Monday Mystery Artifact

...over on AnnArbor.com. Take your best guess! See if you can figure out the term best sooted to this item.

Local History Fact of the Day

How Washtenaw County's many onetime sheep farmers used to amuse themselves, way out there in the lonely fields.

The 1874 Diary of Ypsilanti Teen Allie McCullough

Part of a year-long weekly series of excerpts from Ypsilanti teenager Allie McCullough's 1874 diary, from the last year of her life.

You may remember that last week Allie gave the mitten to Mr. Blair, "had a good time flirting last night," almost nodded off in church, and got a new beaver coat for winter.

Nov. 6 Fri. Marion came up to school for me this afternoon with the horses. We took a long ride. Then I got home; I had to fly around, get ready to go to a party in the country. Laura Eaton went with us. Had a magnificent time. Danced almost every set and gave someone the mitten, every time I didn't dance. A delightful ride down.

Nov. 7 Sat. Did not get home till four this morning. I never had much better time, tried to please, believe that I succeeded as much as I cared to. Carrie and Minnie B. came and called on me. I was uptown, went to dancing school in the evening. Had a splendid time. Better than I expected.

Nov. 8 Sun. Went to Church and stayed to S. S. It is raining. Am glad of it. Had a compliment today. Read a great deal and wrote a good long letter to Annie Rice. Have just heard that a little boy of my acquaintance has had his leg and arm cut off by the [railroad] cars. Have finished "Grace Lee" (book).

Nov. 9 Mon. Marion went up to Aunty's to stay all night. Carrie was down today and she is almost sick. i don't know what to make of her. I came around depot way tonight from school. Had ever so much fun as usual. Lora E. says that I made myself very agreeable last Friday night and an old Batch [bachelor] said he thought I was a pretty nice girl.

Nov. 10 Tues. There has [sic] been four funerals today. Miss Brower, a Normal student and Belle Chase, a teacher from the North, but living here, a Mr. Lee and the little boy whose arm and leg were cut off. Mr. Stoddard died this morning. Went up to Carrie's after school. Durbin acts just the same as ever and I believe feels the same.

Nov. 11 Wed. Had a jolly time in school today and had all of my lessons. Read a long time in the evening. Carrie W. and Minnie Bramble called for a few minutes. I got a letter from Emma Stone. It was excellent. Got an invitation from Cora Guy to another surprise party Friday night. It is a very urgent one.

Nov. 12 Thurs. Haven't done anything in particular today. Saw John Stoddart [spelling in diary is different than the aforementioned Mr. Stoddard who died on Tues.] and spoke to him. He smiles and acted just the same as usual, but it seems as if he would be different. The girls have gone up to Aunt Lizzie's to tea. Tried to study, but got so sleepy that I had to go to bed early.

Nov. 13 Fri. Miss something in Philosophy yhis morning but recited all the rest of the lesson and had it better than the others. Did the same thing in History and in Latin. Prof. C. asked me a question I could not answer and he said, "I would not forget all I ever knew on this particular day." Was provoked enough to kill him, but did not show it the least bit. Did not go to Lyceum. Went up town and got trimmings for my sack.

Thanks for reading; tune in this coming Friday for another chapter!.

Postal Memory Map of Washtenaw County

Have you ever heard of a "postal memory map"? Well, educate yourself! :D And look at some neato pictures, in my latest story for annarbor.com.

Thanks to blog reader jml for introducing me to this map!

Ypsilanti had its own time zone in 1883

Kind readers, did you know Ypsilanti once had its own time zone? Yep! You can read about it in my story for today's Courier!

Wednesday Mystery Spot

Though I thought I'd picked a "goodie" for last week's Mystery Spot, once again it was, of course, guessed! Lisele commented, "Ahhh, is it the place called BirdBrain in Depot Town?" Yep! But it was a tie: BF guessed as well at the same time by emailing me a photo, here 'tis:

The original:

Now, don't let those victories go to your head, Lisele and BF and other readers, 'cause we have a vexing one this week, yessir. Take a peek if you will and see if you can guess! Good luck!

