Sunday, December 12, 2010
Dusty D has been extremely busy this past week, finishing off an article for Michigan History Magazine. I hope they run it! If so, it'll be in the March/April issue. Just sent it off; now I can breathe again. I apologize for the recent lack of blog posts but now that things are back to the normal level of crazy I'll be postin' again. Thank you for your patience.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Christmas Wish Lists in the Depression
Have kids in your life with Christmas wishes? Sons, daughters, nieces, nephews? Take a look at what Depression--era kids requested, in today's story in the Courier.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Wednesday Mystery Spot: 1927 N. Huron
Last week's Mystery Spot showed a sliver of a familiar street with a barber pole and an enigmatic sign saying "YPS BA."
This is a bit of the west side of North Huron from about 1927. At right you can see Pearl Street's mouth. The "Bazaar" was a notions and variety store. On the first floor is a "Men's Furnishings" store. Heading south we can see the Sonora phonograph shop ("clear as a bell"), a small dentist's office, "Louis the Tailor," Shaefer Hardware in its original spot, and the Economy Store (click to enlarge).
Today we're venturing out of Ypsilanti--but not far. Take a gander at this view from a Washtenaw County spot. Take a guess and good luck!
This is a bit of the west side of North Huron from about 1927. At right you can see Pearl Street's mouth. The "Bazaar" was a notions and variety store. On the first floor is a "Men's Furnishings" store. Heading south we can see the Sonora phonograph shop ("clear as a bell"), a small dentist's office, "Louis the Tailor," Shaefer Hardware in its original spot, and the Economy Store (click to enlarge).
Today we're venturing out of Ypsilanti--but not far. Take a gander at this view from a Washtenaw County spot. Take a guess and good luck!
Depression-Era Children's Letters to Santa
Some say that unemployment levels in Michigan, if you count those people who have simply given up on looking for work, approaches or equals depression-era levels.How does one Depression-era Christmas compare to Christmas 2010? In particular, how did Ypsi children react to the difficulties they could see all around them, to the worried nighttime conversations around the kitchen table overheard from their bedrooms, to their parents' inability to buy them a new warm coat?
How many could afford the trains, skates, and velocipedes on sale at Shaefer's Hardware in December of 1932?
That story will be in tomorrow's Ypsilanti Courier (if they run it); be sure to snag a copy!