Fred Miles, June 22nd, 2024
Title
Fred Miles, June 22nd, 2024
Description
In this interview, Fred Miles talks about flooding in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood and how it’s been worsened by climate change. He also discusses the Manistique Community Treehouse Center’s work in Jefferson Chalmers, including its solar energy program.
In partnership with the Manistique Community Treehouse Center
In partnership with the Manistique Community Treehouse Center
Publisher
Detroit Historical Society
Rights
Detroit Historical Society
Language
en-US
Narrator/Interviewee's Name
Fred Miles
Brief Biography
Fred Miles was born on Saint Clair Street in East Side Detroit and moved to the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood in 1970, at the age of four. Before retirement, he worked for the Detroit Department of Transportation as a bus driver, also working in private transportation.
Interviewer's Name
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo
Date
6/22/2024
Interview Length
15:31
Transcription
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: I'm Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo. It's June 22nd, 2024, and I'm here with, please say your name.
Fred Miles: Fred Miles.
DLT: Can you please spell that for me?
FM: F r e d M i l e s.
DLT: And do you live in the city of Detroit?
FM: Yes I do.
DLT: What neighborhood?
FM: I stay in the Jefferson Chalmers area. That's East Jefferson and Alter Road, about a block away from Grosse Pointe [Park].
DLT: How long have you lived there?
FM: I've been there, I live on Manistique, and I've been on that block—Actually, I'm going on probably 1960, 1970, 1970. Yes.
DLT: And where did you live before then?
FM: Saint Clair Street, which is East Side Detroit off East Jefferson, and I stayed there for three years. I was born there, as a matter of fact. I was born on Saint Clair, stayed there ‘till I was four. Then we moved to Manistique in 1970. Yes.
DLT: Do you work in the city of Detroit?
FM: I used to work in the city of Detroit. I worked for the city of Detroit Department of Transportation. I drove the bus for 12 years. After that, I went into the private sector and drove private transportation.
DLT: And are you involved in the Manistique Community Treehouse Center?
FM: I am involved with the Manistique Community Treehosue Center and basically, Miss Black, she came and she got that started, which I was very grateful that she did and thankful for that because basically, she helped us really get our community together. You know, helping us to bring our community back. Yeah, there's a lot of resources and stuff.
DLT: And how long have you been involved?
FM: I want to say now I'll give it about three years. 3 or 4 years.
DLT: And how did you initially get involved?
FM: Basically, Tammy was recruiting. She was actually asking for people to help her out. And, I seen her out there one day. She was doing some work in the lots and everything, and I said, what, who is this lady? I found out who she was. Then I found out what work she was doing. And she was saying, this is empowerment. But she was empowering the neighborhood, empowering people to, you know, put back into the neighborhood, help bring it back, as she was asking us about stuff with our house and everything, about the floods in the area, stuff like that. But basically, I met Tammy when she was doing the lots. Started doing lots and stuff, doing a lot of lot work, stuff like that.
DLT: What was that work on lots?
FM: Planning, setting up, what was that she was doing? Setting up gardens and making the food, providing food for the neighborhood. Giving people resources to try to put back into the neighborhood, into the community.
DLT: And what was the community response to these gardening efforts?
FM: Well in our neighborhood, a lot of the lots went up for sale. And all of them got bought. There's no empty lots in my neighborhood at all gardens on my whole block.
DLT: Wow.
FM: My whole block is just full of gardens. No empty lots. What once was houses became lots are now gardens, which provide food and everything for people in the area. Yeah.
DLT: That’s great. Can you tell me about the Treehouse's flooding prevention and information efforts?
FM: Well, basically, because this is a hard-hitting area when it comes to flooding. My neighborhood has been flooded on numerous occasions and Community Treehouse have helped out with a lot of resources in regards to trying to give you information about how you could prevent your homes from getting flooded, or how to upgrade stuff around your house, prevent it from getting flooded, you know, giving those resources to people to call or network with people to try to find out what we can do to try to prevent these things were happening was a pretty, precautionary measures. So when the floods do come, at least we’ll be able to have something to try to prevent it. Stave off, I just say some type of flood prevention, that’s what I describe.
