Oct 22, 2007 Indian Village - Neighborhood Marathon By Doug Kurtis

Since 2001, Indian Village located on the southeast side of Detroit has been a part of the Free Press Marathon course. Thanks to 9/11, when a U.S. only course was mandated, the Villagers have enthusiastically requested to be a part of the marathon.

Many runners are surprised by the beauty of resident’s property, as they race from mile 21 to 23. Runners appreciate their support and the Villagers admire the runner’s courage and fortitude. It’s an atmosphere that is very uplifting.

Many runners can’t forget the race day party station created by William O’Brien and son Bill Jr. just south of Goethe on Seminole. Unfortunately, William passed away and the course moved one block south across Charlevoix. But for three years it was quite a spectacle.

O’Brien was both boastful and surprised that they handed out over six cases of beer to runners. One year a Free Press photographer caught the group next to a mannequin holding cigarettes. They usually set up a tent and had music blasting too.

Down the street, just north of Lafayette, Bob Bege and his water station crew would get teased by the runners that they didn’t have beer. The best the crew could do was to yell out that they had water and Gatoritas (suggesting they had margaritas).

Indian Villagers often supported the event when the original course ran out to the Grosse Pointes, in part because some of the neighbors like Judge Mary Waterstone were running marathon.

When the race moved into the Village, Bege somehow got elected to captain the water station. Through the association yahoo site and monthly newsletters more than a dozen people are recruited to pass out fluids. Providing a volunteer t-shirt was his incentive to get people to sign up early.

According to Bege, “Whole families show up on race day. One neighbor was a den mother and brought her entire Cub Scout troupe. The kid’s use it as a community service project. I’ve seen runners literally pass up adults to take fluids from them first. And the kids get a kick out of someone grabbing their cup.”

The station is now set up on both sides of the street. This is done because at this point in the race some runners are so tired they can’t negotiate the road to move to one side of the street. It also eliminates the need for volunteers to cross through the runners to help out.

If they are not at a water station some Villagers enjoy sitting on their lawn chairs and cheering. Especially when they hear their name being called out by a neighbor who is running the race.

The former pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Reverend Hesford was a supporter of event. He used to preach in Boston and was a big fan of its marathon. On race day the Church makes adjustments since their service is held during the run and they are located right middle of runners going up Burns and down Seminole. The Church is accustomed to supporting neighborhood functions through its facility.

According to Bege, “We get out at 8 am in the morning to set up tables, begin pouring and stacking water then take guesses as to win the first runner will appear. From their station they can see runners heading east on Jefferson a few mile before they arrive. Runners are most appreciative and the Villagers respond back by saying that they wouldn’t be out on their lawns if it wasn’t for them.

The marathon is one of many bonding opportunities for the 24 city blocks of Indian Village. They often throw monthly theme parties that enable them fight the suburban situation of knowing only your immediate neighbors. The number of enthusiastic people that show up for the marathon seems like an extension of their monthly HACK parties – Historical Area Cocktail Klub. Bege commented, “Give the village a reason to party and they’ll be there. Most of our events pass the hat and at the end of the year the money is donated to Good Fellows.”

Setting up their water station at the 22 mile make means Villagers are out on the course a long time. The volunteers often bring things like zucchini bread (which they wash down with Gatorade) to fight off the hunger pains. Others on the course have been receptive to locating entertainment and bands on their front lawns.

Indian Village has a number of architecturally-significant homes built in the early 20th century. Some have been substantially restored. Many were built by prominent architects such as Albert Kahn, Louis Kamper and William Stratton. A few still have carriage houses and large amounts of Pewabic Pottery tiles.