Millage Failure=Bloated School Administration? A Look at the Past

With the failure of the WISD millage last night, criticism in part has focused, in comments on AnnArbor.com, on the number of school administrators and support staff. Many opined that there are far too many administrative and non-classroom positions (e.g., counselors) in local schools. Ann Arbor's Pioneer and Huron high schools each have one principal and four assistant principals. Ypsilanti Public Schools has two persons in charge of...lunch--which is contracted out, complete with menus. Dusty D became curious to see what YHS school administration was like in the past, by way of comparison.

In the 1905 "Ypsi-Dixit" high school yearbook, the administration consists of:
William B. Arbaugh, superintendent
Charles S. Jacobs, principal (and instructor in Greek, Latin, and History)
That's it.
The YHS also had classes today considered "extra," such as music, geology, and art.

In the 1917 "Ypsi-Dixit" high school yearbook, the administration consists of:
William B. Arbaugh, superintendent
Stanley Morris, principal
Again, that is the extent of school administration as listed in the yearbook.
Aside from the basics, YHS also offered instruction in Algebra, Physics, Chemistry, public speaking, manual training, domestic science, German, French, and Latin.

In the 1927 "Ypsi-Dixit" high school yearbook, the administration consists of:
Arthur G. Erickson, superintendent
W. M. Land, principal
John O. Grimes, former principal (assuming he left sometimes in school year?)
Aside from the basics this year, YHS also offered instruction in Latin, Chemistry, Physics, shorthand, typewriting, music, sewing, Algebra, Geometry, cooking, and French.

It is interesting to see that for decades a school that graduated students educated in Greek, Latin, and Art did so with an apparent administrative staff of 2.

Glimpses of Ann Arbor life in 1889

A spooky picture, a speedy fire horse, and etiquette tips from 120 years ago may be found in my latest Ann Arbor.com story. Hope you like it!

The Ypsi Janitor and the Empress Josephine

...is a story I am pleased to present to you, newest one in the Citizen! Thanks to them for running it--I am grateful! Hope you enjoy it!

Sweetie read it and said it made him a bit misty...that really took me aback. I had tried my best to make a touching story, since I was touched by it, but seeing my own humble words have the power to make someone misty made me think..."whoa!" It was a pretty awesome moment.

(then I came to my senses and realized that nice comments from sweetie as always say more about his own generosity than anything else)

The 1919 Diary of Ypsilanti High School Teacher Carrie Hardy

Part of a year-long weekly serialization of Ypsilanti high school math teacher Carrie Hardy's diary.

Kind readers may recall that last week Carrie visited Rob in Detroit, bought a new skirt, and "broke down and cried" one night. She returned to YPsilanti and said it was good to be home.

Nov. 4 Tues. Hamilton Holt, editor of the Independent lectures at Pease Audit on the League of Nations tonight.

Nov. 5 Wed. Finished the "afghan" for the couch in the rest room today. Am glad the thing is done.

Nov. 6 Thurs. Lunched up stairs. Teachers' meeting after school. Reports were given of the state Teachers' Ass'n. Ate supper at the Mission.

Nov. 7 Fri. School about as usual. Nothing out of the ordinary routine of work.

Nov. 8 Sat. Van cleaned for me. Paid all my bils. Went alone to the Martha in the evening. Van locked himself out at night. Mrs. King called [un?] $1.00.

Nov. 9 Sun. Went to church both morning and evening. In afternoon, drove a little. Made bread, cake, and fried cakes.

Nov. 10 Mon. Went to school-usual. Rained, so I went to the lunch room at noon. Came home later. Had a big dinner at night.

Nov. 11 Tues. Tried to celebrate Armistice Day this morning by calling on Geo. Beranck, and others for speeches. School as usual.

Thanks for reading; tune in next Tuesday for the next series!

