The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1944-06-22

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Safir. subsequently, advised
him that the owners had turned
the offer down flat"
Speaking earnestly and i'm
pressively Ernest Goodman, at
torney for the new owners, first
set the record clear for possible
future court action, by gaining
an expression from the COM
mission on the proper form in
which applications had been
made. He then outlined the
plans of the ownership and con-
cluded with a plea that the Ii
cense be granted and water
turned on at the club.
OUTLINE PLANS
Goodman likewise called act
i've members Of the club 10 teSti-
fy as 10 its character.
The Rev. Charles A. Hill, who
described himself as one of the
original organizers of the recre-
ational club, spoke of the need
for inter-racial and recreational
activities and described in glow
ing terms the character and re-
sponsibility Of the ownership.
He said that he is chairman of
the Inter Racial Committee of
the Detroit Council of Churches.
John r. Williams, 800 Z. Bos-
ton boulevard, Detroit. next adj
dressed the commission upon
what he termed 1.-THE wholesome
activities of the proposed club.
He said, IN part 1t may be a CO.
MISUNDERSTANDING or other
WiSe-that most Of us are men,
berS of the Negro race. How
ever he continued I'VE Negroes
work, buy bonds and otherwise
conduct ourselves as good citi-
zenS must. We feel that we
have a right to enjoy the out
of-doors so long as we behave
properly.
al see nothing improper" he
concluded, in requesting that
this commission grant our appll-
cation for permit to operate
Blossom Heath Club and enjoy
ourselves as all human beings
should"
SEEK 1000 MEMBERS
Harold II. Walden, manager
of the new club, then spoke
briefly, pointed out that the club
hoped TO have from 500 to 1000
members and that members Of
all races would be welcome 10
Join. He said that the Detroit
Negro community has no place
closer than IdleWild GOO miles
away where it could enjoy
bathing privileges and otherwise
attempt TO indulge in healthful
recreation. He said that. already,
some heckling had been en-
countered and that tacks had
been strewed in the driveways
of the club but that he had not
complained, that the club did
not want trouble and did not
anticipate trouble of any sort.
NO SIMILAR CLUB?
Walden could not. when di-
rectly queried by Commissioners
Robert Harrison, cite single
instance where similar Negro
clubs operate anywhere in the
United States.
In reply TO a direct question
by COMMISSIONS Edmund Lind
err, Walden said the sole owners
Of the property are DR.. Edward
Keemer, $50 Trowbridge, De-
troit, and himself.
Testimony produced during
the discussion Of the club that
a down payment to the Mcintosh
estate, former owners Of the
club, and improvements already
instituted, represented an in
vestment TO date OF $1,000 up
on the part of the new owners.
Walden said that monthly
payments of S267 have been
assumed by the club in discharg-
ing the unpaid balance Of the
$4,000 purchase price. and
that, in addition, monthly tax
payments Of 1925 must be dis
charged. He denied any inten-
ton to permit gambling at the
club. He said he had once OPP
Grated the Terrace Gardens
club in Macomb county.
ZONING RESTRICTIONS
Lingemann said, at the con-
clusion Of the statements on
behalf Of purchasers, that he