Turn-of-the-Century Ypsi Map with Interesting Highlights Marked

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifHere's a treat I hope you enjoy as much as I do. It's a roughly turn-of-the-century map with a baker's dozen of cool vanished stuff that I numbered. It really helped me visualize things like the "Dress Stay Company" (ohhh, right on Huron, there!) and discover new things (pickle factory?!). Here's the map with a key below.
Key:
1. Mysterious Depot #2. I never knew of this second depot, right at the bend of Huron if you're traveling north and just passed the DPW yard/Powell's pub. Why was it here? Whom did it serve? It's 1/2-way between the Peninsular Paper Mill and Hay and Todd--two big employers. Was it for the workers? But Hay & Todd isn't far from the Depot Town Depot. Hmm...what is this enigmatic depot?

2. Tubal Cain Owen water well. Owen tried "his hand at several business enterprises
(including attempting to build a flying machine) before pursuing the marketing of mineral water. Often described as “flamboyant,” “cocky,” and even a “bit peculiar"...In 1882 the Ypsilanti Paper Company bored a well, seeking pure water but found what was then perceived and marketed as medicinal mineral water. Various sanitariums sprang up in a vigorous rivalry. Tubal Cain Owen jumped into the fray when he sank an 808 feet deep well in 1884 at 360 feet north of Forest Avenue, behind his house (presently near the northwest corner of the east wing of the Roosevelt Building on the Eastern Michigan University campus). He named the well “Atlantis” and by 1885, acquired patent number 13127 for his trade mark for Ypsilanti Mineral Water. He found darker, even murkier water than his competitors, which at that time was believed to be more beneficial. It was reddish brown and described as having an “odor that sent strong men reeling toward the saloon,” yet was sold as far as Boston and with great popularity particularly in Chicago."

3. Normal School (EMU) gymnasium. This was a magnificent castle-like crenellated structure occupying what's now the little parking lot just east of the Water Tower.

4. Old Ypsi High School. This is where Carry Hardy taught math. Now the senior community Cross Street Village.

5. Pickle Factory. Pickle factory? This is a new one on DD. I do know there was an "Ypsilanti Condiment Co" somewhere in Depot Town...perhaps related? I'm hoping they didn't use river water for the pickles, considering it's downstream from the Peninsular Paper Mill, which is said to have often dyed the river a variety of interesting colors, and the numerous mills in the Frog Island area. On the other hand, vinegar neutralizes everything, right? No worries! Enjoy the distinctive taste of Ypsi Pickles!

6. Mineral Well and Sanitarium: Ypsi's famous water "San," the "Ypsilanti Mineral Bath House," located where the Riverside Arts Center--->Haab's is now; a big operation!

7. McCullough Foundry, where Allie's dad and later, her brothers, worked. The family lived across the street.

8. Dress Stay Company, manufacturing steel rods for stiffening and shaping women's dresses, in lieu of the earlier whalebone.

9. Scharf Tag, Label & Box Co. (now occupied by Congdon's), like #8 a business in which former mayor H. P. Glover had great influence.

10. The old city well.

11. The old fair grounds.

12. Apparently each ward had its own little school.

13. Depot for the Ann Arbor-Ypsi Streetcar, (the "Ypsi-Ann,") which ran down Packard to AA.

Lots of other goodies on this map, such as the Ypsi Coop appearing as its former incarnation, the Ypsilanti Machine Works. What else do you see that should be added to the list?

The Utter Confusion of Choosing a Calling Plan...in 1913 Ypsilanti

Like one o' them new-fangled phones? OK--but you have to choose a calling plan. How about this one?

NON-GUARANTEE SERVICE. Calling party deposits nickel five-cent piece [as opposed to the nickel ten-cent piece--ed.] for each local call. Subscriber agrees to redeem slugs or other tokens deposited as nickels. Subscriber shall receive fifty per cent. commission on receipts from local calls and ten per cent. commission on receipts from long distance messages over the lines of the Michigan State Telephone Company, the commission not to exceed ten cents on any one message.

Huh?

OK, well, that plan is out since it's gibberish. How about this one?

GUARANTEE SERVICE. Subscriber deposits five cents for each local call and guarantees amount inserted in contract for local calls. Also agrees to redeem slugs [but snails are OK--ed.] or other tokens. Excess local receipts to be equally divided, Subscriber and Company each receiving fifty per cent.

Not much clearer. But I love the stern warnings against slugs--clearly this was a big problem as people tried to cheat. But how did it work? Was there a sort of pay phone right in your house? Or just a regular old cardboard box where you put a nickel in every time you called? Bewildering.

The Michigan State Telephone Company took a dim view of other hanky-panky, too. Such as naughty language, the fifth item in this list of "Terms and Conditions".

The lessee shall not make use of foul or profane language, or personate any other individual with fraudulent intent over the wires connected with this instrument.

My favorite part of this contract? The awkward/charming way the MSTC tried to sell you an additional house phone:

AUXILIARY TELEPHONE is a special type extra telephone for residences only. It can be located in any part of the residence.

A special type extra telephone! Ooh! Sounds sparkly!

But none of this fazed R. E. Spencer of 406 Maple Street in Ypsilanti in 1913. He signed the contract and was soon chatting away. The contract he signed is duplicated, front and back, below. You can click on either image to enlarge and scrutinize its many weird details.