Ypsilanti Citizen's First Birthday!

The Ypsilanti Citizen is celebrating its first birthday with a party on November 21. That makes the Ypsilanti Citizen a...Scorpio. No, Sagittarius. Bah--[Googles] Scorpio on the cusp of Sagittarius. Horoscope: "You are a unique mix of playfulness and passion. Although you can light up a room with your sunny personality, you are also determined, deep, and ambitious. You will often deliberate on a problem for some time, and then ignore your analyses and jump into a decision impulsively. Your desires are deep, and you want to experience life on all levels. No one can rightfully label you superficial! "

Sounds about right to me. Happy birthday, Ypsi Citizen!

"Ypsilanti had its own time zone in 1883"

...is the title of this week's Courier story that I just turned in. It details a weird chronological chapter of Ypsi history and is packed with amusing and strange information--I like it. So pick up a Courier this Thursday if you would, please, and I hope you enjoy it!

Monday Mystery Artifact

This week's obscure Mystery Artifact was successfully guessed by one resourceful reader! A new one's been posted; take a gander & your best guess!

Mager Case Notes

Mager Case: Newspaper Articles

SALEM FARMER, SON MISSING, SHOTS, BLOOD POINT TO CRIME
William Mager Believed Slain by Son, Officers Unable to Find Body
BLOOD INDICATES SHOTS TOOK EFFECT
Sheriff’s Officers Unable to Trace son, Family Quarrels Thought Responsible
Nov 9, 1925

Unable to find any trace of Harold Mater, 24, and with the license number furnished at that of the machine he was driving apparently wrong, Washtenaw sheriff’s department is today facing a difficult task in solution of the disappearance and probable slaying of William Mager, 49, Salem township farmer. Strife in the Mager family which led to the
decision of the children and their mother to leave home three years ago and finally resulted in the suicide of the wife, is believed responsible for the clash between the father and son Sunday.

Shots heard in the barn at the rear of the home Sunday morning by the hired man, who found, upon investigating the son had driven away and the father was missing, caused him to notify the sheriff’s department.

Posse Searches Woods
Led by Undersheriff Dick Elliott a posse of farmers and sheriff’s officers searched the neighborhood all day Sunday, but failed to find either the body of the elder Mager, or any trace of the son.

According to information given by the hired man, Clifton Adams, Harold Mager drove to the farm Sunday morning and asked excitedly for his father, who was in the barn. A few minutes later he heard two shots fired. The officers found where one had gone through the barn door and blood on the barn floor indicated the other had taken effect.
After the shots were fired the man said he saw the younger mager drive his car around to the barn door and a little while later he left. The man then went to the barn, found the blood stains, and called the officers.

Tracks Visible
Tracks of the car in the newly fallen snow enabled officers to follow the car to a clump of bushes near McCormack Lake where the machine stopped. Behind the bushes officers found blood stains, but no body. The tracks went from there to the main highway where they were lost.

Checking up upon Harold Mager’s activities the past few days the officers found he had left his last rooming house, 331 E. Ann St., Ann Arbor, last Friday. The family did not know where he moved to when he left their house. The license number furnished by the hired man as that of the car which Mager was driving was apparently wrong. The car was issued to Charles mead, Jr., Adrian, a student who says he traded it in South Bend, Ind., some time ago.

Quarreled Over Land
Quarrels between members of the family arose over the desire of the son to be given part of the 350 acres of land the elder Mager owns neighbors informed the officers. Three years ago the son asked for one of the two farms and the father refused. Quarreling finally resulted in the decision of Mrs. Mager, her son and two daughters to leave home. Mrs. Mager filed suit for divorce but ended her life before the case was heard. Since then the son had attempted at different times to work for his father but on each occasion left after quarreling with him. Their final quarrel before the tragedy of Sunday occurred a week ago.

The elder Mager was born in Germany but lived in Salem township nearly all his life. His age is given s 57.

