The Book Cadillac Hotel, which was the tallest and most modern hotel in the world when it opened in 1924. Those of you who have read Discovery, book one in The Orphan Train Saga, will recognize the name as the hotel/restaurant Mildred (Mileta) and her parents had dinner in the day they went to the theater to see what we now know was Harry Houdini’s final performance. The Book Cadillac Hotel shows up again in Shameless, book two of The Orphan Train Saga. #BookCadillacHotel 

More Photos from The Orphan Train Saga 

​I spent hours researching Tommy’s Bar which is used multiple times in book two. There is a lot of information on the place and the building has ties to Detroit’s Purple Gang. Researchers have found tunnels under the bar and an admission card with the address lends proof to the basement and tunnels being used as a speakeasy. It took some digging, but I found the origins of the building to have been an Italian Restaurant during the time when Mileta, Tobias, and the others arrived in Detroit. While I was unable to find the precise name of the restaurant, I did find the name of the owner, Louis Gianetti. I took the liberty to name the restaurant Gianetti’s Italian Restaurant which I use in book two along with the hidden speakeasy. The place will show up in a later book when I tell Slim’s tale. The building was located across from the old train station.  #Tommysbar #Detroitpurplegang #Theorphantrainsaga #Shameless