AVIATION COUNTRY CLUB of DETROIT - RESTAURANT CHINA - MADDOCKS
I believe another mystery has been solved. I have an 8.5" platter with a Bi-Plane Logo with the initials "A.C.C." The Restaurant Ware Collectors Network chatroom has someone who I believes hunch is correct in identifying the piece as coming from The Aviation Country Club of Detroit, which was located in West Bloomfield Township.
In 1920, The Detroit Aviation Club led by prominent Detroit automobile magnates, early aviation promoters and WWI army flying corps veterans backed the purchase of 823 acres of land surrounded by 3 lakes in Oakland County (Flanders, Green and Union Lakes) from auto assembly line pioneer, Walter E Flanders estate. The land purchase cost $750,000 with the whole project estimated at $2 million. On this property would be a clubhouse, golf course, air strip, horse stables, ballroom, airplane hangers, guest rooms and more. The air strip would be 3,000 x 2,000 feet. The hangers would hold up to a club fleet of 20 planes. The lakes would offer a perfect spot for hydroplanes to land.
An informal opening was attended by more than 200 select guests on June 19, 1920. The Club hit its zenith at 700 members in 1926. It would be the home of many an upper society party and gathering for the next 8 years, until it became the Lochaven Country Club in 1928 after board infighting over expansion plans caused many members to quit. Ten years later, the club was renamed The Green Lake Country Club and lasted for 3 years until 1941. After the War, the land eventually was sold off and developed into residential properties. The Clubhouse is now
The Bortz Health Care Center, a nursing home.
One larger platter has surfaced on E-bay from Fenton, MI. This tinier platter was found in Brighton, Mi, further circumstantial evidence that the china finds were local to the club. There is little doubt that such a prestigious and private club would have had it's own china logo. The Maddock's Trenton China impressed mark is consistent with the early-mid 1920's. Another platter appeared on the market in 2007 and has an orange mark "Trenton China, Made Expressly for American China and Glassware Co" I believe that piece was made a little later in the 1920's.
In 1920, The Detroit Aviation Club led by prominent Detroit automobile magnates, early aviation promoters and WWI army flying corps veterans backed the purchase of 823 acres of land surrounded by 3 lakes in Oakland County (Flanders, Green and Union Lakes) from auto assembly line pioneer, Walter E Flanders estate. The land purchase cost $750,000 with the whole project estimated at $2 million. On this property would be a clubhouse, golf course, air strip, horse stables, ballroom, airplane hangers, guest rooms and more. The air strip would be 3,000 x 2,000 feet. The hangers would hold up to a club fleet of 20 planes. The lakes would offer a perfect spot for hydroplanes to land.
An informal opening was attended by more than 200 select guests on June 19, 1920. The Club hit its zenith at 700 members in 1926. It would be the home of many an upper society party and gathering for the next 8 years, until it became the Lochaven Country Club in 1928 after board infighting over expansion plans caused many members to quit. Ten years later, the club was renamed The Green Lake Country Club and lasted for 3 years until 1941. After the War, the land eventually was sold off and developed into residential properties. The Clubhouse is now
The Bortz Health Care Center, a nursing home.
One larger platter has surfaced on E-bay from Fenton, MI. This tinier platter was found in Brighton, Mi, further circumstantial evidence that the china finds were local to the club. There is little doubt that such a prestigious and private club would have had it's own china logo. The Maddock's Trenton China impressed mark is consistent with the early-mid 1920's. Another platter appeared on the market in 2007 and has an orange mark "Trenton China, Made Expressly for American China and Glassware Co" I believe that piece was made a little later in the 1920's.
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