Harold Mager is described as 24 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weight 135 or 140 pounds. His description has been sent to all police in this vicinity.

Acted Queer
That young Mager has been acting in a peculiar manner for some time is the information coming to sheriff’s officers as the investigation continues today. Henry Mager, a brother William Mager, who lives in Ann Arbor, and one of the sisters, Mrs. R. B. Newton, Ann Arbor, admitted to officers that for some time he had not appeared well-balanced and an Ann Arbor attorney admitted today that the young man had threatened to shoot him when he was engaged as counsel in the divorce case of a young woman whom Mager has become interested in. An Ann Arbor garage employee today told officers that when the elder Mager was in Ann Arbor only last week he had said he was worrying about the boy, who had threatened to kill him.

Renewed search of all abandoned buildings, woods, and marsh land in the vicinity of Mud Lake
Today has failed to reveal ant trace of the missing man.

Sheriff Robison, Undersheriff Elliott and Deputy Osborn are handling the investigation.


MAGER, MIND BLANK, FOUND ON GRAY FARM
Ypsilanti Police Arrest Man believed to Have Killed William Mager
OFFICERS CONTINUE SEARCH FOR BODY
Young Man Admits Identity, has No Memory of Events Since Last Friday
Nov 10, 1925

Harold mager, 24, is held in county jail today while Undersheriff Dick Elliott, assisted by Chief of Police John Connors, searches and swamp land in the vicinity of the Mager farm for traces of the body of his father, William Mager, whom the young man is believed to have killed early Sunday morning. Mager, according to the officers, is plainly mentally unbalanced.

The man was arrested Monday evening, 8 o’clock, by officers Maurice Miller and Herman Oltersdorf of the city police force after Mrs. Annie Dexter Gray called police to report that a man had been sitting in an automobile near their home since 6 o’clock in the evening. She had no idea who he was as neither she not Mr. Gray had questioned him

Admitted Identity
Driving out to the Gray farm, just north of the city, the officers found the machine parked near a small woods. Mager was sitting huddled up in the front sear. When Officer Oltersdorf opened the door of the car and asked him his name he readily admitted he was Harold Mager.

Mager was held in police headquarters here until the officers could reach Undersheriff Dick Elliott, who took him to county jail. Questioned last night, he said he had been looking for work for days. He had driven until a flat tire compelled him to stop, and as it was night, he decided to stop and sleep in the car until morning when he intended to repair it and drive on.

Mind a Blank
Apparently Mager had no recollection of what had transpired since he left his rooming house in Ann Arbor last Friday. He had not been seen since by anyone except the hired man on the Mager Farm, Clifton Adams, who reported to officers he had driven to the farm early Sunday morning, asked for his father, met him in the barn where two shots were fired, and driven away.

In the back sear of the car were his trunk packed with his clothing, and a 32 revolver which was empty. Preliminary investigation failed to reveal any traces of blood on the machine which was taken to Ann Arbor where it will more carefully examined today.

Condition Not feigned
Mager wore a cowhide coat, was spattered with mud, haggard and hollow-eyed. The officers who saw him believe that his mental condition is not feigned. His mind seemed to wander, and he talked incoherently of events which had transpired years ago.
Questioned concerning his father he seemed not to realize that anything had happened. He said his father was out on the farm when asked where his father was. The officers then asked him where he and his father went Sunday when they drove away and he replied that he did not know.

Daily YP November 11 wed 1928
SANITY COMMISSION TO EXAMINE MAGER
Man who killed Father will probably be placed in Ionia Institution
Body Found Buried in Webster Township
All Day Search Ends at Nightfall at shallow grave, con confesses crime.

Standing beside the shallow grave in which he had placed the body of the father whom he had slain, while late afternoon shadows deepened in the stark woods and the damp chill of early November increasing as the sun dipped nearer the horizon’s rim, gathered penetratingly about him. Harold Mager shuddered, made one made one lunge backward as if to escape the scene, then stood with the same blank look which has marked his features since his arrest here Monday night. Handcuffed to one of the officers who, with a few farmers comprised the little group which had uncovered the body of William Mager, escape was impossible. Mager did not try again.