DLT: And can you tell me a little bit more about the effects of flooding on your own home or on your neighborhood?
FM: Well, in my home, it causes foundation damage, cracked the wall in my basement. I lost two furnaces during these floods. Countless washers and dryers. It's just been a disaster. And then with the climate change and everything it’s like, it's getting worse, you know? One particular year, I want to say that was like two thousand, was it ’18? 2018, I believe I was flooded and the power, all the power was out. And it was even bad that year, it was real hot like it is now. Lost a lot of food. A lot of, all my groceries. Appliances, water tanks, furnaces. Like I said, we lost a lot of stuff. Every year, if it floods, you’re going to lose everything in your basement. It’s just, it don't make no sense to stay in your basement, cause it's going to flood every year and it's going to back up with the overflow of the drains. If it's not coming from the canals, it’s coming from the drain backup. Because the drains, sometimes the flood is so powerful where the drains can't get rid of the water, and it backs up in the basement and causes the flood. It's like, I don't know what they call that, overflooding drains or something, I don't know. But, anyway, the drains back up, you know, in your basements. If it's not that, it's the sewers outside is backing up. Something’s always backing up, causing the flood.
And Community Treehouse has been very good with resources and helping us get some resources and getting people here to come together. I think FEMA came through one year and, actually, they came through every year. Flooding, they come through every year. But the results of that is like nil to none. [Laughter] It's like they come take a survey and then they leave, like, nothing's been done about it. And so, I don't know, it's good to have resources where people can even, what UpTogether is doing, trying to help us out with getting resources that, you know, prevent these things from happening, to better your homes and everything, you know. To strengthen your foundation, I guess, for your homes and everything and help you reroute your gutters and all that. You know, just to prevent this flood and stuff from happening. And it helps save a lot of how homeowners a lot of money, I tell you that. Yeah. Because this is terrible down here. Lower East Side, down here by the canal on the river, it's terrible when it’s time, when it starts flooding, rains. Every time it rains, you get nervous because you don't know if your basement’s going to flood or what's going to happen. So every time it rains, we're not too comfortable down here in this area. Yeah, so, it could be really rough. Yeah.
DLT: And what do you think organizations like FEMA should do about this issue?
FM: They should do something about the canals! Do the higher, I'm going to build a higher wall for the canal. Do something about the infrastructure in regards to, like, the sewers and all that so they won't back up and cause all these problems people face. I think they should do some about the infrastructure and canals. Get a homeowner, some type of homeowner or tax credit or something to help them, you know, do something about their houses. Or those though that got low income, they can't afford all these things, help them out too as well. You know, you've got homeowners here that's been here for years, is probably on fixed income. They can't afford, you know, these type of fixups around their home. So I think it'd be good if the government or FEMA can come in, especially for senior citizens or homeowners that can't afford these fixer uppers to lend a hand in that area as well. I think that'd be good.
DLT: And you said that, due to climate change, the flooding has gotten worse over time, right?
FM: Yes.
DLT: Have there been any particular years that you've noticed a worsening of the floods?
FM: I'm sorry.
DLT: Have there been any particular years where you noticed the effects of this, worsening floods?
FM: Yes. Especially, my home. My home, it's like, it got worse like I said, cracked my wall. I have flood proofing, but this time, it cracked the wall in my basement. Thank God it's not leaking. There's no water coming through. But I heard a pop, and I went down there, I see, and so. I guess the foundation is getting a lot more weaker now, you know. And so you have to strengthen your foundations. I just say this global warming and these floods has caused a lot of problems with the sewer drains in the neighborhood, you know, the sewer lines in the neighborhoods and the alleyways. It's just, it's terrible. It's always backed up. Can't get out of there. Yeah. One morning. I was trapped in my house, couldn't even get out, it was so flooded, I couldn't even get out the alleyway or the, street. So it was, you had to sit and wait until the water subsides. So it can be scary. That’s the scariest it ever got for me, was back the last flood we had. That’s the scariest it ever got for me, where it got to like four feet in my basement. It never got that high in my basement, up to 4 or 5ft, it never got too high. And I'm like, whoa, where’s the water coming from? That's the worst it ever got to my house.
