Fire at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, [[parish established 1884), was caused by an explosion at the
"Briggs - Chrysler Factory" North across Benson.
http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/v/vmc/thumb/5/_/7/34305_7.jpg http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/v/vmc/thumb/5/_/1/34305_1.jpg
Pastor for many years was Fr. Van Hout who's family came as refugees from Belgium after WWII. Other priests, Fr. D'Cnut [[sp?) pastored St. Joan of Arc, St. Clair Shores, and Fr. Bonine [[sp?)
The school was next to the church, South on Meldrum, had two stories, 8 grades taught by Dominican nuns of Adrian. Sr. Joseph Cecila O.P., principal for many years.
Other Sisters: Anita Marie, Marie Michael, Seraphica, Mary Helen, Henrietta, etc.
The next building was the convent then the parking lot and then the house where the janitor/maintenance man lived. Across the street from the church, on the south west corner, was Steiner's Bar & restaurant. For many years the house on the north west corner was occupied by the Kranz family. The rectory was East of the church on Benson and connected to the church. The beautiful stained-glass windows in the church all had Belgian names mostly
Flemish. By the 1940's the area businesses, parishioners and students were primarily Italian, especially Sicilian.
Dave Debusschere [[Belgian-American) was a famous Basketball player [[Pistons) who also played baseball for Chicago White Sox. His Dad had been a beer distributor and owned the Lycaste Bar on E. Jefferson.