Here's a picture over at the Bentley that stumped me. I have no idea where the Schad Block was or is, and the clues in the pic help not.You can see the tobacco store on the left (complete with "wooden Indian" out front. To the left there's the Huron Woolen Co. and something-something millinery shop.
The main building has a distinctive asymmetrical peak, but I'll be hornswoggled if I can puzzle out where this is and the city directories aren't helping!
The cool thing, however, is that you can zoom in super close...close enough to see that the road is littered with road apples, ew. Horsie at right. Spitballin' the date at...oh, 1890 or so? This pic has me thoroughly fuzzelated and swing-bungled, yessir.
http://books.google.com/books?id=ijXiAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT473&lpg=PT473&dq=Schad+block+Ypsi&source=bl&ots=0Z_cA3bdVW&sig=e1DW9HUUcZtEqyasy95FCuLex4s&hl=en&ei=-aqwS_rpMoPGlQeUr7SHCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CCYQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=&f=false
ReplyDeleteThis 1910 Ann Arbor directory lists "Schade Block & Hall, 302-306 Congress E." I think this would be where The Bomber restaurant is located today?
The other possible listing from that directory is 19 N Washington, which would be somewhere around Pub 13 I think.
Wow! My goodness, that was quick! I wonder why that didn't come up when I searched for it...well, anyways, thank you, cmadler.
ReplyDeleteThat Mich. Ave. address is indeed the Bomber...streetview here:
Mrs. Curtis Millinery Store.
ReplyDeletehttp://books.google.com/books?id=cRfiAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT4&lpg=PT4&dq=%22Curtis+Millinery%22+Store+Ypsi&source=bl&ots=CXAsOSkA1A&sig=vJHwQCdtbg7zJoV1H_tREh0wjSg&hl=en&ei=9LCwS-X4AcHflgf2svykCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Gratiot Dental Parlors was above them.
http://books.google.com/books?id=lzDiAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT20&lpg=PT20&dq=%22Gratiot+Dental%22+Ypsi&source=bl&ots=uaWeFbSVQa&sig=cH6nBvP78rQOW564YhJEkpWYXPs&hl=en&ei=irGwS-foG8H6lweTutTGAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CBYQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Gratiot Dental Parlors was at 210 Congress (not identified as east or west) in the 1903 directory.
http://books.google.com/books?id=S4bNAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT100&lpg=PT100&dq=%22Gratiot+Dental%22+Ypsi&source=bl&ots=kqNCn_gyH6&sig=v_iAPN9EG_ZOIGabMKSg8g0isFI&hl=en&ei=irGwS-foG8H6lweTutTGAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAsQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false
That one identifies Gratiot Dental Parlors as "2nd Floor, 202 W Congress" which would be the northwest corner of Michigan Avenue and Washington.
I think it's the block on the north side of Michigan Avenue, immediately west of Washington.
Well, I'm getting old...my fuzzy brain is not processing those latest links, cmadler. Please excuse my thickheadedness. I didn't see "schad block" in those links you provided--though I LOVED the ad, in the first link, for the painless dentist--only $5 for dental work that comes with a 5-year written guarantee! :D
ReplyDeleteNothing about the "Schad Block" there. I read the millinery at the far right in the photo as "Mrs. Curtis Millinery Store". The first link mentions that business, and mentions that Gratiot Dental Parlors was above the millinery. The second and third links relate the the location of the Gratiot Dental Parlors. The third link identifies Gratiot Dental Parlors as the 2nd floor at 202 W Congress, suggesting that the millinery in the photo is on the first floor at 202 W Congress, with the Schad block just west of that address.
ReplyDeleteAlso, on the asymetrical peak, I wonder if that was the result of expansions to the building (going toward the right in the photo). The peak is directly over smaller windows on the 2nd and 3rd floors and the door on the 1st floor, with three full-size windows to the left. Count three full-size windows to the right, and I think that is the original structure, with the peak centered. That is the end of that section of store front, and the next three windows (over the raised awning) are higher, because the store front goes a bit higher. Call that Addition 1. Then there's another store front which goes higher still, and a set of four windows with square tops. Call that Addition 2.
