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Detroit's Infamous Purple Gang
Detroit's Infamous Purple Gang | Paul R. Kavieff
1 post | 4 to read
Detroit's Infamous Purple Gang is a photographic history of one of the most notorious organized crime groups of the 20th century. The photographs chronologically follow the evolution of the Purples from their days as a juvenile street gang through their rise to power and eventual self-destruction. Using rare police department mug shots and group photographs, the book transports readers through the dark side of Prohibition-era Detroit history. Detroit had a gold rush atmosphere and a thriving black market during the 1920s that attracted gangsters and unsavory characters from all over the country.
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Suzze
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In 1920's Detroit there was a lot going on. Prohibition was in full swing and bootleggers (like my grandpa) were bringing in liquor across the river from Canada. The Purple Gang was flourishing here. And my mom and dad were in high school. They would have my oldest brother in 1929 and me in 1952, with three other siblings in between. Here is my mom in her junior year of high school, 1928 - 1929. Front row middle. #setinthe20s #marchintoreading

Hollie Love this photo! 8y
Bookzombie My husband and I are watching Ken Burn's Prohibition documentary and The Purple Gang was featured in a bit of it. 8y
Wife Thank you for sharing the pic of your mother. So cool!🌹 8y
See All 16 Comments
LitHousewife I love that story. #puremichigan 8y
RealLifeReading Love this post! Thanks for sharing it with us 8y
Jenshootsweddings I love it 😍 what a family history! 8y
MeganAnn Wonderful post! Family history is so very interesting! ❤️ 8y
Zelma Wow, very cool! 👍👍 8y
CrowCAH Awesome family history pic! 8y
kspenmoll Wonderful picture & family history! 8y
lynneamch So cool! Thanks for posting. Heading to Detroit next week. I remember a scene about the rum-runners crossing the Detroit river when it was iced over in 8y
Suzze @lynneamch I'm just west of the city, in Westland. 8y
lynneamch Interesting factoid that Canada is actually south of the US there. 😊 8y
lynneamch Detroit river, that is, not Westland. 😉 8y
Suzze @lynneamch Yes! I have to take the expressway east, then south. Then I go south on the Ambassador Bridge into Windsor, Ontario. 8y
Betty Love that history--from bootlegger to cops. And I can see the family resemblance, @suzze 8y
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