Le Cote' Du Nord-Est
After founding Detroit in 1701 the Sieur de Cadillac divided the land northeast of Fort Pontchartrain into long, narrow “ribbon” farms each fronting on the river. The first settlers, thus, had easy access to the waterway for irrigation and transportation, and to the fort for defense. The Campaus, one of Detroit’s prominent early families, were established along this côté du nord-est, or northeastern coast, for several generations. In 1874 the site became the headquarters of Parke, Davis and Company, established in 1866 by Dr. Samuel P. Duffield and Hervey C. Parke and joined in 1867 by George Davis. A subsidiary of Warner-Lambert Company since 1970, Parke-Davis is a major international pharmaceutical firm with laboratories and offices throughout the world.
Plaque via Michigan History Center