It was late Tuesday afternoon before the officers found the grave in which young Mager had buried his father just two days before at nearly the same hour. All day they had driven through the county following the trail Mager pointed out, turning first right and then left, over rough clay country roads. He had directed them almost as far east as Plymouth, through Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, over all the roads in Salem Township, in the vicinity of his father’s farm where the crime had been committed early Sunday morning. At last, after repeated questioning he had led the way into Webster township, but when the road narrowed, and led into a hollow, with woods on either side he said ‘drive on, farther on.’

Find Fresh Track
It was Chief of Police John Connors who was driving as the trail led to the woods on the Ralph Williams land. He passed the first drive which led into the woods, but when he came to the second entrance he saw fresh car tracks and stopped. Following the path about four rods into the woods, the officers saw where a track led from the roadway and following it they found the grave at the foot of an embankment, about two rods from the drive.

Without shovels it was impossible to uncover the body, but William Scadin, Ralph Williams Sr., and Ralph Williams, Jr. farmers in the neighborhood, readily offered help, and returning to the woods the body was soon uncovered. It had been buried, face downward, in the shallow grave, covered with leaves, then clay, and leaves and brush placed over the top.

Strap about neck
The elder Mager was dressed in blue overalls, a rough work coat, and rubber boots. About his neck was a mail strap, such as his son had used in carrying mail.
It was chief Connors who spoke after the gruesome e task of uncovering the body had been finished.

“Aren’t you sorry? There is your father, the man who played with you when you were a boy, and you killed him. Aren’t you sorry?”

“Yes, in a way. In a way, I’m not.” And that was all the answer his son would give.
Back in the sheriff’s office in Ann Arbor the man admitted to Undersheriff Dick Elliott, Deputy Osborn and the Chief that he had planned to kill his father for some time. He had purchased the shovel with which to dig the grave at a store near Whitmore Lake some days before. The shovel has not been found.

Afraid of Mob
It was only after the officers had threatened to take Mager back to his father’s farm, where a crowd of neighbors had gathered yesterday morning when news of the arrest reached them, that Mager was at all willing to direct the men to the place where he had left the body. Plainly unbalanced, the officers now believe that a great share of the time he merely feigned lack of memory.

Failing to find the body near the Waack or Gray farms, north of here, where Mager was arrested, the three officers took the prisoner first to the farm in Salem township where he remained unmoved by the sight of blood on the barn floor and in the clump of bushes where had first taken the body, returning later and taking it away again. All day the party drove over the county roads. Once Mager attempted to escape and it was then he was handcuffed to Deputy Osborn, while Connors and Elliott took turns driving the car. At last, near nightfall, he told them to drive into Webster township, and the grave was found.

Shot from Behind
Examination of the body by Coroner Burchfield today revealed that the elder Mager had been shot twice, from behind, one shot entering his head and coming out through the left ear, the other entering the head and lodging in his body. The strap about his neck had been put on after he was shot and did not cause his death.
Officers believe that absence of blood stains in the car which Mager drove is explained by the young man’s care in wiping them off. His trunk had the appearance of having been washed.

If present plans are carried out by the officers, mager will be arraigned here, remanded to jail, probably without bail, and held pending examination by a sanity commission. It is expected he will be placed in the Ionia hospital for criminally insane.

TRIAL OF MAGER TO START TODAY
Nov. 18, 1925
Prosecutor has witnesses ready for appearance this afternoon
Trial of Harold Mager, accused of killing his father William Mager, is to start in circuit court this afternoon. Mager is to be brought before Circuit Judge George Sample at 2 o’clock.

The report of the committee of physicians named by Judge Sample to examine his sanity, will not be heard until after the trial. It is necessary to prove him guilty of the crime, before he can be committed to a hospital for criminally insane, as is now the plan of the prosecution.

