looking back

From the DJN
Davidson
Digital Archive

Dexter-Davison Markets began as a 24-hour, open-air fruit and vegetable stand at the corner of Dexter and Davison
in the 1930s. Norman Cottler was its colorful and much-beloved proprietor who ran the market to cater to his
Jewish neighbors, selling kosher foods and foods unique to the Jewish holidays. As the Jewish population expanded
in both numbers and geography in the early l940s, the vegetable stand gave way to an enclosed market, part of
a small strip mall. Cottler favored extensive fruit and vegetable displays, and the deli counter held all varieties of
cheeses, smoked fish, lox and kippers. Cottler, center, is pictured with his store manager, left, and his son Ruby at
the newly opened Oak Park location at Ten Mile Road and Coolidge, circa 1960. •

S

everal weeks ago, in his
“Publisher’s Notebook,” Arthur
Horwitz kicked off the 75th anni-
versary year of the Jewish News with
these words: “The world was an exceed-
ingly dangerous place — especially for
Jews — when Philip Slomovitz pub-
lished the first issue of the Jewish News
on March 27, 1942.” Dangerous, indeed.
Consider that 75 years ago this week,
the JN had a very disturbing headline:
“Nazis Slaughter 13,000 Jews in LWOW;
Report 1,500 More
Died in Random of
Starvation.” I found
this to be even more
interesting after
reading a review in
the Times of Israel of
Human Rights After
Hitler, a new book
Mike Smith
by Dan Plesch, direc-
Detroit Jewish News
Foundation Archivist
tor of the Centre for
International Studies
and Diplomacy at
SOAS, University of London. Plesch
investigated recently released docu-
ments from the United Nations dem-
onstrating that the Allies had evidence
regarding the Nazi’s efforts to extermi-
nate Jews as early as December 1942
instead of 1944, as they often claimed.
Well, it seems that Slomovitz and the
JN knew from the beginning of publica-
tion that there was an atrocity in the
making in Europe. To be frank, as I
read the issues from 1942, I am greatly
impressed with the worldwide coverage
of the JN.
The front page of the May 1, 1942, JN
was serious, but there was also a bit of
good news inside. To celebrate National
Baby Week, at both of Sam’s Cut Rate
stores in Downtown Detroit, you could
buy a wooden baby chair for just $4.98!
This was a deep discount from its nor-
mal price of $7.50. •

Want to learn more?
Go to the DJN Foundation archives,
available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.

78

April 27 • 2017

jn

This photograph was featured in an article about the history of the Dexter Davidson Markets,
Michigan Jewish History, 2015. Courtesy of Sylvia Cottler.

Historic photos are curated by the
Jewish Historical Society of Michigan.