DLT: And was that the 2021 flood?
FM: That's the last flood we had, yes.
DLT: So the Community Treehouse Center, I know, has done a lot of work regarding solar energy. Have you been involved in that?
FM: They have done that too, solar energy. They go out and try to recruit people, homeowners and everything, to try to lower their bills and things like that by getting solar energy. And yeah, I convinced my neighbor next door to me to get solar and they got it and had it put it on their house. As a matter of fact, yes, Miss Mills, she passed away, unfortunately. And yeah, she just had solar put on her house about 3 or 4 years ago.
DLT: Do you have solar on your own house?
FM: Unfortunately, I don't have solar on my house. Like I said, cause my neighbor had it, my neighbor lived right next door to me. So at that particular time, I didn't have the income to get the solar at that particular time, so I couldn't afford it. But my neighbor did get it. And I had convinced her to get it, me and Tammy, she winds up getting, that was cool, and I think it worked out. But for the most part, a lot of people in our neighborhood got solar, too. A lot of them got solar. So you really don't, because we both going to have, try to make a suggestion where they have a solar, we call that a solar plant or like a solar— I guess it’s just solar plant, where you can put nothing but just solar panels in these three lots. Tammy was suggesting we could have a solar panel for these whole three lots, and the whole neighborhood, the whole community can benefit from it, you know. I think that would have been a good idea. But I noticed that a lot of solar energy, a lot of people buy a solar now. But I think by being in this area now, you might not need so much of it now, because the whole neighborhood, everybody got it. So I think it's pretty well set in this area, if I'm not mistaken. But I'm always, I'm always for solar energy, for saving money, for making the climate and making everything better and safer and cheaper.
DLT: And do you plan on getting solar panels in the future?
FM: Yes, yes, yes, yes, I do, yes I do, yes I do. And there’s a program I would like to get into, was talking to Tammy about it a couple weeks ago. So, I'm looking into it. I'm looking into it. I've been talking to my fiancée about it, so I said, yeah, we could just get this solar. Yeah.
DLT: And what are some of the factors you're considering, about getting solar energy?
FM: I'm learning about it, number one. I'm not really good. I’m not really good at knowing too much about solar, but I understand you save on your bills. And I'm always for saving money on my bills, especially my monthly utilities, and electricity. And I heard it’s better for the climate. So, yeah, I would recommend it.
DLT: And how do you feel that the Treehouse Center educates people about the effects of climate change and other environmental issues?
FM: Well, I, I've been getting pretty, I've been getting some information from the Treehouse, especially from Tammy. But I know she needs some more people to help her out, and I'm looking forward to volunteering my service. I'm no longer working. I want to start volunteering and do things to help her out in Community Treehouse. They’ve been, it’s been a great help. I mean, it's doing a great job in the area.
DLT: And what would you want to volunteer to do? Do you have any particular aspect of the Treehouse Center's work that you want to be involved in?
FM: Once I have my surgery, I'll be able to do some of the physical aspects of the work. But more or less, now I'd like to do something with more of the hands-on, trying to encourage people and support the Community Treehouse and anything positive that's going to help enhance the community, I'm all for. And so I'm going to do whatever I can to inspire, to empower, and to uplift everyone involved.
DLT: Could you talk a little bit about the effect on your neighborhood of Covid-19?
FM: Like I said, Covid-19 affected my neighborhood and the world. But like I said, my neighbor passed away. I had relatives that died because of Covid, relatives that caught Covid, and it's been a real terrifying experience to be honest. And, I thank God I lived through it to this point. I know a lot of people didn’t. Yes, Covid is, was a bad deal, and I think that had a lot to do with, I don't know, science.
I don't know if, like I said, I don't know what this Covid thing is. Is it manmade? Is it science? We don't know. But, I mean, and they said it comes from animals. I still don't know, right, not to this day. But I went and got all my shots. [Laughter] I went and got all my shots. Because I was concerned about my health. Because I'm not doing too good. I have some health issues that, you know, Covid would’ve really took me out. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and I wear a pacemaker. You know? So, I experience a lot of health issues as well. So I try to, you know, stay up on my health. Change my eating habits, eat good, I got all my Covid shots, so I'm doing fairly well so far.