Assistant prosecutor Floyd Daggett is to handle the case in court against Mager.
Nov. 19 dyp
Mager Sent to Ionia Hospital After Hearing
Judge Sample Sentences Youth who killed own father

“I’d just as soon go to Pontiac. That was Harold Mager’s only response when sentenced to Ionia State Hospital for the Criminally Insane by Circuit Judge George Sample Wednesday afternoon for killing his father, William Mager. Standing before the bar, cap in hand, stoic, uncomprehending, his expressionless blue eyes fixed on the judge’s face, he heard sentence pronounced without a trace of emotion. Asked if he had anything to say, he returned to one of his original contentions; that there were “others in the gang” which killed his father. Questioned as to who they were, he said he did not know their names.

Then it was that Judge Sample found him guilty of the crime and mentally incompetent, according to testimony of witnesses who were heard during the afternoon, and accordingly sentenced him to the state institution. If at any time he should sufficiently recover to be released from the hospital, within 60 days he will be returned to Washtenaw city to answer the charge to which he is now judged incompetent to plead, either guilty or not guilty.

Physicians Testify
Testimony of Mr. Theophil Klingman and Dr. Howard H. Cummings was first introduced in the hearing yesterday. The 2 physicians had been appointed as a sanity commission to examine Harold Mager by Judge Sample last Thursday. They found him suffering from a mental disorder, testifying he was devoid of emotion, suffered illusions of prosecution, was incoherent, had no realization of the seriousness of his situation and no regret for what he had done. Dr. Klingman testified that he was in nearly the same mental condition a year ago when he first examined him. At that time he was a patient at St. Joseph’s sanitarium.

Testimony of other witnesses in the case followed. Clifton Adams, hired man on the William Mager farm, told of events on the day William Mager was slain. He had directed Harold Mager to the sheep barn, where his father was at work, heard the shots, saw Harold drive his car to the back of the barn and then drive away. When he went to investigate, he found only the pool of blood. Mr. Mager was gone.

Brother Testified
Henry Mager, the dead man’s brother, testified to quarrels Harold had had with his father only the day before.
Dick Elliott and John Connors then told of the search for Harold, which ended when he was arrested by Ypsilanti police officers and the long ride over country roads before Harold finally directed them to the grave where he had buried his father. There, and later in the sheriff office, he had confessed that he alone had committed the crime.
After hearing all evidence Judge Sample pronounced sentence. Deliberations by the jury were waived by Lewis Burk who had been engaged to represent mager’s two sisters, who are to be appointed his guardians.

Nov. 20 TAKEN TO IONIA
Sheriff’s officers are today taking 3 prisoners to Ionia. Harold Mager goes to the hospital for criminally insane. Claude Way has been given a sentence of 2 and ½ to 10 years for stealing a car in Ann Arbor and Carl Wright 1 to 10 years for burglary.

“Cabbage Night” was Ypsilanti’s original Halloween

Howdy all. If you didn't get a chance to read yesterday's Courier story, here 'tis, just in time for Halloween. Perhaps you'll be inspired to give out individual cabbage leaves as treats this year--economical, healthy, AND historical! Hope you enjoy it!

“Cabbage Night” was Ypsilanti’s original Halloween

“‘Hollow Eve,’ or ‘Cabbage Night,’ was celebrated Wednesday night in a wondrous manner,” said the November 3, 1877 Ypsilanti Commercial. “Several citizens, Thursday morning, found their cabbages missing. They were strewn on many door-steps, and ornamented front doors. And silly lovers of mischief. . . piled all the barrels and boxes that could be found athwart and midway Congress street [Michigan Avenue, pictured].”

Though one of our most ancient holidays, Halloween wasn’t celebrated widely in America until the latter part of the 1800s. Ypsilanti likely didn’t celebrate Halloween for half a century after the city’s founding in 1823—the quote above is the first Halloween story to appear in old newspapers dating back to the 1840s.

