Fueled by a massive immigrant influx in the early 20th century, Hamtramck went from being a small farming village to a major industrial town in the space of 10 years. This phenomenal growth attracted national attention and set the city on a sometimes precarious path toward the future. Despite often teetering on financial ruin, the city has always managed to right itself. Once predominantly Polish, Hamtramck has recently turned in a new direction to become one of the most diverse cities in the nation. This human tapestry—intertwining memorable people, places, and events of the past and present—is woven with the many colors that are so richly evident on these pages.
Author Greg Kowalski has been a journalist for more than 40 years and has written seven books on Hamtramck. He is chairman of the Hamtramck Historical Commission, which helped found the Hamtramck Historical Museum.