DLT: And was there anything else you wanted to discuss today that none of my questions brought up so far?
FM: [Laughter] Not at this time, not at this time.
DLT: All right, then that was all the questions I had for you today. Thank you so much for your time.
FM: Thank you.
Fred Miles: Fred Miles.
DLT: Can you please spell that for me?
FM: F r e d M i l e s.
DLT: And do you live in the city of Detroit?
FM: Yes I do.
DLT: What neighborhood?
FM: I stay in the Jefferson Chalmers area. That's East Jefferson and Alter Road, about a block away from Grosse Pointe [Park].
DLT: How long have you lived there?
FM: I've been there, I live on Manistique, and I've been on that block—Actually, I'm going on probably 1960, 1970, 1970. Yes.
DLT: And where did you live before then?
FM: Saint Clair Street, which is East Side Detroit off East Jefferson, and I stayed there for three years. I was born there, as a matter of fact. I was born on Saint Clair, stayed there ‘till I was four. Then we moved to Manistique in 1970. Yes.
DLT: Do you work in the city of Detroit?
FM: I used to work in the city of Detroit. I worked for the city of Detroit Department of Transportation. I drove the bus for 12 years. After that, I went into the private sector and drove private transportation.
DLT: And are you involved in the Manistique Community Treehouse Center?
FM: I am involved with the Manistique Community Treehosue Center and basically, Miss Black, she came and she got that started, which I was very grateful that she did and thankful for that because basically, she helped us really get our community together. You know, helping us to bring our community back. Yeah, there's a lot of resources and stuff.
DLT: And how long have you been involved?
FM: I want to say now I'll give it about three years. 3 or 4 years.
DLT: And how did you initially get involved?
FM: Basically, Tammy was recruiting. She was actually asking for people to help her out. And, I seen her out there one day. She was doing some work in the lots and everything, and I said, what, who is this lady? I found out who she was. Then I found out what work she was doing. And she was saying, this is empowerment. But she was empowering the neighborhood, empowering people to, you know, put back into the neighborhood, help bring it back, as she was asking us about stuff with our house and everything, about the floods in the area, stuff like that. But basically, I met Tammy when she was doing the lots. Started doing lots and stuff, doing a lot of lot work, stuff like that.
DLT: What was that work on lots?
FM: Planning, setting up, what was that she was doing? Setting up gardens and making the food, providing food for the neighborhood. Giving people resources to try to put back into the neighborhood, into the community.
DLT: And what was the community response to these gardening efforts?
FM: Well in our neighborhood, a lot of the lots went up for sale. And all of them got bought. There's no empty lots in my neighborhood at all gardens on my whole block.
DLT: Wow.
FM: My whole block is just full of gardens. No empty lots. What once was houses became lots are now gardens, which provide food and everything for people in the area. Yeah.
DLT: That’s great. Can you tell me about the Treehouse's flooding prevention and information efforts?
FM: Well, basically, because this is a hard-hitting area when it comes to flooding. My neighborhood has been flooded on numerous occasions and Community Treehouse have helped out with a lot of resources in regards to trying to give you information about how you could prevent your homes from getting flooded, or how to upgrade stuff around your house, prevent it from getting flooded, you know, giving those resources to people to call or network with people to try to find out what we can do to try to prevent these things were happening was a pretty, precautionary measures. So when the floods do come, at least we’ll be able to have something to try to prevent it. Stave off, I just say some type of flood prevention, that’s what I describe.
DLT: And can you tell me a little bit more about the effects of flooding on your own home or on your neighborhood?
