Ancillary Materials for Flood Story

Here are some ancillary materials (below) that I looked at to write the story of the March 23, 1904 flood, posted here in case you'd like to peruse 'em too. Click for larger image.

1. Photo of part of Henry Scovill's lumber operation on Frog Island. Here we are standing on the northeastern part of Frog Island looking south-southeast. On our right, out of view, are the numerous buildings of Scovill's lumber yard. To the left, on the mainland bank, are stored logs. Lots of times farmers would cut their lumber, haul it to Ypsi, and Scovill would cut it to order. In left rear is the old Depot. The freighthouse is visible, as is a now-vanished storage building behind the also-visible Depot Town buildings. The storage building was used for storage of extra hay presses from the old hay press plant just northeast of Forest Avenue and the river.


2. Photo labeled 1895 of Scovill's lumber yard. Here we are on the millrace bridge at the southeastern part of the island. This is the bridge that was obliterated in the flood, stranding the men on Frog Island. Today it is the southeastern bit of the running track. Here's a then and now comparison. In left rear is the big underwear factory.


3. Portrait of Henry Scovill, head of the lumber yard. Scovill was mayor of Ypsilanti from 1881-1884 and 1900-1901. You can see the strength and clarity of character that kept him working at his lumber yard until he was killed in an accident--at age 86.


4. 1914 receipt for C. S. Smith's purchases at Scovill's. You can see the address is N. Huron street, just by the bend. Because of the flood, Scovill moved his yard from Frog Island to here. He hesitated because the Frog Island yard had been powered by hydro, which was cheap, and he'd have to convert to electricity. However, he successfully made the move.


5. Civil War discharge papers for Corporal Scovill. He was one of the first to sign up at Lincoln's first call for Michigan volunteers. Apparently his term of service was only 3 months. I don't know if he served another term. Note that this dynamic and life-filled man was a mere 5 feet 7 inches tall.



6. Photo of Amasa Scovill, Henry's father. Dusty D has a chair (my favorite one) not unlike Mr. Scovill's.



7. A little map of Depot Town I made to understand the fabric of it, since Bracy's boss had a grocery here. There were 5 groceries, 3 restaurants, 2 meat dealers (directly opposite each other), 2 lawyers, and one coal dealer, cigarist, shoemaker, hardware dealer, baker, barber, painter, furniture dealer, hotelier, druggist, and jeweler. I used the 1905 info because generally the city directories lag a bit behind the actual year in question, so this is probably pretty accurate for 1904. Green is current businesses, red is 1904 businesses, and blue is residents living above the shops.


8. Obituary cards for Scovill, his wife Mary, and his son William. There are 73,000 of these in the Archives.



9. & 10. history of the Scovill lumber co.


11. Undated story (prob. 1962) about the demise of Ypsilanti lumber companies.

12. Scovill's 1929 obituary. He is buried in Highland Cemetery.

Hope you liked those! There was even more stuff, but as my mom says, "there's a limit." :)

The Bridge-Busting Flood of 1904

Today is the 116th anniversary of a monster Huron River flood that almost obliterated Ypsi's string of bridges, and swept an entire Frog Island business away (but only slightly delayed a grocery order). Here's the tale.

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.Mar. 18 Tues. Did not get home until after 8 o'clock. Heard rehearsal for Senior Chapel Exercises tomorrow.

Mar. 19 Wed. Well, Chapel is over for the Seniors this year. Our Chapel was a great success. Lillian staid with Mrs. & Mr. Drake Mon. night.

Mar. 20 Thurs. Lillian & I are out because she slept with them. Shameful. She is sorry though & I suppose the quarrel will soon end. She gave me a beautiful corset cover.

Mar. 21 Fri. Senior Try Outs again tonight. Supper & then went to the Movies with Lillian & Mrs. Drake.

Mar. 22 Sat. Worked all morning--swept, dusted, etc. Lillian & Frances Seeley called & Miss Laird & I went over to depot & down town.

