Newsmaker of the Year: A very special birthday for a certain city

The city celebrated its 100th anniversary of being an incorporated city last year. A special rededication of Col. Francis Hamtramck’s grave was celebrated last Memorial Day as part of a year-long centennial observance.

By Charles Sercombe
Our “Year in Review” that ran for the past two weeks always prompts us to decide what was the most important story of the year.
And, once again, there were way too many people and subjects to consider.
But the story that is our Newsmaker of the Year should actually have been much, much bigger.
We’re talking about Hamtramck’s centennial celebration: frankly, the city’s centennial was hardly celebrated this past year at all.
Sheesh, folks, it’s not often a city turns 100 years old.
Considering Hamtramck’s unique history and cultural significance in the metro area, it’s downright baffling why there weren’t more champagne corks popping.
The most notable event was the rededication ceremony of Col. Francis Hamtramck’s grave, held last Memorial Day.
That’s when a large gathering took place, featuring a number of people dressed in Revolutionary War clothing. A number of speeches were also made.
(Hamtramck, a French Canadian, was a Revolutionary War hero, hence the period clothing.)
The event was punctuated with the firing of a cannon that was likely heard throughout town (and is still ringing in our ears).
That event was organized by the Hamtramck Historical Commission, and was the only big-time get-together.
Other celebrations included the installation of a state marker in city hall that recognized the city’s anniversary.
Also, the city’s Arts and Culture Commission was behind the street banners and logo for the centennial, as well as hosting some cultural events.
The city’s spirit, however, did come through in the annual Hamtramck Labor Day Festival, and most certainly in the city parade during that holiday weekend.
That was tons of fun.
(The city parade replaced the Polish Day Parade, which skedaddled to Warren after being held in Hamtramck for many years. From what we saw, attendance-wise, for the Polish Parade last year, it was dismal to the point of being hilarious.)
But after that weekend, there was hardly a mention of the city’s centennial.
The lack of any other celebrations suggested, hey, we’re all tired, or too busy with life to plan for much else.
That was unfortunate, because Hamtramck had — and still has — so much to celebrate.
On the other hand, Hamtramck has actually been around much longer than 100 years. Before becoming incorporated as a city in 1922, Hamtramck was village and township, and was in existence since the late 1700s.
Anniversaries come and go, and we’d like to take a ride in a time machine and see what this grand old city looks like on its 200th birthday.
Wonder if anyone will celebrate then?
Posted Jan. 6, 2023