FM: Well, in my home, it causes foundation damage, cracked the wall in my basement. I lost two furnaces during these floods. Countless washers and dryers. It's just been a disaster. And then with the climate change and everything it’s like, it's getting worse, you know? One particular year, I want to say that was like two thousand, was it ’18? 2018, I believe I was flooded and the power, all the power was out. And it was even bad that year, it was real hot like it is now. Lost a lot of food. A lot of, all my groceries. Appliances, water tanks, furnaces. Like I said, we lost a lot of stuff. Every year, if it floods, you’re going to lose everything in your basement. It’s just, it don't make no sense to stay in your basement, cause it's going to flood every year and it's going to back up with the overflow of the drains. If it's not coming from the canals, it’s coming from the drain backup. Because the drains, sometimes the flood is so powerful where the drains can't get rid of the water, and it backs up in the basement and causes the flood. It's like, I don't know what they call that, overflooding drains or something, I don't know. But, anyway, the drains back up, you know, in your basements. If it's not that, it's the sewers outside is backing up. Something’s always backing up, causing the flood.
And Community Treehouse has been very good with resources and helping us get some resources and getting people here to come together. I think FEMA came through one year and, actually, they came through every year. Flooding, they come through every year. But the results of that is like nil to none. [Laughter] It's like they come take a survey and then they leave, like, nothing's been done about it. And so, I don't know, it's good to have resources where people can even, what UpTogether is doing, trying to help us out with getting resources that, you know, prevent these things from happening, to better your homes and everything, you know. To strengthen your foundation, I guess, for your homes and everything and help you reroute your gutters and all that. You know, just to prevent this flood and stuff from happening. And it helps save a lot of how homeowners a lot of money, I tell you that. Yeah. Because this is terrible down here. Lower East Side, down here by the canal on the river, it's terrible when it’s time, when it starts flooding, rains. Every time it rains, you get nervous because you don't know if your basement’s going to flood or what's going to happen. So every time it rains, we're not too comfortable down here in this area. Yeah, so, it could be really rough. Yeah.
DLT: And what do you think organizations like FEMA should do about this issue?
FM: They should do something about the canals! Do the higher, I'm going to build a higher wall for the canal. Do something about the infrastructure in regards to, like, the sewers and all that so they won't back up and cause all these problems people face. I think they should do some about the infrastructure and canals. Get a homeowner, some type of homeowner or tax credit or something to help them, you know, do something about their houses. Or those though that got low income, they can't afford all these things, help them out too as well. You know, you've got homeowners here that's been here for years, is probably on fixed income. They can't afford, you know, these type of fixups around their home. So I think it'd be good if the government or FEMA can come in, especially for senior citizens or homeowners that can't afford these fixer uppers to lend a hand in that area as well. I think that'd be good.
DLT: And you said that, due to climate change, the flooding has gotten worse over time, right?
FM: Yes.
DLT: Have there been any particular years that you've noticed a worsening of the floods?
FM: I'm sorry.
DLT: Have there been any particular years where you noticed the effects of this, worsening floods?
FM: Yes. Especially, my home. My home, it's like, it got worse like I said, cracked my wall. I have flood proofing, but this time, it cracked the wall in my basement. Thank God it's not leaking. There's no water coming through. But I heard a pop, and I went down there, I see, and so. I guess the foundation is getting a lot more weaker now, you know. And so you have to strengthen your foundations. I just say this global warming and these floods has caused a lot of problems with the sewer drains in the neighborhood, you know, the sewer lines in the neighborhoods and the alleyways. It's just, it's terrible. It's always backed up. Can't get out of there. Yeah. One morning. I was trapped in my house, couldn't even get out, it was so flooded, I couldn't even get out the alleyway or the, street. So it was, you had to sit and wait until the water subsides. So it can be scary. That’s the scariest it ever got for me, was back the last flood we had. That’s the scariest it ever got for me, where it got to like four feet in my basement. It never got that high in my basement, up to 4 or 5ft, it never got too high. And I'm like, whoa, where’s the water coming from? That's the worst it ever got to my house.
DLT: And was that the 2021 flood?
FM: That's the last flood we had, yes.
DLT: So the Community Treehouse Center, I know, has done a lot of work regarding solar energy. Have you been involved in that?
FM: They have done that too, solar energy. They go out and try to recruit people, homeowners and everything, to try to lower their bills and things like that by getting solar energy. And yeah, I convinced my neighbor next door to me to get solar and they got it and had it put it on their house. As a matter of fact, yes, Miss Mills, she passed away, unfortunately. And yeah, she just had solar put on her house about 3 or 4 years ago.