Mar. 23 Sun. Went down to see Rob. Made out the monthly report and attended church services in the evening. Mr. Ryan talked about "The New Day for Turkey."
Mar. 24 Mon. Honor students chosen. Arthur Stuart & Helen Perry. Planning for the Washington D.C. trip.

Mar. 25 Tues. School fair. Have not seen Lillian today. I am planning to leave Fri. eve.

All the glory of man is as the flower of grass

Thursday Twofer: New Stories

Yeah, I just keep churnin' 'em out. Deadlines are a godsend to the lazy.

1. How were census forms different in the past and what are the sociocultural implications motivating these changes?

Have you, like me, lost sleep over this question? Then let my new story be your Nyquil!

2. The Gilbert House is one of Ypsilanti's most elegant homes. Surely not the home of anyone who might be a bit of a crackpot inventor.

Right? Well, find out already! Note: The Courier, who writes my headlines, used the word "macabre" for this one. Eek!

Thanks to Eastern Echo for Great Book Review!

My grateful thanks to Eastern Echo editor Jeff Gerding for his positive review of my book!

Wowie, he got those quotes down cold! Very accurate! I am very grateful to the Echo for their kindness in reviewing my book; thank you, Echo staff!

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.Mar. 11 Tues. Came home to dinner. After supper attended the school of instruction for canvassing the city for registration & voting.

Mar 12 Wed. Class meetings this Morn. Lucile Parkinson & Henry Holmes on Student-faculty Council. Did my canvassing. Attended my first caucus.

Mar. 13 Thurs. Mr. Arbaugh ill this A.M. Better this P.M. Went up to call, with Miss Laird on the Clearys. Marjorie told us about Washington, D.C. (last night).

Mar 14 Fri. Nothing out of the ordinary routine. Busy after school getting ready for Senior chapel. Parent-Teacher Club met in the evening. Colored dance & concert.

Mar. 15 Sat. Up at 7 A.M. About the house until after dinner. Went over to 223 River St & rec'd $20 rent. Stopped at school on way home for books.

Mar. 16 Sun. Home all day--not feeling very spry. Miss Laird over twice. Lillian here in P.M. Washed my hair. Planned the Washington trip.

Mar. 17 Mon. After school our rehearsal for Senior Chapel, which is to be Wed. Mar. 19. We are rehearsing an origina Mock Trial.

Mar. 18 Tues. Did not get home until after 8 o'clock. Heard rehearsal for Senior Chapel Exercises tomorrow.

F. J. Swain News Item

Dusty D recently wrote a story involving the childhood of the current residents of the Swain house at Forest and River, and I just now stumbled upon a Swain news item while researching something else. Here 'tis:

from the Ypsilanti Commercial, August 24, 1878:

"Mr. F. J. Swain has been making extensive repairs on his malt house, corner River Street and Forrest [sic] Avenue. Last season he was troubled by want of accommodations, and to prepare for this season's work he has provided four new wooden bins so that he now can store over 15,000 bushels of barley. The elevator (from which, by the way, a glimpse of Ann Arbor may be had) has been moved to the northwest corner of the building. Barley has already begun to come in."

The Toad Survey of 1910

The state's annual Frog and Toad Survey is gearing up. It's fairly amazing: thousands of volunteers across the state monitor wetlands 3 times in early spring, late spring, and summer to get a handle on the densities of frogs and toads (anurans) since they are important ecological indicators. And just plain cool. Dusty D learned a lot about Michigan frogs and toads for this article...the highlight was learning the "seven oxen" factoid. Lowlight was probably learning that bullfrogs are quite cheerfully cannibalistic, blecch. I also learned, via watching endless videos of calling frogs, that I've heard bullfrogs, Green frogs (boating on the Huron), and Western Chorus frogs and of course spring peepers. All in all it was a fun article about animals I have a great fondness for. Here's the story.

