Kickstarter

The Woo-Hoo Choo-Choo: An authentic ticket stub used at the infamous Michigan Central Station in Detroit. They vary in age from 1915-1940 and are to such exotic destinations as Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York. Stamped on the back with the date and almost all of them say, "MCRR Depot Detroit." Guaranteed to be the real deal straight from the depot itself. Plus, you'll be holding the ticket that whisked some stranger away to a far off land 80-some years ago. Kinda creepy when you think about it.

Can't Beat the Almost Real Thing: A reproduction of a luggage tag from the Book-Cadillac Hotel. They look like this: http://historicdetroit.org/workspace/images/bookcaddylabel.jpg

Don't Tell Mitt! Get a 1974 Detroit dog license key fob. We'll throw in an antique-looking key for looks. Comes in a doghouse design. Give Fido that retro Detroit hipster look for when you take him to the dog park. They look like this: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/7177289845_64e49954d2_z.jpg

Greetings From Detroit: Get an authentic, vintage Detroit postcard from 1900-1930.

Come On, Baby, Light My Kickstarter: An original matchbook from the Hotel Tuller, one of the buildings featured in the book. It's stamped inside Aug. 19, 1955. All of the matches have been removed, but it's still a neato Mid-Century Modern design of a classic Detroit hotel that closed in 1976 and was demolished in 1991. Hear that "Mad Men" fans? I said Mid-Century Mo.

Stogie Not Included: An original matchbook from the Book-Cadillac Hotel. It's stamped Sept. 4, 1951. The matches have all been removed. Neato little keepsake from a different era in the Book-Caddy's storied history.

Wowee, Kwamee: Get a copy of "The Kwame Sutra" signed by M.L. Elrick and Jim Schaefer, the two Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists who brought down the corrupt Detroit mayor. Relive Detroit's black eye one punch line at a time!

Donor Pie, Honey Bunch: An ORIGINAL, unused piece of Motown stationary from its HQ on Woodward Avenue. Features the Motown and Tamla logos.

Thank You (Falettinme Put Out a Book Agin)! An original ticket to Sly & the Family Stone at the Michigan Palace (originally the Michigan Theatre - now used as a parking garage) from Nov. 14, 1974. It's unused (in tact and not torn). Funk music not included.

Wear Out the Jams! One new black Grande Ballroom T-shirt (sorry, only available in size Large). It looks a'like this: http://dearbornmusic.com/store/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/g/r/grandeballroomimage.jpg

Getting Carded: Get THREE authentic, vintage Detroit postcards from 1900-1930. See how others saw the Motor City in an era before cars ruled the road. Laugh at the stories Aunt Gertrude sent her niece Geraldine about her trip to Detroit in 1920. Cry over little Sigmund losing his battle with typhoid fever.

STICKERS! A luggage tag from the Book-Cadillac Hotel. These would be slapped on your steamer trunk or what have you. I can't attest to their stickiness after all these decades, but if you want to try to put one on your Trapper Keeper, I won't stop you. They look like this: http://historicdetroit.org/workspace/images/bookcaddylabel.jpg

The No-tell Hotel: A key fob from Room 584 at the Tuller Hotel. Sorry, no key, but you could always throw it on YOUR keychain and wow the Detroit-history-diggin' ladies. The fob is in excellent shape, though, and is stamped "TULLER HOTEL." The hotel closed in 1976 and was demolished in 1991. Maybe it was the key to the "honeymoon suite," if you catch my drift.

The Un-Empty Nester: A $10 gift certificate to City Bird or Nest in Midtown Detroit, generously donated by owners Andy and Emily Linn. You can spend your gift certificate at EITHER store. And honestly, who doesn't like options?

Detroit Before Detroit Was Cool: Get a reproduction historic map of Detroit from 1915. It's 15" by 22". Generously donated by City Bird. (Retail price $20). You can see one here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/93297730/detroit-antique-map-silkscreen-print

If the Reward's a Rockin' ... An actual room key and key fob from the Fort Shelby Hotel - before it was renovated. The fob is black plastic and reads "Pick-Fort Shelby Hotel." The key is stamped Room 466. The building closed in 1974, and this key was used up until that time. Your chance for an authentic, dusty 'n' slightly rusty piece of Detroit history.

Mama Mia, Indeed! A $25 gift certificate to Supino Pizzeria in Detroit's Eastern Market, generously donated by owner Dave Mancini. As an added bonus, you'll also get your name in the "Special Thanks" section of the book.

