Echoes from Engine House No. 18

The Lost Legacy of Water Works Park

May 26, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois transports listeners to Detroit’s east side to uncover the forgotten legacy of Water Works Park. Once a sprawling 110‑acre civic treasure along Jefferson Avenue, the park featured lush landscapes, recreational amenities, and its iconic water tower—an early symbol of the city’s skyline and ambition. Livernois traces the park’s rise as a beloved gathering place, its layered history stretching back to early French settlers, and its eventual decline and closure in the mid‑20th century. The episode also highlights the remnants that remain today, offering a glimpse into a remarkable piece of Detroit’s past that still lingers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Guardians of Washington Boulevard: The Story of the Book Tower

May 12, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois looks up—way up—along Washington Boulevard in downtown Detroit to reveal the storied past of the Book Tower. Opened in 1926 and once the tallest building in the city, the Italian Renaissance landmark embodied Detroit’s roaring‑twenties confidence, rising in limestone and terracotta as a bold declaration of ambition. The episode traces the Book Tower’s arc from skyline‑defining marvel to long‑neglected giant, reflecting Detroit’s own struggles and resilience, before exploring its recent revival as a vibrant, mixed‑use destination. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Vanity Ballroom: Detroit’s Lost Temple of Rhythm

April 28, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois takes us to Detroit’s east side to uncover the fading grandeur of the Vanity Ballroom, an Art Deco landmark along Jefferson Avenue whose quiet exterior still echoes with nearly a century of music and motion. Designed by renowned architect Charles N. Agree and opened in 1929, the Vanity rose as a beacon of optimism just before the Great Depression—its geometric façade and pastel details promising escape and celebration in uncertain times. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Quiet Mayor of Grand Circus Park

April 14, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois turns our attention to a quiet figure seated in bronze near the heart of downtown Detroit—the statue of William Cotter Maybury in Grand Circus Park. Just steps from Comerica Park and surrounded by the energy of Woodward Avenue, the monument depicts a composed, almost contemplative mayor whose legacy is easy to overlook amid the city’s larger‑than‑life history. Unveiled in 1912 and intentionally modest in design, Maybury’s statue sits directly across from Pingree’s, the two former rivals facing one another in silent dialogue. Today, Maybury remains a symbol of steady leadership, measured governance, and the kind of civic patience that helped shape Detroit’s industrial future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Sacred Survivor of Greektown: Old St. Mary’s Church

March 31, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois journeys into the enduring presence of Old St. Mary’s Church, a red‑brick landmark standing at the edge of Detroit’s Greektown, where Monroe Street meets the I‑375 Expressway. Amid neon lights, casinos, and bustling restaurants, the church remains a quiet spiritual anchor—one that has watched the city transform for nearly two centuries. Still hosting daily Mass today, Old St. Mary’s stands as a rare constant in a rapidly changing neighborhood—a sacred survivor, rich with history. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.