Teenaged Jessie Swaine's Reflections on the 19th Century

One recent discovery in the Archives is the 1895 literature notebook from Jessie Swaine, onetime domestic science instructor at Ypsilanti High School and the Normal School. Jessie lived for much of her life in what is still called the Swaine house at the northeast corner of Forest and River. She wrote in this notebook when she was approximately 16 years old. One of the entries is an essay on the 19th century.

The Nineteenth Century

The Nineteenth century period is the present period and is the most wonderful period of all; it is an age of invention and their [sic] has been a great advancement in Education, Religion and Literature also in the social life and politics have been bettered and science has advanced greatly nearly every school boy and school girl knows now and more than the men that made science a special study in the past ages, it is taught in all schools and in nearly all grades. The invention of electricity has aided us greatly in lightly on streets and many other useful things, the sewing machine has taken the place of the needle, and fire arms have been greatly improved.

The different churches have become more united and societies have been formed in which the Bible is read and people are taught more about religion, then missionaries are sent from Christian countries to countries where God is not known and they teach the people there so that the Christian religion is being spread all over the world.

In Literature fiction has taken the place of the drama of the Elizabethan age and it is purer than it used to be, and treats more of the life and ways of people then of wars etc. We read not only for the story but for what we can get out of it, we find most of our best reading in the magazines and Reviews.

Baron [Byron] was one of the best poets of this period but his life does not correspond with his writing and many think that he will not have a lasting remembrance, his poems are gloomy, melancholy but deep and beautiful. Is this not true:

There is a rapture in the pathless woods,
There is a pleasure on the lonely shore,
There is society where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar.

His words are certainly stricking [sic] and stirring....

We Lost the Starkweather Fountain, But It Could Have Been Worse

New York's J. L. Mott Ironworks company designed the onetime downtown fountain of Hebe, Cup-Bearer to the Gods. The company manufactured many types of statues as well as a wide range of other plumbing and household fixtures. Sad as it is that Ypsi lost her Hebe, it could have been worse. What if the city had ordered THIS statue instead, also by the J. L. Mott Co.? I'm guessing that this 1890 monstrosity would never have "disappeared"--who would want it? And we'd have this to look at, down to this day.

Or is it kind of awesome in its sheer ugliness? Hmm...now I can't decide.

Tidbits from the October 9, 1894 Ann Arbor Argus

The Ann Arbor Argus costs its readers less than one cents a copy.

The time for stump speeches has arrived. We saw a load of stumps going through the town yesterday. --Political paragraph in Manchester Enterprise.

Charles Ryan, of Ypsilanti, has entered the homeopathic college at Cleveland. What is the matter with U. of M. homeopathy--aren't the pills small enough?

Dr. K. Greiner, of Dexter, has packed up his pill case, and will attack the inhabitants of Lisbon, Kent County. He leaves many friends and few headstones.

Sneak thieves are now in possession of a winter supply of vegetables and canned fruit, "cooned" from the cellar of A. C. Fingerle, of Ypsilanti. Fingerle would like to get his fingers on them.

A steam laundry is to be opened in Chelsea. Just in time for the "dirty linen" of the campaign.

Some of the forest of the Normal campus has been cut down and "logged off," the big willow and several elms being among the victims. The campus is [not?] injured by the change, but it is doubtful if the co-eds like it.

At a "Pumpkin Pie" social to be held by the Ladies' Aid Society of the Free church of Superior, Oct. 12, an etched quilt will be the reward to the person guessing the nearest at the number of seeds in a specified pumpkin. Every "pumpkin seed" who wishes may guess and get a supper for 20 cents and be ashamed of himself that all this costs him so little.

Postmaster Kishpaugh, of Clinton, has washed the fly specks of the Harrison era off the glass of the letter boxes and made many substantial improvements in the building. The man who dares fore a charge of tobacco juice on the elegant new floor will be squirted in the eye with pepper sauce.

Lewis Feldkamp, of Manchester, was thrown from his conveyance last week, and received a fracture of the clavicle. We could just as well have said that Lew. Feldcamp was flipped out of his wagon and busted his collar bone; but "conveyance" is more recherche than "wagon," "clavicle" sounds more scientific than "collar bone," "fracture" more euphonious than "busted"; and to say "Lew" for Lewis would be treating a man pretty roughly, smashed up as he was.

A young man from Lyndon, with a stomach like an anaconda, went over to Chelsea last week and sucked a dozen eggs as rapidly as he could break the shells. This form of idiocy is less harmful than that other style of pointing an empty revolver at a friend and blowing his brains out, while the point that the fellow is a fool is just as well brought out. It is the better style.

"Rev. R. K. Wharton, tired of the distinction of being the only pastor in Ypsilanti who did not ride a bicycle, is rapidly becoming master of the wheel." --September 23, 1897 Ypsilantian

Dueling Combines Empty the Town

"The deserted streets of Ypsilanti Saturday afternoon may have suggested that the whole town had gone to the picnic at Whitmore Lake, but it would have been a mistake. The center of attention was Ainsworth's cornfield, where the corn harvesters of two fields were being tested. The McCormick and the Deering were showing up their good qualities in corn that overtopped the machine by several feet. Something less than 200 men constituted the jury, and witnessed this contest.

