Detroit Jewel: Angels' Night Initiative

Devil's Night, which is traditionally October 30, the night before Halloween, originally was a variation of "Mischief Night", where young people would commit minor acts of vandalism such as throwing eggs against windows, hanging toilt paper in trees, or overturning garbage cans.  "Devil's Night" or "Mischief Night" acts had been recorded as far back as the 1930s.

However, in Detroit starting in the 1970s, Devil's Night turned into a horrible night of arson. It started when homeowners or business owners who saw their property values decline decided to burn down their property for the insurance. Over the years, Devil's Night arson escalated into such a force that it attracted worldwide negative attention to Detroit. By the mid-1980s, 500- 800 fires were set each year.

By 1996, the new mayor of Detroit, Dennis Archer, had had enough. He decided to change the paradigm by first changing the name from "Devil's Night" to "Angels' Night" and challenging the citizens of Detroit to take their neighborhoods and city back.

Now, the three-day period from October 29 - 31 involves over 50,000 volunteers, one of the largest municipal volunteer initatives, who patrol the streets and look out for abandoned homes, and with the mandatory 6 pm to 6 am curfew where unaccompanied children and teens are taken into custody until their parents come to the police station, the number of fires has declined back to regular levels.

Campus Martius Park

Campus Martius Park, Detroit's "Town Square", has become an all-season public gathering place for fun and relaxation for the City's residents, visitors, and downtown workers.

Campus Martius, which officially opened in 2004, was developed through a partnership between the City of Detroit and the Detroit 300 Conservancy. There are festivals, concerts, drive-in-like movies, holiday celebrations; even outdoor ice-skating. Free wireless internet access is available...well, it works well sometimes...

But "Campus Martius"? What kind of name is that? I admit, when I first heard that former Mayor Dennis Archer had chosen that name, I thought: "What? That sounds like something from outer space!"

In actuality, "Campus Martius" is Latin for "military ground and was named for the Campus Martius Stockade in Marietta, Ohio. In the center of Detroit's Campus Martius is "The Point of Origin", located at the intersection of Woodward and Monroe.

It was at this point in 1805, after the Great Detroit Fire, that Judge Augustus B. Woodward (after whom Woodward Avenue is named) and the surveyors he hired developed the Coordinate System from which Detroit's streets radiate.


There is always something going on at Campus Martius! Check out the 24/7 Webcam!

Major Events for Summer 2008 include:
The "Summer in the Park" Series of Concerts
The "4th Fridays with Ford" Concerts
The "Comcast Summer Film Series"

Don't be surprised...there is always something to celebrate in Detroit! We've got the Spirit!

Enjoy!