All the glory of man is as the flower of grass

Fun with binomial nomenclature

Dusty D is working on a story involving the scientific names of animals. In learning about the scientific names of animals, I stumbled across this site, which rounds up amusing, punning, sometimes flat silly scientific names. Highlight:

Ochisme (genus name, pronounced "oh kiss me") Kirkaldy, 1904 (ochisme is a genus within hemiptera, which is the order name for "bugs")
Dolichisme Kirkaldy, 1904 (hemiptera)
Florichisme Kirkaldy, 1904 (hemiptera)
Marichisme Kirkaldy, 1904 (hemiptera)
Nanichisme Kirkaldy, 1904 (hemiptera)
Peggichisme Kirkaldy, 1904 (hemiptera)
Polychisme Kirkaldy, 1904 (hemiptera) Kirkaldy was criticized for frivolity by the London Zoological Society in 1912.

Oh, piffity poo, that London Zoological Society is no fun at all. Also I notice that it took at least 7 bugs' worth of silliness before the LZS caught on. Heh. Kudos to George Willis Kirkaldy, author of the page-turner Leafhoppers and their Natural Enemies and bestower of silly bug names.

Tantalizing Tidbits from the 1910 City Directory

Dusty D was reading the 1910 city directory and happened upon this strange pair of entries:

Hibbard Clarence M, florist, res 29 Race
Hibbard Henry A, mach hd, bds 29 Race

Now, it's interesting to see how much information can be distilled from these 2 laconic entries (there are no other Hibbards in the 1910 directory).

First of all: a florist living with a machinist? What's up with that? A male florist in 1910? Was this accepted, or looked on as hopelessly effete? Clarence!: who are you?

Second, Clarence apparently owned a home, or residence ("res") at 29 Race. not a rich part of town, but he still owned his home. How did a florist scrape enough $ together to buy a home?

Third, Henry A boards with him, or, gets meals and a room there. This suggests that Henry A is a child of Clarence. Often college students living with their parents are listed on old censuses as "boarding" with their folks. Perhaps Henry is Clarence's son.

Fourth, there are no women listed. Did either Clarence or Henry marry? If so, it's not recorded in the 1910 directory. If not, why not?

Neither man is listed in the 1905, 1924, or 1926 city directories that I have here at home. Pending further investigation in other city directories at the Archives, it's curious that they had such an apparently short tenure in Ypsi.

The florist and the machinist: what were their stories? Dusty D hopes to find out.

Wednesday Mystery Spot

Though I thought last week's Mystery Spot was fairly featureless, as usual it proved to be no problem for expert Spotters. BF and Joe got it: the Forest St. railroad bridge, looking north-northwest. Good spottin', gentlemen!

Though we say goodbye this week to the Mercury train, this week's Spot from a faded old newspaper is not unrelated to Mercury. See if you can guess it! Good luck!

Ancillary materials for Drowning Story

Here are some additional materials to accompany my recent story about the detective who drowned on 634 River St. at Forest. Click on any image to enlarge.

1. & 2. Photos of the now-vanished house.
3. A 1974 article about the house's demolition.
4. A 1968 profile of the house.
5. A map of its location; it's on lot # 529.
6. & 7. Abstract of the house that gives excerpts of Elvira's will. Note the unequal distribution of assets to each of the 2 grandsons. Note: Frederick is not buried in Highland Cemetery with the other family members, according to the Highland index and a visit I made.
8. & 9. A history of previous owners.
Enjoy!

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.Playing catch-up here too; thanks for your patience, I will try to keep on track from now on!

Feb 4 Tues. Hall duty at noon again. This week letter from Miss Gardner. Mr. Laird is no better. Mrs. Morse is teaching for Miss Creech who goes to Detroit.

Feb. 5 Wed. School--noisy--went with Miss Laird for milk and with Mrs. Fletcher to a church service--Conference.

