WDET’s CuriosiD podcast answers your questions about everything Detroit. Subscribe to CuriosiD on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of CuriosiD, we answer a question from WDET listener Theresa May:

“There’s a park in Indian Village named after my Uncle Tommy, who passed away in World War II as a very young man. My family has always wondered — why was the park named after him?”

The short answer

Who was Thomas Mollicone?

Thomas Mollicone was 23 years old when he joined the U.S. Army during World War II. He lived with his mother and three sisters in Detroit’s Indian Village neighborhood after their father died. The family had immigrated from Italy to Detroit when Mollicone was a child. 

“He got his draft notice on the day of my parents’ wedding,” Patricia Antonelli, Mollicone’s niece, says. 

Despite being the only wage earner for the household, Mollicone was drafted into military service.

“Uncle Tommy should not have been drafted because he was the sole provider [for] three girls and his mom,” Antonelli said.

Family lore suggests that Mollicone’s mother attempted various methods to keep him out of the war.

“My grandmother apparently paid someone to keep him out of the service,” Theresa May said of her uncle. Antonelli added: “I’m not sure if she paid, but there was a scam.”

Mollicone’s family believes that a politician’s son avoided service because Mollicone went in his place.

“She made lots of chiffon cakes to keep him out. Bribery. But there was a [local] politician whose son did not go, and Tommy went in his place,” May said.

Mollicone earned several honors while serving in the military, including a Silver Star and Purple Heart. However, the exact circumstances of his death remain unclear.

“He was asked to participate in a mission that they kind of knew he wasn’t going to come out of,” said May, recounting a story her mother shared with her. “He went into combat and did what he was asked to do for his country, and he died.”

The evolution of Mollicone Park

Mollicone Park, an open space with mature trees in the historic Indian Village neighborhood, remained largely unused for many years after its dedication.

In 2011, Callie Sullivan — a resident of Indian Village — noticed the lack of local recreational spaces for her children.

“I had one child at the time; I now have four,” Sullivan said. “We were always being creative with the places we would go to play. There wasn’t a nearby park.” Sullivan and her neighbors began canvassing the area, asking, “How could they make the park better?”

Their efforts led to the formation of the Friends of Mollicone Park — a committee of the nonprofit Indian Village Historical Collections — with the goal of revitalizing the underutilized park. Supported by a combination of funding from the city of Detroit, Wayne County and community donations, the group was able to bring their vision to life, and the park was re-dedicated in a ceremony attended by Mollicone’s closest remaining family members in June 2018.

Today, Mollicone Park features a playground, swings, walking paths and picnic tables, providing a much-needed space for the community.

A community hero 

Mollicone was known in his neighborhood for his generosity and reliability. He was often seen helping others by providing transportation to and from work during tough economic times.

“He would make rounds. He was like the local bus of the neighborhood where he would make sure whoever needed to get to their job was going to get to work,” Antonelli said. “He was a really great giving neighbor that everyone really loved, and it was the community that felt the loss of him.”

Other parks named after World War II heroes

Mollicone Park is one of several parks in Detroit named after fallen soldiers from World War II. Other parks include Dueweke Park — named after Sergeant Sylvester L. Dueweke, who died in 1945; and Krainz Park, named after Captain John Krainz — who was killed in action in 1944. Lipke Park, also known as SAY Detroit Play, honors the Lipke Brothers — Nicholas and Clarence — who both died during the war.

While the Mollicone family may not have all the details of Thomas Mollicone’s final moments, they remember him as a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

About the listener

Theresa May is a New Baltimore resident and a longtime WDET listener. She says her family has always wondered what precipitated the Indian Village community’s decision to dedicate a local park in Millicone’s honor.

We want to hear from you! 

Do you have a question about Detroit? Let us know here or fill out the form below.

More from CuriosiD:

• What is the history behind the Belle Isle Boathouse?

• What happened to Detroit jazz venue Strata Concert Gallery?

• What’s the highest point in Detroit?

