Website Happenings

This website is being touted as a complete rebuild of the Downriver Things website, begun in 2013 and last revised in 2019. As a result of this major format change to the WordPress provider, we have had to make changes, most importantly in the layout of how we present our material.

Webmaster’s notes for the current year

UPDATED: August 21, 2026

I have not updated on the progress on the site too much in this space lately, because much has occurred with regards to the ongoing project of re-formatting and tightening margins & spaces up to make the page as professional as possible.

Back in late July, I found out the hard way that the layout type I was using was out-of-date, as WordPress was constantly reminding me through the use of AI troubleshooting. There were many instances where I would get lost when trying to execute a certain formatting function, and AI would constantly say things like, “You have found a WordPress block that this old format will constantly use,” or “Congratulations! You’ve found another source of (trouble)…” However, when asking for a solution, it was pointing to menu items which didn’t show up in their assigned places when queued. I’d ask AI why. “Oh, you’ve found another block!” Redundant… and frustrating. After two hours of this scenario one evening, I over-personalized and said, “I’m about to throw in the towel.” “Oh, don’t… don’t…,” AI responded, “try a new format.” I did.

The good news is that I didn’t lose any inputted information. The bad news? Say goodbye to preset margins, spacing, justification, and so on. In other words; farewell to neatness. This got on me more than anything else. After a few days off, I got the determination back to work within the parameters assigned, while resigned to the fact I would have to readjust every single page individually.

It’s actually coming about well – though slowly – and with the new layout program, primary color scheme and the evolving edits coming through, I must agree it is looking better than it ever has.

The main thing I have ended up putting off is – again – the blog. And I will be honest in saying I am not sure when I will be focused on that again. It definitely won’t be finished in August; September may be a bit far-fetched as well. In other words, stay tuned to this space as I continue to make revisions elsewhere.

By the way… I found that the “Research Needs” and “Website Updates” pages were mostly one in the same; therefore they have been combined into this page.

Blog progress lasting longer than initially expected; working on specifics

New blog style (with intricate touch-ups) decided upon; will work in slowly

UPDATED: June 24, 2026

I have finally decided upon a permanent style for the blogs, which include an image displaying proper photo credits, as well as four navigation boxes, all to be located on the bottom of each blog entry. Through a little CSS coding (I am not immune to learning!), I was able to rid the blog bottoms of the mess that was left with backwards sequences, wayward entry suggestions, and improper use of spacing.

It also took me quite awhile to determine what the navigation buttons & photo credit box would look like while determining their own spacing allotment. By nature I am a perfectionist, and have been trying to get the same entry redesigned before I proceed to the others. This is also why I have not added anything yet prior to 1957 so far. I’ve extended my deadline goal to August 2026 as a result.

Original research progress: slow, but steady

UPDATED: June, 2026

There are several gaps in the overall history timeline (many discovered in the switch to WordPress) which we are in the process of currently filling. Much will be dependent upon our access to Bacon Memorial District Library in Wyandotte, as well as researching AI and local newspapers online.

There has been progress made in all areas. We have made a couple visits to Bacon Library since the start of June 2026, but we encountered technical difficulties with the microfilm machines on each visit. Between those two visits, we rebooted the computers upwards of two dozen times! The newer technology came to Bacon not too long ago, so the fact we are experiencing a rough go of it is rather surprising.

Website updates almost included photo scare

UPDATED: May 29, 2026

In late May of 2026, the time for the monthly renewal of my Flickr account came about. Normally, it’s a nominal fee to keep the nearly 4,300 photos going. However, this May brought about major headaches and (almost) an all-out panic over what to do next.

The prompt came up on my cellphone menu that the Flickr transaction was denied due to funding. I figured out that problem rather quickly: I had obtained a new debit card to replace the old aged-out one, and I just needed to modify the Flickr payment method with a new expiration date.

It would not let me in. I could not see the payment methods, payment scheduling, or anything of that nature. I tried following all sorts of tutorial menus, thinking they had changed something major after all these years. Not the case. In this instance, I thought we were totally stuck in waving a fond farewell to all the 4,300 curated photos.

While I was looking up new photo sharing sites (there aren’t many which can do the job Flickr has), it was suggested that I back up what I had into my roommate’s computer. This definitely took me back to the original purposes of starting the Flickr account, which begat this website in the first place: it was only to be an unseen backup.

Long story short, the .zip files (which I haven’t accessed in many years) did not take too long to upload as folders: I still have to branch out the photos into online albums for best effect. I face a June 2nd deadline to open all the unzipped folders, so I do need to get cracking, so they say.

And I ended up with all the Flickr files saved anyway! Turned out they tried processing my card a day earlier than scheduled without trying to debit the alternate card. The following day, they did so. I won’t worry about it for now… that’s something for mid-June to consider.

Miscellaneous notes from the webmaster (early 2026)

UPDATED: April, 2026

In addition to our ongoing process of reaching out to the communities, with emphasis on historical societies, we have stumbled upon a valuable series of online images taken of the Wyandotte News-Herald from the mid-1930s to the mid-1940s. To avoid fees, we are currently reading the articles, then rewriting them on the computer’s “Notepad” function to add more modern style & length to the listings. More results will be seen soon. AI has also been a revelation, although we do need to fact-check some events closely! But the wealth of information that is actually available online not only answers a dream, but enables us not to make too many trips to the library (given the gas prices nowadays, it’s a small relief).

Researching early years presents a challenge for a couple reasons. The original News Herald editions, as was the case with all newspapers of that era, were all small print with no photos, and very few graphics. The condition of the microfilm prints of these early papers make reading them especially difficult. Progress in the 1880s, therefore, promises to be laborious.

The same can be said with the 1910s. Additionally during wartime, most stories published were of the national scale, with very few articles devoted to local happenings. The News-Herald also slanted on a national focus during World War II, though the quality of the prints were noticeably better.

Secondly, through no fault of their own, The News-Herald was based in Wyandotte, so many stories outside of the jurisdiction were not reported on. If the early part of the history timeline takes a Wyandotte theme, this would be the reason why. Lastly, The News-Herald headquarters in downtown Wyandotte was destroyed by fire in the early part of the 20th century, with all records lost up to that point.

​It is the challenge in researching these gaps, however, that brings out the charm in the task and makes it so fun when an important event is discovered.