Skin Grafting in 1908

When an Ypsilanti servant girl suffered a near-fatal burn, one that fused her clothes to her back, she was taken to Ann Arbor and given a skin graft that covered her entire back and some of her arms.

No one thought she'd survive. The story.

A Onetime Craze

Here's a lighthearted tale about a onetime craze in Ypsilanti. It will appear in Thursday's paper Courier.

The 1919 Diary of Ypsilanti High School Teacher Carrie Hardy

Part of a year-long serialization of Ypsilanti high school math teacher Carrie Hardy's diary.May 20 Tues. Student-faculty Council after school, discussed the Constitution. Lillian + Miss McNeil called after supper. Rain.

May 21 Wed. Soldiers returned. Parade. After supper went to a rehearsal of one of the Faculty plays with Lillian. Then four of the teachers saw Nazimova at Martha.

May 22 Thurs. After supper. P. L. S. meeting. Miss Lich and I told stories. Not a good meeting. Next is election of officers-the last of the year.

May 23 Fri. Finished and turned in my report. Helped May Webb recover the money stolen from her by a little boy. Paid Prof. McKay $10.00 on Y. M. C. A. work.

May 24 Sat. Swept + dusted then Lillian + I went into Detroit. Saw show at New Detroit Theater. Mrs. Wheeler called in the evening and Miss Laird.

May 25 Sun. Did not go to church. Did a number of things about the house. Drove out into the country--car not acting well. Lunch in country with Lillian.

May 26 Mon. Teachers meeting but I was excused to tutor the boys. Valves ground and spark plugs cleaned. $6.30.

May 27 Tues. School attendance in P.M. awful on account of May Day on the Green at Normal. Saw Little Women with Lillian at Martha.

Rare Polaroid Snapshot of "The Cow"

When "The Cow" opened, it didn't have a cow.

This rare picture was kindly lent to me with permission from the son of one of the original Carry Dairy owners.

Find out why the cow is on a trailer and how and when it ended up on the roof in my story in iSPY magazine, which comes out May 31.

Disquisition on the Ypsilanti Hen

Tonight City Council discusses whether to extend the sunsetting chicken ordinance. Chickens have a long and intimate history with Ypsilanti; here's one small example featuring Ypsilanti farmer Emma Campbell.

The 1919 Diary of Ypsilanti High School Teacher Carrie Hardy

Part of a year-long serialization of Ypsilanti high school math teacher Carrie Hardy's diary.May 13 Tues. After school I tutored Mr. Simon + Mr. VanWegen then Miss Swaine + I attended a meeting of the Home Asso'n in the Methodist Church.

May 14 Wed. Student-Faculty Council meeting + decided that the school should present the Signal Corps fellows with a silk flag. Lillian + I drove to A. A.

May 15 Thurs. Not feeling well. Took Miss Gieske down to the Forum after music. Typed slips for Mr. Piper. Lillian, Iva, + I drove about town in evening.

May 16 Fri. Senior plays tonight. Lillian to stay all night with me. Well the Senior plays were fairly good. There were three short plays: Misses Gieske, Covee, Leich coaches.

May 17 Sat. Finished my pillow-slips (scalloped) + spider-webb [sic] camisole. Miss Gieske's case gave a chicken dinner in the lunch room. Places for 7 people. hattie called.

May 18 Sun. Hot bath. Miss Laird over. Had dinner with Miss Gieske. Wore my oxfords for first time. Lillian + I went to church in the evening.

May 19 Mon. Circus in town--i.e. out on the Ainsworth farm. Tutored the two boys after school. Home alone all the evening. Drove down to see about my photos.

May 20 Tues. Student-faculty Council after school, discussed the Constitution. Lillian + Miss McNeil called after supper. Rain.

The Patented Corncob

Food patents are a hot topic these days.

But one Ypsilantian patented his corncob in 1882.

It was an invention that symbolized a vanishing, and now-vanished, way of life.

Read his story over at Ypsinews.com.

Carry Dairy Opening Day Ad

In the summer of 1962, the beloved local store known as The Cow" opened.

When it opened, it didn't have a cow.

Dusty D talked with the current owner and the son of the former owner and folks who were kids when the cow came to The Cow. I wrote it up in a story for iSPY magazine, the new local arts & entertainment mag whose first issue hits stands May 31.

Be sure to pick up a copy to find out the real story behind one of Ypsi's most famous landmarks.

Ypsilanti's Submarine Diver...of 1870

The Confederates wanted him dead or alive, and put a price on his head for finding a gap in the Union blockade of Charleston.

He was a salvage diver who went after treasure in one of Lake Erie's worst shipwrecks in history.

His pal was a shoemaker and part-time wooden submarine builder.

It's the story of former Ypsilanti resident Elliot Harrington.

The 1919 Diary of Ypsilanti High School Teacher Carrie Hardy

Part of a year-long serialization of Ypsilanti high school math teacher Carrie Hardy's diary.May 6 Tues. After school and supper I went to see Mickey at the Martha. It was good. Sat between Lillian and Marjorie Sweet.