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WDET’s CuriosiD podcast answers your questions about everything Detroit. Subscribe to CuriosiD on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of CuriosiD, we answer the question:

“What is the history behind the Belle Isle Boathouse?”

The short answer

On the north side of Belle Isle, better known as the “Detroit side,” sits a 40,000-square-foot building only a few have entered in years, and almost none since last summer. It’s one of a handful of iconic landmarks on the island and also one of many buildings in the city which have faced the threat of demolition.

A Historic Landmark

The Belle Isle Boathouse was built in 1902 and designed by Detroit architect Alpheus Chittenden. The structure blends Beaux-Arts and Classical Revival architectural styles, featuring intricate woodwork, including balustrades with sea horses and ornate dolphins. 

The boathouse has been the home of Detroit’s only rowing club for more than 100 years, says Todd Platt, vice president of the board of Friends of Detroit Rowing.

“The atrium is lined with trophy cases and there’s a lot of really nice hand-carved woodwork up here,” Platt told me during a private tour of the boathouse. “There are balustrades with sea horses carved into them and incredibly ornate dolphins on each post.”

Social and athletic legacy

The boathouse’s history is far more vibrant than a simple rowing hub.

As the former home of the Detroit Boat Club, the building was a popular social center — hosting numerous events and gatherings for members over the decades.

In its heyday, the boathouse was a bustling venue, featuring a grand ballroom, dining rooms and a bar frequented by Detroit’s elite. Social events, including dances and dinners, were commonly held within its walls. 

The club’s athletic achievements are also impressive, producing both Olympians and national rowing champions. 

“Throughout its history, it’s been really successful,” Platt said. “We’ve had 19 Olympians, 500 national champions, and we’re probably better known nationally and internationally than we are here in Detroit.”

The club’s collection of rowing memorabilia includes trophies, medals, and historical photographs, even Olympic metals donated by past members.

The Oak Room, where club members once dined in formal dress, and the Island Room — once housing a significant art collection — are just a few of the unique spaces within the boathouse. The latter’s bar room, last updated in the 1960s, was a popular gathering spot for high society reminiscent of the Mad Men era.

“This bar goes way back. Captains of industry would stop here, talk about the events of the day, and probably make some side deals,” Platt said. “This is where a lot of the elite from the city would come and congregate.”

Challenges and preservation efforts

Despite its former glory, the boathouse as it stands today faces significant challenges.

Friends of Detroit Rowing has maintained the iconic structure since the 1990s, but years of increasingly harsh weather and difficulties keeping up with repairs have taken a toll on the building.

“When [Friends of Detroit Rowing] kind of took over responsibility for the building, we would keep up the areas that we needed for our programming, but we also expanded our maintenance and upkeep when we started hosting events here,” Platt said.

The group has hosted several fundraising events to help their restoration efforts, with proceeds reinvested into preservation projects. However, those who want to save the boathouse say much work is still needed to ensure its survival for future generations.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources took over the facility’s lease when it assumed management of the island in 2014. In 2022, the agency deemed the building structurally unsound due to significant deterioration.

The DNR condemned the building a year later after an exterior porch collapsed. Since then, Platt says more damage has occurred due to members of the rowing club being unable to access the building for repairs.

A glimmer of hope

Earlier this year, the DNR announced plans to demolish the building due to limited funding for the facility’s upkeep — unless a private investor steps forward to help the agency restore it.

Since then, a movement to save the Belle Isle Boathouse has gained steam.

State officials placed an open call for proposals to rehabilitate the building in March 2024. Those proposals are currently being evaluated with a deadline of July 31 for acceptance by the DNR.

About the listener

Erin Rose Briggs is a program manager at a company in the battery and electric vehicle space. She lives in Detroit and often bikes around Belle Isle. Briggs shared her experiences and thoughts with WDET about the Belle Isle Boathouse, which she bikes past every time she visits Belle Isle.

We want to hear from you! 

If there’s a question swimming around in your head, let us know here or fill out the form below.