It's undergone a LOT of changes over the years, but this onetime 19th-century flour mill (hint!) is still standing in Ypsi. Where is it? Can you identify it? It's a bit tricky since its facade looks different today (another hint!)
Give it a shot. You've likely driven right past it a zillion times (yet another hint!)
To be featured in an upcoming "Spot the Differences: Then and Now."
How the shadows fall, on the street and on the building, are a clue as to which side of the street this building sits.
ReplyDeleteTee hee, yes, that's a good observation and one thing I didn't think of.
ReplyDeleteAnother hint: this building is easier to spot now than it would have been in the last few decades or so, when its facade was largely obscured.
It is the building (currently occupied in part by a bank branch) between the Huron River and City Hall on the south side of E. Michigan Ave. The name escapes me....
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ReplyDeleteIt's a spa now, isn't it? I suspected that building was a mill originally.
ReplyDeleteBuilding Place is RIGHT and Brent is too! It was/is (neglected to confirm today, sorry) the beauty shop Eleven West, and yep, it's that gorgeous building in part housing a bank between the river and City Hall on the south side of Michigan Ave.--just opposite Haab's. Hooray to these sharp-eyed observers!
ReplyDeleteHere's an 1889 photo
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mlive.com/living/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2008/12/ypsilantis_ainsworth_site_has.html
from before the lovely signs were painted on the building.
Hi Edward,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great link to a story and wonderful photo--thank you!
Kudos to James for an interesting and informative story as usual.
More kudos to Phoenix Construction for doing such an exquisite job in restoring this old treasure--it wasn't always so beautiful, as kind readers will see.
Ypsi is lucky to have this surviving mill since I suspect that many mills, as "common" mercantile buildings, weren't, in general, as stringently protected and preserved over time as many historic houses were.
But this one is a beauty.
Kind reader B.F. confirms that it still IS eleven west spa:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.elevenwestsalonspa.com/
(I apologize for not confirming this myself when I was down there, but had only a few minutes today to take a photo).
Thanks B.F.!