May 7 Wed. The Student Council met at 4 o'clock. First meeting H. Holmes, temporary chairman. Went with Lillian to woods. Took Misses Houp + Baird for ride.

May 8 Thurs. Raining again. Took dinner at the Mission today with Mrs. Fletcher. Mr. Piper looked at Mrs. Drake's apartment. Rather "blue" tonight.

May 9 Fri. parent-Teacher Club met after school. Many H. S. boys went into Detroit this P.m. Miss Gieske + I went to Mission for supper, met Miss Combs there.

May 10 Sat. been down town twice. Had tooth treated. Check for $25 from Mrs. Hutchins. Called up May + Rob is better. Feeling "blue."

May 11 Sun. Wash my hair with tar soap. Cleaned the house a little. Was home all day. Miss Laird and Lillian were in. I drove them out Prospect N.

May 12 Mon. Teacher's meeting after school and after supper. I "toted" Miss Gieske about to see about play accoutrements. Saw Mr. Blum.

May 13 Tues. After school I tutored Mr. Simon + Mr. VanWegen then Miss Swaine + I attended a meeting of the Home Asso'n in the Methodist Church.

The classes of 1930 and 2010

Today's EMU grads face a similar situation as grads in the Depression. Story.

Cap Day, EMU, 1925

In this time of year, decades ago, Cap Day and Cap Night occurred on EMU's campus.

Freshmen at EMU (and U-M, and other schools) were required to wear beanies, or freshman caps. They were also obliged to take them off as a salute whenever an upperclassman demanded it. EMU's freshmen's caps were green. At the close of freshman year, freshmen whooped it up on Cap Night, and burned all of their caps in a bonfire.

Cap Day, pictured here, seems to have been a similar rite-of-passage day. It looks as though the freshmen (?) are being forced to undergo some sort of obstacle course. I'm guessing that's a senior watching and likely mocking them.

Freshman caps and cap day/night festivities persisted into the 1960s, then faded away.

Wednesday Mystery Spot

Last week's Mystery Spot was a puzzler--just a few cars in a park-like place. But that obscurity was no barrier to Joe and Paul A., who correctly guessed that this was "Tourist Park," now part of Waterworks Park. Tourist Park was at one time one of the many spots in town where bomber plant workers "camped out," with RVs of the day or just tents.

This week's Spot is a parcel of land. Long a property guarded by a security guard in a booth, today it is abandoned and--all 29 acres up for sale! Where is this mysterious, once-secret parcel? You can see just a sliver of it in the pic below. Take your best guess and good luck!

Hats that Led to Trouble

I am sorry I missed the era of men's hats. I was looking in my 1902 Sears Roebuck catalog yesterday (at left) and noting the various names of hats.

How many folks today could distinguish a fedora from a homburg? I could not.

It's a whole pool of lexicalization that has almost faded away.

At any rate, I wrote a story that collects some snippets of views of hats in Ypsi's past that I hope you enjoy.

Turn-of-the-Century Dorm Room, EMU

Not sure what year this is; online resources are quiet on "Edith Whitcomb," a student whose room this was. There are hits for Edith Whitcombs working as a teacher; I'll have to check the really old Aurora yearbooks to make sure (the ones in my collection don't quite go back this far). Can also check for when "It's a Funny Side of Life" was produced on campus in the old Normal News papers. The photo negatice appears to have been reversed.

The 1919 Diary of Ypsilanti High School Teacher Carrie Hardy

Part of a year-long serialization of Ypsilanti high school math teacher Carrie Hardy's diary.Apr. 29 Tues. At 3:45 left for Detroit. Going required 1 hr. 35 min. Aviation exhibition on Warren Ave--so progress retarded. Rob is better (Sore [entry stops here]

Apr. 30 Wed. Miss Bachers' French play this evening--very good. May 16 is date set for Senior plays. Lunched at school today. Miss Laird was over in eve.

May 1 Thurs. Went down town to dinner. Extra long lesson with Mr. Simon and Mr. Van Wegen after school. Have a sore throat.

May 2 Fri. After school tutored Mr. Simon and Mr. VanWegen. Arthur Stuart, Richard Ford, + Eugene Allen debated Ann Arbor + lost 2 to 1.

May 3 Sat. Went into Detroit and at the Detroit Opera House saw "The Passing Show." A burlesque. In the evening I attended the P. L. S. party.

May 4 Sun. Rob came out this morning + we went to see Dr. Breakey. Rob is better. I went home with him + bro't my car home. Miss Laird was here to night.

May 5 Mon. Teacher's meeting after school. Marked attendance + application etc. on cards. Saw rehearsal of "Pot of Broth." Saw Violet leave house at 8:30.

May 6 Tues. After school and supper I went to see Mickey at the Martha. It was good. Sat between Lillian and Marjorie Sweet.

Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish

Ten years' worth of trash, discarded in one day...across an entire city. Could we do that today? Can you imagine saving up trash for a decade? Well, that's what they did at Ypsilanti's first PRIDE Day...in 1908.

Back after truly soul-draining Internet troubles...apologies for the lag and hope to make your next visit worthwhile; thanks for reading!