"Their vision was cleared by cigars at the expense of the agents of the two firms and their throats moistened by lemonade from the same generous source, and after the contest was all over, it was the general opinion that either machine would be satisfactory were the other away. The fact is there seemed very little differrence in the character of the work done by the machines, or in the draft necessary to work them. It is understood that Mr. Ainsworth expects to purchase one or both of the machines; at least, at this writing he is undecided which one to take." --September 3, 1896 Ypsilantian

Deering reaper image source.

Tidbits from the August 27 1891 Ypsilantian

"Mr Draper is making marked improvements in the opera house scenery, adding a second drop curtain and several new scenes. The work is being done by Frank T. King, scenic artist from Buffalo, and it will add much to the interest and pleasure of the patrons of the house, when the season opens."

"The soil removed from the Methodist church excavation is spread all over the whole surface of the Presbyterian parsonage lot, raising the grade considerably. It may be interesting to observe what sort of a crop will germinate from such a mixture. Quite possibly, this grafting of 'free grace' upon the sturdy Calvinistic stock may produce something that we shall all want."

"That's right, neighbor [Ann Arbor] Courier, boom your city, but don't forget when you name all the nicest things in the world to add that Ypsilanti always keeps them in stock."

"It is said of Prof. Agassiz that from a single bone, he could construct a whole fish, but that is nothing compared to the exploits of O. E. Thompson who is now sniffing the breezes of old Ocean and taking a whirl on the beach. His greatest feat is to take a fish and in less than ten minutes exhibit its entire skeleton: and yet, he says he is hungry all the time."

"Ann Arbor is to have a new corset factory. Respectfully referred to Mrs. Jenness Miller"*

*a leading "apostle of dress reform" who was strongly against the corset and for more sensible undies

"The water board have decided to let us use the garden hose an hour later in the morning and an hour earlier at night--6 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 8 p.m." --August 25, 1892 Ypsilantian

Students Doing Business: Interior View of Cleary Main Hall

This pic is from a publicity pamphlet for Cleary titled "Ten Reasons Why [to study at Cleary]." I guesstimate that it's from roughly 1890 or so. Here is a view of the main hall where students are engaged in realistic business transactions. Students were given a mock $2,000 with which to start their business. As you can see by the caption, the school prided itself on using such real-life methods as opposed to textbook work. Click for larger image.

Mrs. Emoretta Garlick caused the arrest of Daniel O'Brien for assault and battery, and the examination took place Wednesday morning before Justice Childs. The plaintiff failed to furnish security for the payment of costs, and Prosecuting Attorney Randall refused to proceed.

It has been rumored for some time that Lee Harrison, who is dying of consumption, would make some startling revelations in regard to the Pulver murder before he died. In order to put these at rest he has made a sworn statement before Attorney Brown that he knows nothing whatever about the case.

--July 25, 1895 Ypsilantian

On Saturday and Monday street fakers visited this city and caught more than the average number of fish. The Indian doctor? on Monday evening capturing a hat full of silver dollars.

Who says the bike is not more powerful than the legislature to compel a reduction in fares? Tuesday morning last week Mr. and Mrs. Lee Forsyth of this city mounted their wheels and started for Kankakee, Ill., reaching Battle Creek the first day. They expected to make their visit and return yesterday. But for the bike they would probably have paid $35 to the railroad company, but this they saved. The time may come when the railroads will acknowledge the competition of the bike, and cut their fares or lose their custom.

Miss Maggie Smith, a young girl of 16, tried to commit suicide last Tuesday by taking a dose of laudanum. She was ashamed of her mother who is addicted to the use of strong drink. Her rash act was discovered in time to save her life.

--July 18, 1895 Ypsilantian

The Ann Arbor Courier is kicking against the Michigan Central because the grounds at the depot in Ann Arbor are not kept in better condition. Of course they do look a little bare to one who has seen those at Ypsilanti, but then, they can't expect the Central to furnish a Laidlaw for every flag station along the line. --July 11, 1895 Ypsilantian

The Newspaper's Wooden-Wheeled Bicycles

Want to take a spin around town in 1892 Ypsilanti, but can't afford to buy a new bike? No worries: just pop down to the Ypsilanti Commercial offices at 316 North Huron (between Emmet and Cross) and rent one for a mere 15 cents per hour (about $3.60 today).

Not only did the paper rent bikes, they also sold them. At least, they sold the Elliott Hickory Bicycle, a model sporting two wooden wheels with tires that were "fastened" on. "Yes, FASTENED on," says the ad below. "They are not pasted on nor glued on, but so fastened that if worn to shreds the shreds would still be fast to wheel." Dusty D is not sure why riding on shreds is being advertised as a feature, as opposed to a nice soft tire, but I'm not a bigtime newspaper editor-slash-bicycle purveyor, and as such--clearly wiser minds than mine have made this ad.

