. Hugh Cary, Peter
B. DeLisle, William O. Miller, Josiah L. Riopelle, John A. Roll, and William
Zimmerman, trustees; George P. Moog, clerk; Albert Frank, treasurer; Amander
G. Barnes, assessor; L. M. Coulson, marshal; Charles Boston, chief of the fire
department.
Several lines of railroad pass through Delray and it is connected with the
business center of Detroit by two electric lines of the Detroit United Railways. A few years ago the village was annexed to the City of Detroit and
its corporate existence then came to an end.
* ECORSE
Near the close of the War of 1812, a settlement was made near the mouth
of the Ecorse River and a few years later it took the name of "Grand Port."
In 1902 it was incorporated under the name of Ecorse. Ecorse is known as a
thriving manufacturing community, among the industries being that of Ecorse
Foundry and Machine Works, the Kelsey Wheel Company, and the Wolverine
Salt Company. Transportation facilities are afforded by four lines of railroad, the Detroit United Railways, and the Detroit River, and considerable
quantities of grain, hay, lumber, ice, and salt are shipped from here every