Detroit was full of stark contrasts in 1931. Political scandals, rumrunners and mobs lurked in the shadows of the city's soaring architecture and industrious population. As the Great Depression began to take hold, tensions grew, spilling over into the investigation of a mysterious murder at the boardinghouse of Hungarian immigrant Rose Veres. Amid accusations of witchcraft, Rose and her son Bill were convicted of the brutal killing and suspected in a dozen more. Their cries of innocence went unheeded - until one lawyer, determined to seek justice, took on the case. 

Join Detroit History Tours as we unravel the story of The Witch of Delray, learn about the Delray neighborhood, the Veres family and the legal and political scandals of 1930s Detroit that still affect us today. 

As part of our virtual event, we will virtually visit a private, members only club in Delray. There the wise cracking, fun loving, seen it all before - bar staff will teach us to make two custom cocktails inspired by the evening's topic, plus a non- alcoholic “mocktail” for those who prefer it.  One week before the presentation registered guests will be emailed an ingredients list, along with the event Zoom invite, so that they can shake, stir, and pour along with the bartenders of the Carbon Athletic Club.

Please feel free to drink during the lecture portion of the event--we won’t judge. 

This event is 18 years old and older.

Meet your lecturer:

Karen Dybis is a Metro Detroit freelance journalist and author of four books about Detroit history, including “Better Made in Michigan” and “The Witch of Delray.”

Zoom event with the Lorenzo Center. Details to come.

Detroit is a giant landscape, a sprawling city encompassing two other cities and three centuries of secrets. It is full to bursting with hiding spots for mysterious monuments, forgotten historical markers, spooky sites and marvelous oddities. From deep within the bowels of library basements, pulled from the dusty stacks of historic record, and investigated over more than one beer, let us be your guide to Secret Detroit. Together, we’ll uncover the underground spots and weave stories of the city’s greatest heroes, villains, artists, musicians, makers, takers, bakers and everyone in between. At each stop, you’ll hear about the men and women who built Detroit, their dramatic lives, and their untimely deaths, the memorials to their impressive achievements and dire warnings about the scandals that rocked Detroit over the past centuries. You’ll step inside workshops and eateries to meet the individuals and business owners who are investing their time and energy into modern-day Detroit’s thriving art, music, and food scenes. To guide your adventure there is no one better than Secret Detroit author Karen Dybis, who will take you through Detroit’s neighborhoods, downtown, Midtown, Corktown and places in between where only those in the know, know to go. Get in on the Secret.

Check-in opens at 1:30 pm, this tour leaves promptly at 1:45 pm from the corner of Rivard and Eliot St in Eastern Market, near Near Sacred Heart Church. Parking is free and located within the market area. The tour is appropriate for ages 12 and up.

Detroit is a giant landscape, a sprawling city encompassing two other cities and three centuries of secrets. It is full to bursting with hiding spots for mysterious monuments, forgotten historical markers, spooky sites and marvelous oddities. From deep within the bowels of library basements, pulled from the dusty stacks of historic record, and investigated over more than one beer, let us be your guide to Secret Detroit. Together, we’ll uncover the underground spots and weave stories of the city’s greatest heroes, villains, artists, musicians, makers, takers, bakers and everyone in between. At each stop, you’ll hear about the men and women who built Detroit, their dramatic lives, and their untimely deaths, the memorials to their impressive achievements and dire warnings about the scandals that rocked Detroit over the past centuries. You’ll step inside workshops and eateries to meet the individuals and business owners who are investing their time and energy into modern-day Detroit’s thriving art, music, and food scenes. To guide your adventure there is no one better than Secret Detroit author Karen Dybis, who will take you through Detroit’s neighborhoods, downtown, Midtown, Corktown and places in between where only those in the know, know to go. Get in on the Secret.

Check-in opens at 1:30 pm, this tour leaves promptly at 1:45 pm from the corner of Rivard and Eliot St in Eastern Market, near Near Sacred Heart Church. Parking is free and located within the market area. The tour is appropriate for ages 12 and up.

Love potato chips? Want to hear how this favorite snack was created and marketed throughout Michigan and the United States? Then this presentation is for you!

Detroit is a giant landscape, a sprawling city encompassing two other cities and three centuries of secrets. It is full to bursting with hiding spots for mysterious monuments, forgotten historical markers, spooky sites and marvelous oddities. From deep within the bowels of library basements, pulled from the dusty stacks of historic record, and investigated over more than one beer, let us be your guide to Secret Detroit. Together, we’ll uncover the underground spots and weave stories of the city’s greatest heroes, villains, artists, musicians, makers, takers, bakers and everyone in between. At each stop, you’ll hear about the men and women who built Detroit, their dramatic lives, and their untimely deaths, the memorials to their impressive achievements and dire warnings about the scandals that rocked Detroit over the past centuries. You’ll step inside workshops and eateries to meet the individuals and business owners who are investing their time and energy into modern-day Detroit’s thriving art, music, and food scenes. To guide your adventure there is no one better than Secret Detroit author Karen Dybis, who will take you through Detroit’s neighborhoods, downtown, Midtown, Corktown and places in between where only those in the know, know to go. Get in on the Secret.

Check-in opens at 1:30 pm, this tour leaves promptly at 1:45 pm from the corner of Rivard and Eliot St in Eastern Market, near Near Sacred Heart Church. Parking is free and located within the market area. The tour is appropriate for ages 12 and up.

Learn about the stories of Rose and Bill Veres during the two first-degree murder trials with the Wyandotte Historical Society. 

Learn all about my favorite Detroit sites in this fun-filled presentation at the Warren Public Library. 

Join me for a book-signing event at the Bloomfield Costco and I can personalize the book for you!

Join a crew of Detroit authors at Preservation Detroit for a special Author Fair. I'll be there with all four books to sign and sell!

Please join me at Book Beat, where you'll see great local authors inside one of Metro Detroit's finest and most active booksellers!

I'll be on site at my local Costco to sign copies of "Secret Detroit" for you and yours!

Come hear about my favorite "Secret Detroit" locations and enjoy some tea.

I'll hang out with you as you shop and sign a copy of "Secret Detroit" for friends and family! The book makes a great gift. 

Costco will have a ton of books available for purchase -- I'll be on hand to sign copies and chat about cool Detroit sites and people.

Learn all about "The Witch of Delray" in this informative presentation at the Oxford Public Library.