Feb. 6 Thurs. School better--getting settled. P. L. S. this evening after supper with good program. Miss Walz told story. Bath.

Feb. 7 Fri. Parent-Teacher Club. Visitors from Ann Arbor, who were inspecting our lunch-room service. Miss Laird, Lillian, Miss Gieske & Mr. Ross called.

Feb. 8 Sat. Self Serve O. E. S. supper at Temple $.25, 5 o'clock on. Did not attend. Home nearly all day. Wash, iron & visited the Martha Washington.

Feb. 9 Sun. Invited over to Mrs. Hayes' to dinner. Had a good time. Miss Laird & I called on Mrs. Breakey & James brought us home in car.

Feb. 10 Mon. Women Citizens' Board meeting at 4:30 at Literary Club House. Lecture by Doctor Wood of U of M in lunch room of H. S. at 7:30.

Feb. 11 Tues. After school went with Miss Laird to Rowima. Ate supper & went to Presb. Church for reception for Mr. Finlayson & Mr. Quirk from overseas.

Feb. 12 Wed. After school I went home with Lillian for supper and then we went to the Martha Washington.

Feb. 13 Thurs. Mass meeting after school. Y. H. S. plays Normal High tonight. Women's mass meeting at tempple at 7:30. Mr. Laird sits up.

Feb. 14 Fri. Carl Wirth gave a war talk to the Military Training class. Mrs. Drake's Parents Gym Class gave party at Maccabee Hall. I went with Lillian.

Feb. 15 Sat. Slept until late. Worked about the house until about 2 o'clock. Went to the Martha Washington. Miss Laird & Lillian were in.

Feb. 16 Sun. Invited to Sunday dinner with Mr. & Mrs. Omans. Miss Lich and I had a lovely time. Mr. & Mrs. O. are good entertainers.

Feb. 17 Mon. O. E. S. Banquet & Initiation. Past Matrons' Night. Couldn't go. Attended Dr. Frayer's (U of M) lecture in evening in lunch room.

Feb. 18 Tues. Check from Mrs. Hutchins. M. Ferguson went to another session room to sit. (Miss Roberts). Miss Laird over in evening.

Feb. 19 Wed. Extemporaneous Speaking Contest. J. Orr represented the seniors & won 2nd place. Bo't spring hat. $10.50. Went down town with Miss L.

Feb. 20 Thurs. School all day and worked to get ready for Friday--which is to be our visiting day. Went to Detroit on the 4:30 p.m. car.

Feb. 21 Fri. Stayed at Rob's last night. Visited Northwestern and Central High Schools. Bo't automobile license $10.25 & pd. $10 for traveling bag.

Feb. 22 Sat. Came home last night on the 4:24 car, tired out. Worked all morning & until 2 this P.M. sweeping dusting, etc. Went to Moore.

Feb. 23 Sun. Went to church. Subject of Mr. Colburn's sermon was "Vanity Fair." Made out my monthly school report after dinner.

Feb. 24 Mon. Mr. Arbaugh went to Chicago last night. School went on quite well. Seniors won in final basket-ball game. Quite tired.

Feb. 25 Tues. School fair. Carl Wirth teaches two of my classes during Mr. Arbaugh's absence. Had lunch upstairs in Dining Room to-day.

Feb. 26 Wed. School all right and Mr. A's third day in Chicago. Here's hoping for the remainder of the week.

Feb. 27 Thurs. Boys plan to go to Detroit tomorrow to see War Exhibit. Hope it doesn't work. Senior girls win finals in basket-ball.

Feb. 28 Fri. About 15 boys attended the War Exhibit. Unexcused. Play Committee meeting at 7:30. Mr. A. returned from Chicago.

Feb. 29 Sat. Worked A.M. in P.M. went to Martha Washington Theater. In evening attended the party for teachers at Starkweather.

Mar. 1 This is not Leap Year so what is written under Feb. 29 should be here.