DLT: Do you have solar on your own house?
FM: Unfortunately, I don't have solar on my house. Like I said, cause my neighbor had it, my neighbor lived right next door to me. So at that particular time, I didn't have the income to get the solar at that particular time, so I couldn't afford it. But my neighbor did get it. And I had convinced her to get it, me and Tammy, she winds up getting, that was cool, and I think it worked out. But for the most part, a lot of people in our neighborhood got solar, too. A lot of them got solar. So you really don't, because we both going to have, try to make a suggestion where they have a solar, we call that a solar plant or like a solar— I guess it’s just solar plant, where you can put nothing but just solar panels in these three lots. Tammy was suggesting we could have a solar panel for these whole three lots, and the whole neighborhood, the whole community can benefit from it, you know. I think that would have been a good idea. But I noticed that a lot of solar energy, a lot of people buy a solar now. But I think by being in this area now, you might not need so much of it now, because the whole neighborhood, everybody got it. So I think it's pretty well set in this area, if I'm not mistaken. But I'm always, I'm always for solar energy, for saving money, for making the climate and making everything better and safer and cheaper.
DLT: And do you plan on getting solar panels in the future?
FM: Yes, yes, yes, yes, I do, yes I do, yes I do. And there’s a program I would like to get into, was talking to Tammy about it a couple weeks ago. So, I'm looking into it. I'm looking into it. I've been talking to my fiancée about it, so I said, yeah, we could just get this solar. Yeah.
DLT: And what are some of the factors you're considering, about getting solar energy?
FM: I'm learning about it, number one. I'm not really good. I’m not really good at knowing too much about solar, but I understand you save on your bills. And I'm always for saving money on my bills, especially my monthly utilities, and electricity. And I heard it’s better for the climate. So, yeah, I would recommend it.
DLT: And how do you feel that the Treehouse Center educates people about the effects of climate change and other environmental issues?
FM: Well, I, I've been getting pretty, I've been getting some information from the Treehouse, especially from Tammy. But I know she needs some more people to help her out, and I'm looking forward to volunteering my service. I'm no longer working. I want to start volunteering and do things to help her out in Community Treehouse. They’ve been, it’s been a great help. I mean, it's doing a great job in the area.
DLT: And what would you want to volunteer to do? Do you have any particular aspect of the Treehouse Center's work that you want to be involved in?
FM: Once I have my surgery, I'll be able to do some of the physical aspects of the work. But more or less, now I'd like to do something with more of the hands-on, trying to encourage people and support the Community Treehouse and anything positive that's going to help enhance the community, I'm all for. And so I'm going to do whatever I can to inspire, to empower, and to uplift everyone involved.
DLT: Could you talk a little bit about the effect on your neighborhood of Covid-19?
FM: Like I said, Covid-19 affected my neighborhood and the world. But like I said, my neighbor passed away. I had relatives that died because of Covid, relatives that caught Covid, and it's been a real terrifying experience to be honest. And, I thank God I lived through it to this point. I know a lot of people didn’t. Yes, Covid is, was a bad deal, and I think that had a lot to do with, I don't know, science.
I don't know if, like I said, I don't know what this Covid thing is. Is it manmade? Is it science? We don't know. But, I mean, and they said it comes from animals. I still don't know, right, not to this day. But I went and got all my shots. [Laughter] I went and got all my shots. Because I was concerned about my health. Because I'm not doing too good. I have some health issues that, you know, Covid would’ve really took me out. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and I wear a pacemaker. You know? So, I experience a lot of health issues as well. So I try to, you know, stay up on my health. Change my eating habits, eat good, I got all my Covid shots, so I'm doing fairly well so far.
DLT: And was there anything else you wanted to discuss today that none of my questions brought up so far?
FM: [Laughter] Not at this time, not at this time.
DLT: All right, then that was all the questions I had for you today. Thank you so much for your time.
FM: Thank you.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Fred Miles, June 22nd, 2024,” Detroit Historical Society Oral History Archive, accessed December 6, 2024, https://oralhistory.detroithistorical.org/items/show/1025.