I’m going through documents describing a certain property in Detroit that is now my problem. In trying to establish exactly where it came from and where it will go, I’m digging through deeds and title history. It’s sort of interesting … the first notion that the land is owned at all is from 1825, when it was “located” by Samuel Smith. President J.Q. Adams granted the land to him that same year.
Skimming forward, in 1920 a property holding company sold a small piece of that land to my great grandparents for the sum of $7433. In the contract of sale, I found this gem:
Said second parties shall not use said premises herin described except for residence purposes and except that a dentist or physician may practice his profession in his residence. Said premises herein described shall not be sold leased or occupied by any other person than of the Caucasian race.
I’m sorry … but what?
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