This ad from the October 12, 1888
Ypsilanti Commercial advertises a medicine that was reviewed in the fifth edition of Charles Oleson's book, originally published in 1889, "Secret Nostrums and Systems of Medicine: A System of Formulas." In it, he reviews the commercially available "medicines" of the day and says of Sawyer's Uterine Pastilles:
"Through the kindness of a correspondent we secured a sample of the above articles. They come in little oblong blocks, about 1/2 inch long and 1/4 inch square at the end, weighing each on an average about 20 grains. The circular which comes with them is addressed, of course, to the female sex, and is well calculated to produce alarm in the young. It is another sample of the demoralizing documents which unscrupulous quacks are continually circulating among the laity, in order to create alarm and profit by this alarm. The circular, after first dilating upon the physical and mental beauty of women, proceeds to trace these to the sexual, and afterwards paints the horrors of family quarrels, divorce, imbecility, and lunacy which follow in the train of a diseased sexual system. Then comes a description of the diseases peculiar to women, and all of which are curable by using $8 worth of these wonderful pastilles. The most creditable portions of the circular we will reprint in full, as it pertains to the auxiliary treatment to be pursued, and which in reality, we should say, is the treatment of primary importance, if any treatment at all is necessary . . ."
The circular includes direction for use and throws in some extra advice for good measure:
"RULES OF HYGIENE. The patient should use a good, nourishing diet, with plenty of good meat of some kind; beefsteak is the best. Fat meats and pastry should not be used at all; use but little tea or coffee. In case when the patient is incapable of taking the proper amount of food at a time, it will be found beneficial to take but two meals a day for a time, until they can take a full meal. Some graham bread or oat meal can often be used to advantage.
"BATHING. Bathing the entire body should never be done oftener than once a week, and then it should be done in a warm room by bathing and rubbing part of the body at a time with water that feels most agreeable. Sleep should be abundant and an abstinence from all sexual excitement should be strictly adhered to. All surrounding influences which are not conducive to a cheerful, happy state of mind should be done away with.
"DRESS. Care taken in comfortably and properly dressing the body is an important factor in the recovery; the feet and lower limbs should be dressed warmly, and great care taken that the skirts are hung from the shoulders and cause no weight upon the abdomen. Ladies suffering from prolapsus or falling of the womb can never recover unless they observe this strictly."
Oleson's review concludes, "We gave the preparation some little attention, and will give the quack credit for doing comparatively little harm, in a physical sense, when we consider the possibilities. He proceeds evidently on the faithcure principle, and his auxiliary treatment, rather than on the actual medicinal efficacy of his own pastilles. They consist, according to our examination, of nothing but flour, made into a paste and allowed to harden in the form of small oblong blocks."
Farmers, before you head back down into Augusta Township after selling your goods in town, how about a game of pool?
Dusty D is often taken aback to see examples of practices that took place before we understood how dangerous they are.
Newest chapter in an ongoing serialization of the 1888 diary of Abba Owen, daughter of Ypsilanti mineral water baron Tubal Cain Owen and Anna (Stowe Foote) Owen. The Owens lived in a now-vanished house near the current day Roosevelt School building on EMU, where Tubal also had his magical and very profitable well.
Here's a nostalgic tidbit that should bring a tear to your eye.
This ad from the October 12, 1888 Ypsilanti Commercial advertises a medicine that was reviewed in the fifth edition of Charles Oleson's book, originally published in 1889, "Secret Nostrums and Systems of Medicine: A System of Formulas." In it, he reviews the commercially available "medicines" of the day and says of Sawyer's Uterine Pastilles: 
A puzzling story from the January 17 Ypsilanti Record raises more questions than it answers. How did Ann Fowler really die?
Thanks to the Chronicle for publishing my story about a forgotten women's history pioneer...a role she didn't choose but which has produced artifacts that survive in the Ypsilanti Historical Museum to this day.
Do you know the neighborhood around YHS? Here's when "Washtenaw Club View" subdivision lots were originally offered for sale in the paper: the beginning of May, 1924.
Last week was a toughie; this lovely stone and brick confection is long gone. It's the old Woodruff School, which used to stand at the corner of Park and Michigan Ave. The school opened its doors in 1901. Here's a photograph from that year of the interior of a classroom.
The school was a major feature in that part of town that was once known as "Dutchtown." Here's a story about Dutchtown.
Once in a while we all need our moral systems invigorated. You can't argue with that.
Under its influence, the brain becomes active, and the blood purified so that all pimples, blotches, and ulcers disappear. 
Dusty D was industriously looking for onetime Ypsilanti daguerreotypists for an upcoming column in the Loomis and Talbott 1860 city directory. 
What was the daily schedule of a 1907 EMU student? 
Regard this September 20, 1932 Ypsilanti Daily Press ad from the onetime clothes store Uhlman's, at 13 North Washington (now the home of Pub 13).
One hundred and three years ago, Peninsular Park was the scene of a September 1907 Christian revival meeting, led by a dynamic 25-year-old reverend.
Kind readers may recall that recently in her diary, 16-year-old Abba Owen noted that her dad was in talks with the city to supply water, as a one-man municipal utility. On August 6, 1888 she wrote:
*"this side" is of course the west side of the river (48198 today), and the city had 5, not 3, wards at the time. The 3 wards referred to above were wards 1,2, & 3 on the river's west side.
Before EMU had campus dorms, students for much of the school's history were housed and sometimes fed in the homes of ordinary Ypsilantians around town. 
T'other night, the Parson and me was down at Brown's saloon. The Reverend's a philosophical man, yes sir. 'Specially at 1 A.M. after five or six slugs o' Buckthorn Temperance Bitters. 
Today's story in the Courier explores the story of Clement and Ruth Loveder. Born in London, they risked a trip on a sailing ship in 1821, to finally end up on a farm near Willow Run--back when "run" meant "stream" and Willow Run was one. Read about their passage in a tale based on Clement's diary.
Hey, take a look at this: they have electric washing machines now.
Oh, we walked by there yesterday, didn't we? Over on, what street was that, Huron? By . . . Michigan Avenue.
We had some excellent guesses in the last Mystery Spot. Rick Perry correctly guessed that this scene was the old Ypsilanti High School library. It is pictured in the 1903 YHS yearbook the "Ypsi-Dixit."
Some of the old yearbooks have beautiful bits of engraving. Here is a lovely ad in the 1907 Ypsi-Dixit from the onetime Scharf Tag, Label, & Box Co, which used to be in operation where Congdon's is now:
Here is an even more baroque example, from the 1901Ypsi-Dixit:
This week we journey to a building that sadly no longer exists. Take a peek and see if you can suss out the identity of this vanished building; good luck!
Everyone knows about the Native American artifacts and bones on the west bank of Riverside Park. But what about EMU and even the Water Street property? There's more to the story--check it out at YpsiNews.com.
The previous Mystery Spot offered a view of some all-season flowers on the south side of town. Over on Facebook, Janice correctly guessed that this is a photo of a home on Grove Road just a bit south of Michigan Ave. It's at about 26 Grove Road on the west side of the street.