March 2 Sun. ***Rob came home***. Jeannette Cummings & Hattie Smith called. Mis Laird here.

Mar. 3 Mon. School as usual. Interest on Gas bonds due. In evening went over to Ann Arbor to hear Caruso sing. Just Splendid. $2.50.

Mar. 4 Tues. School fair. Did not have a very good time tho. School Board meets tomorrow after school. My, but I'm tired.

Mar. 5 Wed. Athletic Association met after school & elected officers. I was asked to meet the School Board & explain the attendance. All is fair.

Mar. 6 Thurs. Mr. A. confidentially told me of the formal resignation at Board meeting last night. A secret. P. L. S. elected officers at 4 o'clock today--went down town for my dinner.

March 7 Fri. Classes in school were fine--came home to dinner. After supper I went with Mrs. Fletcher to see the Movie--Not very good.

Mar. 8 Sat. Washed windows--inside only--cleaned--sweeping & dusting. After dinner went to the Movie with Lillian. Senior play committee in Evening.

Mar. 9 Sun. Did not attend church but Miss Lich and I went to Staib's to dinner. Called on Miss Baird & Miss Houp then typed "The Pot of Broth."

Mar. 10 Mon. School again--am on half duty between bells this wk. Came home to dinner. Am making arrangements for the Senior Chapel. S. Geom.

Mar. 11 Tues. Came home to dinner. After supper attended the school of instruction for canvassing the city for registration & voting.

Ypsilanti Teenager Allie McCullough's 1874 Diary

Feb. 27 Fri. My lessons were not of the very best today, but I got through with them. Had ever so much fun in the Geometry class. Went up to the Normal Public with M. McCormic. Sat near Carrie and Durbin and Joe R. [K.?] but I had to write notes. I received some from D. that he must have seen. Did not please me.

Feb. 28 Sat. Mrs. B. is so very sick that Ma had to go over there this morning and stay and I had to do all of the work. I went up town in the afternoon, then up to Carrie N.'s. Had quite a nice talk with her (but not very nice with Durbin). Carrie came almost down town with me. We went in several stores and then we called on Carrie W.

Mar. 1 Sun. Went to Church in the morning and stayed to S. S. Carrie was not there and I am afraid that her cold is worse. In the afternoon W. and I went up to Aunt L.'s. It was a lovely day. Went over and saw Mrs. B. just before Church time in the evening. She looks just as if she were dead. Went with Carrie W. to the Baptist Church.

Mar. 2 Mon. Had all of my lessons today and ever so much fun in the French class. We went up to Carrie's after school tonight, but she was not at home and I had all my walk for nothing. I was provoked enough. Mrs. Lucking was here when I came. i got my lesson real qquick and then read until after nine.

Mar. 3 Tues. Stayed after school tonight real late. Had an invitation to attend Mr. Pease's entertainment this evening from Mr. McCormic, but, of course I said no, for I had enough of him Friday night. Have concluded that there is a little too much of the bourgeois about him to make his company agreeable.

Mar. 4 Wed. Went up to Carrie N.'s. Had a very good talk but C. is provoking. Carrie came down and we went to Public Lyceum together. We got there quite early and I went up stairs where they all were and met S. at the head of the stairs and he caught my hand, whirled me into the room where Joe and Jennie were. They look very nice and I left. The Public was a great success.

Mar. 5 Thurs. Had ever so much fun today. Went in to the Library. Jennie N. and I filled our hair with tiny scales of mica and it sparkled like everything and everyone in the room noticed it. Read almost all of the evening. Mrs. Busby is dead. Died at nine o'clock this evening. Ma went over and stayed until twelve o'clock.

Mar. 6 Fri. Have had more fun than a little today. Did not go to school this afternoon. Went up to Carrie's to get her to go to the Lyceum with me. She came down and stayed to supper and then we went to Lyceum. There were only two or three fellows there. All of us girls powdered our hair and face until they were as white as snow and they told me I looked splendid with grey hair. We did not stay until it was out. S. went home with us. I stayed at Carrie's and stayed until half past eleven. Durbin was there and we had more fun than a little and some tussles, too. I am surprised at both of those boys and they must be surprised at me.

