This week's puzzler is a real beaut. I found it by accident at the Archives and scanned it right away because it was so intriguing. When I found myself puzzling over the photo and trying to figure out where in the heck this was, I realized it was a perfect Mystery Spot!
I'll tell you what's written on the back: "The first eastbound 'Mercury' at Ypsi., Nov. 1939. My Miss Minnie Cary."
The Mercury was a gorgeous Art Deco passenger train run by the New York Central. In November of 1939, the train began service between Detroit and Chicago and passed through Ypsi. It was an event! You can see other people in the photo admiring this rolling work of art.
I'll tell you that while I *think* I figured out where this is, I'm definitely not 100% sure! Can you find this spot? Good luck!
9 comments :
I'll have to go look, to be certain, but it looks to me like it's near the intersection of the tracks and Prospect, looking West toward Grove, where Marsh Plating is today.
I agree with BF. Hard to pinpoint the EXACT spot, but it's somewhere on the track curve between Depot Town and Prospect. The curve fits (given that it's an eastbound train), and we can see in the picture the rail transitioning from the at-grade around Depot Town to below-street-level around Prospect and Michigan Ave.
I concur with BF and cmadler. I believe I've seen other photos taken at this approximate location, it seems to have been something of a favorite with railroad buffs because of the curve...
I think the building is Marsh Plating. I think I can see the water tower in the back ground and the steeple of the Methodist Church. Putting all this together with the bend of the track I think that is the location.
Some very shrewd and good guesses here as usual.
Did I read somewhere that Prospect was so named because it was the onetime high eastern side of the river? Don't remember. I do know Summit Street was named for that reason; before the city was built up, that area was kind of the high ridge on the western side.
I felt a bit bad about that airport photo going unguessed; I wasn't trying to be obnoxious. I'd just written that airport story, so I thought that if anyone had read that, they might deduce it. But no harm done. :)
Could it be the crossing at Leforge looking east? Is that not the Huron River on the left? The building, the now gone motor wheel factory?
How did Grove get it's name? Could it have been for the (what looks like an) apple orchard?
John: I was sure scrutinizing that building as well!
Didn't see it on old plat maps but I don't have one newer than 1915. I have to check in the Archives when I am down there today and see if there's a newer one.
BF: My understanding is that Grove Road is so named because it led to Woodruff's Grove, the original settlement that gave rise to Ypsi, more or less.
Though I had that same thought about those apple trees!
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