Penrose in Highland Park in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Chaldean Town
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 17, 2026
1. Chaldean Town Marker
Chaldean Town was the center of Detroit's Chaldean community. In the early twentieth century, Chaldeans began to settle on the city's east side. Primarily from the village of Telkaif in northern Iraq, they spoke modern Aramaic and followed Eastern Rite Roman Catholicism. At Its peak in the 1970s and 1980s, Chaldean Town stretched from State Fair Avenue to Six Mile Road. Chaldean businesses and homes lined Seven Mile Road and nearby streets. In Chaldean Town, new arrivals found support through family networks, often owning and working in grocery stores. As they prospered, many moved to the suburbs. In 1948 Mother of God Church opened in Detroit as the state's first Chaldean Catholic church. It later moved to Southfield, and Sacred Heart Chaldean Church was founded here in 1974. Around 200,000 Chaldeans lived in Metro Detroit by the 2020s.
Erected 2025 by Michigan Historical Commission and Michigan History Center. (Marker Number S773.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list.
Location. 42° 25.941′
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Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan and in Greater Detroit. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The First Mile of Concrete Highway (approx. 0.8 miles away); Woodward Ave. Toll Gates (approx. 0.9 miles away); Bishop's Residence (approx. 1.1 miles away); Michigan's First Tri-level Intersection (approx. 1.3 miles away); Home of Model T (approx. 1.6 miles away); Highland Park Plant (approx. 1.8 miles away); Conant Gardens (approx. 2 miles away); Hazel Park Veterans Memorial (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Highland Park.
Also see . . . Chaldean Town. Excerpt:
Chaldean Town was founded in the 1920s by Chaldean Catholic Assyrian immigrants from Turkey and Iraq (former Ottoman Empire) who wished to work in the automobile factories. After the 1967 Detroit riots and the downfall of the automobile industry, much of the area's wealthy residents and business owners left, leaving the Chaldeans with a monopoly over certain businesses such as grocery stores. Due to a stream of immigrants attracted(Submitted on May 17, 2026, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)to the already pre-established Chaldean community and the monopoly they had over certain industries, the neighborhood boomed in the 70s.Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 17, 20262. Chaldean Town Marker
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 17, 2026
3. Sacred Heart Chaldean Church
Sacred Heart Chaldean Catholic Church mentioned on the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 17, 2026, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 17, 2026, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
