That's the lesson Ypsilantians learned the hard way.In 1907, the city collectively held its breath in anticipation of becoming the nation's Arsenal of Pickles.
Isaac Aldritch, a local representative of Pennsylvania pickle kingpins Lutz & Schram, dispatched a legion of minions to fan out over the countryside around Ypsi and quiz local farmers.
"Say, ever think about why they call cukes the Mortgage Lifters?"
Aldritch sought to secure at least 200 acres of dedicated cuke-fields and rent a building in Ypsi "at a nominal rental," says the February 7, 1907 Ypsilanti Daily Press story at left. (Click for larger view).
Local excitement mounted as Lutz and Scram sent out another representative, one L. D. Hughes, who booked a room at the Hawkins house downtown. Hughes amassed guarantees from local farmers for 60 acres of pickle fields.
Pickles were the subject of many a dinner-table conversation in Ypsilanti as interest fermented.
Things seemed promising, and the pickle company dispatched its "field manager" (heh) to finally nail things down. W. J. Mullins made a proposal to city council: "Give us the Follett House and the Cornell Building for our pickle business." Mullins wanted the buildings for a "pickle station." It was a brash proposal. Had the plan succeeded, the invigorating tang of vinegar might be wafting through Depot Town to this day.
Mayor Paul Schreiber would have a big jar of pickles in his mayoral digs to offer to visiting dignitaries. Cafe Luwak would serve picklesicles instead of ice cream. Dressed in green, the town would flock to the annual Pickle Pride Parade. Carl Sandburg would have memorialized Ypsilanti as "City of the Big Kosher Dills."
But the briny dream faded. Lutz and Schram cancelled their plans.
Farmers around Ypsi looked sadly at the empty fields they'd promised to seed with the golden vine.
Ypsilantians were left with a sour taste in their mouth, though not from pickles.
For a heady two months a century ago, it had seemed to Ypsilantians as though the world was their pickle.
Actually, "Mortgage Lifter" is the name of an heirloom tomato created during the Depression. Dusty D has grown them in the past. Pretty good tomato! Though it didn't lift my mortgage. Tidbit:
ReplyDelete"The Mortgage Lifter tomato was developed in the early 1930's in Logan, West Virginia by a radiator repairman, M.C. "Radiator Charlie" Byles. Without any experience in breeding, he made a successful cross of four of the largest tomatoes he could find - German Johnson, Beefsteak, an Italian variety, and an English variety. Radiator Charlie sold the first seedlings of his new tomato in the 1940's for one dollar each to customers who drove up to 200 miles for his famous plants that bore tasty tomatoes averaging two and a half pounds. With these sales, Charlie managed to pay off his $6,000 mortgage in only six years, and so the tomato was named Mortgage Lifter."
from here: http://monticellostore.stores.yahoo.net/600066.html
(you can order them there, too).
To think, Ypsilanti could have been the pickle capital of the world.
ReplyDeleteWe came THIS CLOSE. But you can still get wonderful pickles down at Cafe Luwak, especially with their juicy Reuben. In fact, Dusty D will go so far as to say they are the best pickles in Ypsilanti (throws down gauntlet).
ReplyDeleteDusty Diary adores pickles. If Cafe Luwak had a pickle sampler plate DD would probably order it.
There was a Ypsilanti Condiment Company in Depot Town listed in the Glen V. Mills directory of 1895;
ReplyDeletehttp://books.google.com/books?id=vriyJtWajdAC
at p.348; the listing reads
PICKLE MNFRS. Ypsilanti Condiment Co. nr Cross st bridge
Here's the puzzle: pickle manufacturing left Ypsi some time between 1895 and 1907? Or was Ypsi Condiment still in business in '07 and these were interlopers muscling in on their pickling business?
That's a pungent (and deliciously garlicky) question, Mr. V.! The Ypsilanti Condiment Co.--wow, we were a varied city indeed, offering everything from healthful mineral waters to underwear to a delightful selection of condiments!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to find an ad/newspaper story from the Condiment Co., and if I do I'll make a post for it. In the meantime, I appreciate your information about it--I'll see what I can find!
Thank you for the great tip!