And some catch-up:

Feb. 1 Sun. Went to Church and S. S. Had a good talk with Cad W. Geo. and her have had a little spat but I guess that is all over now. Went to Church in the evening. Cad told me that Will W. told her that McD. wanted to go home with me, but as I came with Will he was afraid that I would not accept him.

Feb. 2 Mon. I am sixteen today. It was snowing this morning when I went to school. Met W. W. on the corner and he walked up to school with me. I gave him my album to write in. I stayed this noon and Cad N. and I talked more than we ever did before. When I came home I went up to C. N. and her father was there so I did not have a very good time to talk. D. said that he thought I was mad at him.

Feb. 3 Tues. Will took me up to school this morning and we got C., May, C. W., J. Nello and J. Hen., and he took us riding until the last bell stopped ringing. Came after me at noon and took me back. We met J. N. and C. W. and took a long ride again. Stayed after school to practice for the public ____. We had a jolly time. Saw Mr. Zimmerman and had a little talk with him.

Feb. 4 Wed. Will took me up to school today. We got all of the girls in and took a ride as long as usual. I have got my album from Will N. He has written real nice. The boys are going to get up a sleigh ride and they have taken our horses and gone up to Strickland's now to get him to go. I know we will have a gay time. Have been reading all evening.

Feb. 5 Thurs. Will took me up to school this noon. Got Strick and Cad and rode all of the noon. C. N. came down tonight. I got ready and went up to Cad's to wait for the sleigh. They came at last and they were all there, nine couples. We had a gay time. Went up to Saline and stopped at the Tavern and they would not get us any supper and we made such a noise that he told us our horses were ready and we had better go and we went but when we were in the sleigh we screamed with all our might.

Feb. 6 Fri. Got home last night or this morning about one. (I bid S. *good night*). Went to school this morning and all of them were there. They say that they had a splendid time, but they have got enough of Saline. I guess that S. had enough of us. J. and J. Hen. and C. N. and I all stayed out of school this afternoon and C. N. came down here and stayed all of the afternoon and Geo. came in the evening and we all went to the public Zealots together. (Looking forward into the Past).

Feb. 7 Sat. Went and took a long ride this afternoon with Mary and Carrie N. I drove and it was not very warm, then I went to Carrie's and stayed until time to go to Lyceum. Cad went with me. I had to read on the question. Had a nice time during the social but we were all very tired--did not promenade much. I gave S. my album. He said that he loved me. I told him that I was very sorry. Of course it was in fun.

Feb. 8 Sun. Went to Church this morning and stayed to S. S. They are going to get up a sleigh ride, our two Sunday School classes, and go out to Anna Rice's and spend the evening. I suppose we will have a grand time if we go, but it is very warm and I am afraid that our sleighing will go. Will has gone up to Ann Arbor with the horses. I went to church at night.

Feb. 9 Mon. Went to school this morning and did not have my Latin very well. I had to stay after school for whispering and then stayed after that to have fun. Wrote and read all of the evening. Got a letter from Marion who is in Pontiac.

Feb. 10 Tues. Had ever so much fun in school today, but stayed after school to wait for the girls. Stick was there and he has brought back my album and he has written a great lot about the sleigh ride. Cad N. and I had a good long talk tonight and had a nice time. Alex N. was here when I got home.

Feb. 11 Wed. Sherwood came down here this morning to invite us and we were not at home, so he came again after school. I was invited last night by Lamb. Well, we were the first in the sleigh and had the longest ride. When we got up to Anna's all of the others were there. We had a very nice time. I was introduced to ever to many fellows but do not remember their names.