Top of the Pontch: An original room key and fob to Room 1534 of the Hotel Pontchartrain (known today as the Detroit Riverside Hotel). Dates to the late '60s or early '70s. Features the neato little squiggle logo thinger. Would look great dangling from the ignition of your '76 Chevy Caprice road beast. We'll also include your name in the "Special Thanks" section of the book. It looks like this: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/7362514024_b685b44764_z.jpg

You're a Saint!: An original key and fob from the St. Regis in New Center. Fob features the hotel logo in high relief. Dates from the late 1960s. We'll also include your name in the "Special Thanks" section of the book.

Park Your Wallet Here: You know what would make your keychain look even foxier? An actual room key and key fob from the Park Shelton circa 1950. If you live there now, get a feel for what it was like to live there 70 years ago! The room number is on the reverse. We'll also include your name in the "Special Thanks" section of the book. They look like this: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8020/7362877742_982664e2fb_z.jpg

Now That's Room Service: An actual room key and key fob from the Hotel Tuller. The fob is leather and reads "TULLER HOTEL Detroit, Mich." The building closed in 1976 and was demolished in 1991. Get a real Detroit artifact - without having to do all that messy anthropological digging stuff. They look like this: http://historicdetroit.org/workspace/images/400tuller.jpg?1339123159771

You Get What You Paid For: Get a signed copy of the book (expected retail price $25). You'll also get your name in the "Special Thanks" section of the book, cuz hey, you've earned it.

An Oldie But a Decent-y: Get a signed copy of the author's first book, "Lost Detroit: Stories Behind the Motor City's Majestic Ruins" (retail price: $25). PLUS we'll throw in three vintage Detroit postcards. AND you'll also get your name in the "Special Thanks" section of the book. I mean, if you're gonna be generous, we better return the favor.

The Bookscore: Get a signed copy of the book (expected retail price $25) PLUS three vintage Detroit postcards. You'll also get your name in the "Special Thanks" section of the book, cuz I couldn't do it without you dudes. Cue the violins!

Another Brick From a Wall: A guaranteed authentic brick from the demolished Lafayette Building (http://www.historicdetroit.org/building/lafayette-building). Plucked from the demolition battlefield by the author himself. Not like you can get one of these just anywhere anymore. Will come with a certificate of authenticity if you want one. You'll also get your name in the "Special Thanks" section of the book. Brick-from-demolished-building collections are the new Pokemon. Trust me on this.

The Detroit Home Library Starter Kit™. Get a signed copy of the book AND a copy of the author's first book, "Lost Detroit: Stories Behind the Motor City's Majestic Ruins" (a $50 value). And what the hey, we'll throw in three vintage Detroit postcards. You'll also get your name in the "Special Thanks" section of the book.

The Big Store Big Enchilada: Here's a hard-to-find collectible from Hudson's Big Store. In an era before Visa and plastic, customers at Hudson's downtown store could apply for lines of credit, and they were issued these little key fobs - the forerunner of a credit card. The front says, "Finder please return to the J.L. Hudson Co. Detroit." The back has the JLH monogram with the customer's "credit card number." The shopper would simply hand the cashier his or her keys and BAMMO! Economic stimulus. Note: Line of credit not included. We'll also include your name in the "Special Thanks" section of the book and throw in a vintage Hudson's postcard, so you could frame the two of them together if you'd like. Actually, that's not a bad idea. Why didn't I think of that? Front of the fob: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7074/7362513814_c25fe0d17f_z.jpg The backside: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7242/7362513900_2207ebe907_z.jpg

Hob Knob: An original door knob from the Book-Cadillac Hotel. This is the real McDoorknob, folks. Features the hotel's crest and the original patina. You could bring a little touch of Book-Caddy splendor to your humble abode with this bad boy. It looks like this: http://historicdetroit.org/workspace/images/knobs.jpg

Donate the Big One: A guaranteed authentic brick from the demolished Hudson's Department Store (http://historicdetroit.org/building/hudsons-department-store). This is one of the insanely rare WHITE GLAZED bricks that was in the delivery area. As far as I know, they were not offered to the public. Will come with a certificate of authenticity that is verified by the Walbridge-Aldinger employee who pulled the brick from the building. You'll also get your name in the "Special Thanks" section of the book.

Walking Legends: Get a copy of the book and "Lost Detroit" plus a three-hour walking tour around downtown Detroit with the author. We'll stop in the Guardian, Book-Cadillac, Fort Shelby, Penobscot and other fine places. You'll also get your name in the "Special Thanks" section of the book.