Monsignor Hickey's Cloister Art Gallery

[Lorax]

Does anyone remember Monsignor E. J. Hickey's Cloister Art Musuem? Not having lived in the area in over 20 years, I remember it being somewhere on E. Grand Blvd. and was housed in a lovely stone Art Deco building. Had some interesting negotiations with Mr. Hickey. He had some great stories about how he came about some of his "treasures". Bought several things from him over the years, traded a few as well. He remained a pretty sharp negotiator as I recall, even at his advanced age. I hear he lived longer than Matheuzela.

[royce]

Unfortunately, it was torn down a couple of years ago. Years ago one of the local news stations did a story on the building and Mosignor Hickey. That may have been in the late 80s or early 90s. That's all I can tell you.

[daddeeo]

I believe they had one big blow out sale just before he died. It was of course for charity and brought in a lot of money.
He used to come over to Mother of Our Savior and hand out report cards from time to time in the 60's. If you did poorly, he would say, "too many comic books, too much TV" as handed you the less than stellar grades.
He often strolled along Grand River when he was well into his 80's. I believe that came to an end when some jackass mugged him.
He lived in the tower at St. Mary of Redford for years.

[Lorax]

Thanks D, a shame he was mugged. I remember he had this amazing four-sided crucifix made entirely of light bulbs that dated to the early part of the 20th century, and was apparently used as a traveling crucifix used in tent revivals a la Elmer Gantry. It even had it's own faux-leather embossed traveling case. He said he traded it later on to a dealer at the Royal Oak Farmer's Market for some other goods. Had a chance to buy it and didn't.

[jfk]

Here's a magizine photo of my Mother[[in the middle of the women) and a couple of her freinds from 1960.They all seem to be going with the June Cleaver look. I have a painting from the gallery hanging in my dining room.
Attachment 270

[daddeeo]

Monsignor Hickey

[LodgeDodger]

Here's a magizine photo of my Mother[[in the middle of the women) and a couple of her freinds from 1960.They all seem to be going with the June Cleaver look. I have a painting from the gallery hanging in my dining room.
Attachment 270

Your Mum bears a strong resemblance to June Cleaver.

[marshamusic]

Here's a magizine photo of my Mother[[in the middle of the women) and a couple of her freinds from 1960.They all seem to be going with the June Cleaver look. I have a painting from the gallery hanging in my dining room.
Attachment 270

What elegant women. What a great photo and what a nice thread.

[Vitalis]

Whoa...Ed Hickey? Interesting thread. In a parish of over 2,000 families, at one time, there must be a lot of Rustics out there participating in this forum. Well, here's my two cents. After the good Monsignor retired as pastor he lived in the bell tower of St Mary of Redford in a studio apartment, with institutional light green walls as I recall. I went up to visit him on occassion and actually did a photo study of him [[Kodachrome slides). At that time, well let's see, 1980 or so, he was in possession of what he deemed a rare DeVinci painting of Madonna and Child. The painting was warped and resting precariously in a frame between two small nails. He was having tests run on the subject to see if first of all it was the right time period, and then secondly, if indeed it was a DeVinci. Turns out it wasn't or Channel 7 Action News and everyother media outlet in the free world would have been on to it.

Hickey wore his black priest's cassock even in retirement; he wore it the way some of us would wear a bathrobe around the house. He also cut his own hair in retirement and often left the cuttings on the shoulders of his cassock.

Earlier as pastor he would pass out report cards in our classrooms and read the grades outloud to the class, adding sly comments to those of us who did not fair well on that card marking with something like: "...too many movies and popcorn, hey?" I think Ed Hickey saw being a priest as a job or a career where he could dabble in all the other really important things in life - art, art, and art.

[daddeeo]

Monsignor Hickey was also a Gabriel Richard nut. He was always talking about him like he was his biographer.
Every day at 6 am or so he would be in church pacing around saying his morning prayers.

[daddeeo]

Another pic of Hickey.

[Ryal]

Does anyone remember Monsignor E. J. Hickey's Cloister Art Musuem? Not having lived in the area in over 20 years, I remember it being somewhere on E. Grand Blvd. and was housed in a lovely stone Art Deco building. Had some interesting negotiations with Mr. Hickey. He had some great stories about how he came about some of his "treasures". Bought several things from him over the years, traded a few as well. He remained a pretty sharp negotiator as I recall, even at his advanced age. I hear he lived longer than Matheuzela.

I have just inherited a painting purchased from Monsignor Hickey in 1962 by the Ford Company. It was given to my grandfather on his retirement. It is of a praying Madonna. Does anyone remember seeing it or hearing about it? I know it is a long shot, but thought it was worth asking. What parish was he at when he had the Gallery? Any records of sales?

[daddeeo]

Monsignor Hickey was at St. Mary Of Redford from the 50's on.

[DetroitPlanner]

I have just inherited a painting purchased from Monsignor Hickey in 1962 by the Ford Company. It was given to my grandfather on his retirement. It is of a praying Madonna. Does anyone remember seeing it or hearing about it? I know it is a long shot, but thought it was worth asking. What parish was he at when he had the Gallery? Any records of sales?

Wait... this is the DetroitYes site, was Madonna even born yet in 1962?

[econ expat]

I have just inherited a painting purchased from Monsignor Hickey in 1962 by the Ford Company. It was given to my grandfather on his retirement. It is of a praying Madonna. Does anyone remember seeing it or hearing about it? I know it is a long shot, but thought it was worth asking. What parish was he at when he had the Gallery? Any records of sales?

Monsignor Hickey was related to the founders of Hudson's. Interesting guy. Indeed, he lived a long time. He used to walk all the way from St Mary Redford to downtown.
After his retirement, he was given permission[[ rare ) to reside at his old parish. An apartment was built for him in the Bell Tower. I think this was late 70's early 80s. He started the gallery after he retired.

[beachboy]

Monsignor Hickey was related to the founders of Hudson's. Interesting guy. [...] An apartment was built for him in the Bell Tower.

Thank you for resurrecting this thread... it brings back many
memories that had "faded away" [[easy to do at my age...)

Indeed, Msgr. Hickey was a very cultured and kind gentleman
who encouraged many forms of art in and out of church,
including music. The organist at St. Mary of Redford was
closely related to the famous Belgian composer Flor Peeters,
and I took some improvisation lessons from him - in the 1960s
IIRC. [[My 7th grade teacher [[IHM nun) was a poobah at
SMR school, got me access to the organ and Mr. Peeters when
parents visited Detroit.) The Msgr. occasionally "looked in" the
choir loft, and we had a few conversations. I remember him
as a very nice man... Some of his pictures were hung on the
side walls of SMR, and he led me around and discussed them.
Unfortunately, I can't recall what he said <gulps Geritol>...

What is the status of SMR today? Is it still a viable parish?
I heard their [[large) school was closed... is that so?