ReplyDeleteOh, I see--thank you! Wow, good sleuthing on the name of the millinery store.
ReplyDeleteYep, thank to you I can clearly see the differences in what must be additions, with the different window heights.
Hmm, checking my copy of the 1926 city directory I see that the Schad Block (there spelled "Schade") is listed, as you said earlier, 302-06 E. Michigan Ave.
So...maybe the millinery and dental parlor moved into town? (No listing of either in '26 directory, or even in '10 directory).
Looking at a different aspect, I wonder why it was called "Schad" or "Schade". Obviously there was a city resident (or residents) named "Schad", and the block might be named for her/them.
ReplyDeleteAlso, "Schade" is German for shame (hence schadenfreude), and apparently has a bunch of meanings in Dutch, including damage, injury, hurt, detriment, prejudice, loss, and pity. So if the name comes from one of those languages, it doesn't suggest anything good about the area!
I go with cmadler, I googled around and found an Otto, than later (son, brother?) Leopold Schade as grocers on Congress street......
ReplyDeleteWow, that is interesting--I love learning about words.
ReplyDeleteHmm, let's see...the 1860 business directory has no mention of a Schad.
1900 census: there is a 28-year-old servant named Anna Schad in Ypsi. She is with the Sherzer family, of W. H., 39; Maude, 33; Allen, 9; Josephine, 7; Gertrude, 6; Jerome, 2, and mother-in-law Clasta, 58. They live at 9 N. Summit Street and W.H. is listed as a teacher.
1910 census: Bertha or Bertker E Schad, 27 and single, in Ypsi. She lives with 26 y.o. Edna Ginbich(?) who is listed as her "partner"--that's so interesting, I have never seen that on a census before in the "family relationship" column. Both women are listed as "single." Neither woman has an occupation listed; that's odd. Also, Bertha's name is written in a different handwriting from the other listed names; maybe a different or follow-up census-taker? The women live on Washington Street.
I see an 1989 listing for a Marty Schad in Y. and a 1993 listing for Brian Schad. Some Schads in Chelsea and Detroit, other places.
But that's about it. Hmm. Now I'm curious! How did the Schad Block get its name?
Oops, we must have posted comments at the same time, sorry Rob. Hmm, grocers on Congress St. "Leopold Schade" rings a very tiny bell...wonder if I've seen his name in an old newspaper or something...
ReplyDeleteThat very first link I posted this morning included "Shad Bertha E (Shad & Goodrich) rms 19 Washington." and "SHAD & GOODRICH (Bertha E Shad, Edna F Goodrich), Hair Goods and Hair Dressing, Manicuring, Chiropody and Facial Massage, 19 N Washington."
ReplyDeleteI think those are your "partners" in the 1910 census. That's why I mentioned 19 N Washington this morning, and why I thought the location near the corner of Michigan Avenue and Washington seemed likely.
That is so; sorry, cmadler, I think my brain forgot to wake up this morning when the rest of me did.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting--I wonder how many women-owned businesses there were in Ypsi in 1910. Not a heck of a lot I imagine. And they are boldfaced in the directory, too, which I believe you had to pay extra for and which is a very rough guide to the bigger businesses in town. Hmm, this is interesting...
"Ypsi's Women-Owned Businesses of 1910." Hey, I like it! cmadler, you have given me a great topic here...thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm off to comb through the directory; I'm curious now.
According to James Mann's book of 19th century Ypsilanti history, it shows this picture and he says its on North Huron between Pearl and Michigan. The buildings were removed to accomodate the parking lot.
ReplyDeleteJoe: Wow, you have a good memory. That's the one book of his I don't have; I should get it.
ReplyDeleteNorth Huron. OK, I'm completely befuddled now. I have to reexamine cmadler's various links and do some research in directories because now I am thoroughly all mixed up about this vexing block. Thanks for the info, though, Joe. :)
Any updates on this? Have you found anything further?
ReplyDelete