The paper at this time was headed by Henry Coe, assisted by his brother Fred. Henry's twin career of newspaper editor and bicycle seller and livery manager seems to have been a short one. The Commercial continued for another eight years, but mentions of the bike livery vanish in short order from the paper. Perhaps it wasn't much of a loss; the livery had consisted of a fleet of only two bikes. The onetime cobblestones on many downtown streets might have made short order of those four wooden wheels (mounted to frames without shock absorbers), whether festooned with tenacious shreds or no.

Yet another brief flash of the onetime plethora of oddball business ventures in our town.

It is very convenient for the people who wish to ride down from the Normal on the motor, to have it wait for them until they are ready to go. But for citizens who wish to ride down in their carriages, it is not an unmitigated pleasure to find the road blockaded by said motor for five or ten minutes, as was the case after the Wednesday evening concert. It is a thing which would be tolerated only in Ypsilanti, even Ann Arbor would rebel against the monopoly of her highway by her street cars. She does not so much as permit the motor to enter the city. Could not the "tooter" be stopped either above or below the crossing, and thus avoid nnoyance to the driving population of the town? --May 9, 1895 Ypsilantian

It is understood that Judge Kinne can now give direct evidence as to the perverseness of the bicycle. As a judge of course, he knows that hearsay evidence is no good in court, and he naturally desired to get posted on the subject. It is hearsay evidence that he succeeded. --Item in the May 9, 1895 Ypsilantian newspaper.

Owing to the rapid increase in the demand for their famous Root Cutters and Grass Seeders, O. E. Thompson & Sons find it necessary again to enlarge their manufactory, and are now laying the foundation for an addition, 20 x 40 feet, two stories high, which when finished will give them for business purposes a full half acre of floor space. Their market for Grass Seeders and Root Cutters has wonderfully increased during the past two years, and the prospect for the next season is brighter than ever. The public appreciates good things and the Thompsons have them sure. --Item in the May 2, 1895 Ypsilantian newspaper.

Thorn School on Textile Road

A reader sends in photos from her mom's scrapbook in response to a recent post on Woodruff School, and comments,

"Attached are copies of Thorn/e School on Textile Road. I really don't know much about it. My notes say it was a German religious school."

"The close up of the circled little girl [below] is Selma Wiederhoft, sister of Bertha Wiederhoft. She was born in 1891. If we assume she is about 5 years old, then the photo dates from about 1896. Her younger sister Marie was born in 1892 and is not in the photo. Not sure what age children started attending school back then."

"The other close up with three girls circled [below] are: left: Ida Wiederhoft born 1883 married Theodore Hand; center Anna Wiederhoft born 1885 married Herman Roggenkamp; right Bertha Wiederhoft born 1886 who married Herman Kruger."

"Minnie Wiederhoft born 1888 is the child circled about 3 rows behind Selma in the front."

"I would really like to learn more about the Thorn/e School. Was it only for German children or did others attend. How long was it open?"

Dusty D does not know, but hopes other readers do. I'll take a look in the Archives this Saturday--our index says we have enrollment info from 1909-1927.

A pleasant note from Peter D. Martin who now lives at Coronado, Cal., renewing his subscription to the Ypsilantian for another year, suggests that he will not be allowed to compete in the Calla contest, but he is mistaken. The challenge was to the world, and his calla is admitted with a certified height of 6 feet. He says that callas bloom in that far away state all winter. He says also that the past winter has been the pleasantest he has spent there, there having been no frosts, and only 1/2 ton coal necessary to keep them warm. He slyly hints that these good times have come under Cleveland's administration, but doesn't say he's converted to his way of thinking. --Item from the April 25, 1895 Ypsilantian newspaper.

A WELL_DRESSED YOUNG MAN named Geo. M. Smith was about the streets last Friday offering gold (?) spectacles for sale for 50 cents [$13 today], claiming he had found them. He was soon arrested on the charge of peddling without a license and in default of payment of $5.75 fine [$150], he was given 15 days at Ann Arbor. Marshal Ross discovered $6.50 on the fellow when he searched him. --Item from the April 18, 1895 Ypsilantian newspaper.

News Tidbits from the April 11, 1895 Ypsilantian

"A kinetoscope, one of Edison's latest inventions, was on exhibition last Friday at the Hawkins house. It is a wonderful machine and reproduces motion. This one reproduced a four round prize fight."

"The musical program to be given at the Young Women's Christian Association Friday evening promises to be very fine."

"An employee of the Singer Sewing Machine Co. with an unpronounceable name has turned up missing after having sold a couple of machines and failing to turn over the proceeds, $75 [$1950 today]."

"Another calla is reported which measures forty-two and one-fourth inches from the ground to the tip of the spathe. The plant has had a little dilute ammonia water occasionally throughout the winter, but no other fertilizer."

"FOR SALE. I have a quantity of early White Evart Potatoes which I will sell for seed. Residence 1 mile east of the southwest corner of the township of Salem." WM. H. HARRISON."

"The correct thing in calling cards and note paper at the Bazarette."

"The Cleary College base ball team has ordered new suits."

STONY CREEK: The social at Mr. Armstrong's was a success, and those wishing less noise during the supper hour had it, as Mum was the word. But for all that, some forfeits were paid, for strange to say, "some people will talk." --Item in April 7, 1895 Ypsilantian newspaper.