Feb. 12 Thurs. Went to school and had all my lessons. Went up to Carrie N.'s after school. Durbin carried on worse than ever. I stayed there until after supper and then Carrie went down with me. We left Durbin putting away the supper dishes, but when I got down to the Post Office some one in the corner said "Good Evening" and there it was him. Mad.

Feb. 13 Fri. Had some fun in the Geometry class this afternoon. When I got home from school I found Ada Johnson here. I commenced to get ready for Lyceum and then Cad and Geo. came. We had a gay time during the Social and Lyceum. There was some forging notes, but we did not do it. We had ever so many visitors.

Feb. 14 Sat. St. Valentine's Day. Carrie came this afternoon, went up to the Library, then to call on Mrs. Owen. It was a lovely day and we took a long walk and then went to call on Carrie N. She was not at home, but Durbin was. I am confident that he sent the valentine that I have got. Anna ---- was here when I got home.

Feb. 15 Sun. Went to church and S. S. Carrie had a visitor. After I came home they stayed. I went to the Temperance S. S. and then took a long walk with Mollie. Went to church in the evening.

Feb. 16 Mon. Had a good deal of fun in school today. Stayed after school a little while. Sent something in to the paper. Cad came down and stayed a little while. I read almost all the evening and Will studied French with me.

Feb. 17 Tues. Carrie N. came down at almost dark. After supper we talked a while and then took a walk. We went around by the depot and then to the Post Office. We had a good talk and then I gave her some good compliments for Durbin. I like her better than I ever did before. She told me all that the visitors said.

Feb. 18 Wed. I stayed after school tonight and heard them practice singing, then heard West read for public lyceum. Then Jennie S. and I went up to Carrie's. She was not at home. We went way around to the back door of the wood shed and went in without knocking. Durbin sat there and all he said was "Gracious Peter." I had my fortune told out of the Bible. Poor last chapter. Jennie told me something--.

Feb. 19 Thurs. Had a good time in school today. Strickland has left school and is studying to be a doctor and I hate them. I stayed after school tonight and we had a gay old time down in the chapel but Miss Pierce did not know it.

All the glory of man is as the flower of grass

Ypsilanti's Quaker Inventor

He watched the skies, he worked the Bemis Road farm, went to worship, lived his entire life with two unmarried siblings, and invented a device you use today. Story in YpsiNews.com.

Wednesday Mystery Spot

There was a great response to last week's Mystery Spot as folks tried to puzzle out the location of the sleek Mercury train. Cmadler guessed the track curve between Depot Town and Prospect, Phantom Railfan agreed and said he'd seen other photos from this perspective, Joe agreed as well and said he thought the mysterious building was Marsh Plating. John D. guessed the LeForge crossing with the old Motor Wheel building in the background.
BF guessed the intersection between the tracks and Prospect...and then went out there to take pictures! The first pic he took is at Prospect and the tracks; second one is taken from Grove, both looking west.



It turns out that the old picture matches the current-day view from the Prospect Street bridge, complete with background tower. That makes the visible road crossing the Grove Road crossing, and places the as-yet-unidentified building as on the southwest corner of Grove and the tracks. I'm still working on that building and will report results when I can confirm the building.
Phew.
In keeping with the Mercury theme, this week's Mystery Spot features another view of this beautiful train. There are a few subtle clues in the photo; can you find the location? Good luck!

Catchin' Crawdads in the Huron

Two boys who grew up in Ypsilanti's beautiful Swaine house had an adventurous childhood, according to their autobiography, which is excerpted in today's Courier.

Ypsilanti's Battery-Powered Depot

This story started out as just a picturesque depiction of a day at the Ypsilanti Depot. Well, then the guy goes and mentions an obscure early battery, and I spent the rest of the day researching early batteries and completely geeking out. Husband even got out his voltmeter and we were testing stuff in the kitchen, no joke. This was late at night, even. But I did manage to learn something, and I hope today's Citizen story is as interesting to read as it was to research.