Originally the Celtic New Year, celebrated with dressing up in animal heads and skins, making a bonfire, and telling fortunes, the holiday in America coincided with the end of harvest time. Not much more than a few rotting cabbages remained in the fields, which mischief-makers grabbed to throw on porches.

Cabbage-hurling was about the extent of Halloween mayhem then. The holiday was not yet popular. Only a few people celebrated it, with low-key house parties. “Halloween was remembered by Misses Claribel Champion, Leila Spencer, and Mollie Wise at the home of the former, a party of friends being invited to participate,” says the November 7, 1885 Commercial. The November 2, 1893 Ypsilantian notes, “One of the pleasantest of the Halloween parties. . . [was] at the residence of Miss Caroline Hay. The house was tastefully decorated, and illuminated with candles set in Jack lanterns. Bobbing for apples, a trip to the cellar for a cabbage, to see what good things were in store for the future, a hunting contest for apples, and carving the cake for a ring, were among the many incidents that went to make the gathering one long to be remembered.”

The association of apples with Halloween may date back to about 40 A.D., when Romans, conquering Celtic territory, combined the Celtic New Year with two festivals of their own, one for Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees whose symbol was the apple.
Around the turn of the century, parties began to be celebrated in schools. The October 29, 1908 Ypsilanti Daily Press says, “The ghosts of the Tuttle School will be glad to see their friends at a shadow and box social. . . come and let Mother Witch reveal the mysteries of your future life.”

The next day the paper described a party at Cleary hall. “Prof. and Mrs. Cleary chaperoned the young people. Jack-lanterns and black cats were used to decorate.” The Beta Nu sorority also held a chaperoned party.

The ancient tradition of fortune-telling was a feature of many Ypsilanti Halloween parties well into the 20th century. At one 1913 house party, according to the November 6 Daily Ypsilantian-Press, “Guests were taken into a darkened room where a ghost was waiting to receive them. An auction sale was held, the various articles selling for not more than 10 cents. Peggy the Spirit Fortune Teller was very popular, also the Gypsy Queen.”

During the 20s and 30s, increasing vandalism led to more large community parties meant to distract kids from destructive behavior.

“Three hundred Ypsilanti boys enjoyed Halloween night in a different manner than customarily,” said the November 2, 1925 Daily Ypsilantian-Press, “when they gathered at Pease Auditorium Saturday night for an evening of fun. . . Two reels of movies were shown. . . Prof. Carl Pray told stories for an hour, after which the boys enjoyed a pie eating contest and an apple-eating contest.”

Trick-or-treating first shows up in the November 1, 1934 Ypsilanti Daily Press. “Dressed in old clothes with faces blacked or covered with masks, groups of children stalked about in a threatening manner. They sneaked around to back porches and demanded of the lady of the house, ‘Give us apples, give us candy or else we’ll tear down your shanty.’”

Though three police cars were patrolling the city that night, things were quiet. The Press said, “There was so little doing that Officers Arthur Kramer and Cyril Ray wearied of their tasks of riding continuously and stopped with children on Wallace Blvd. for a ‘weiner’ roast.”

The paper continued, “The only serious damage reported was on Perrin Street where cabbages and tin cans were thrown on the porch of Mrs. Alexander’s residence breaking a stained window glass in the door. Street and stop signs were reported missing at several locations this morning and officers are pondering what to do with a 60-minute parking sign which came here from some other city.”

By wartime, community efforts to discourage destruction were expanding. “Halloween mischief was held to a minimum in Ypsilanti Saturday evening,” said the November 1, 1943 Ypsilanti Daily Press, “when children throughout the city were guests of the American Legion, Kiwanis, and Rotary Clubs at Halloween parties in city schools and at Gilbert House. Games and stories and the showing of motion pictures occupied a part of the evening’s entertainment. . . prizes of war stamps were awarded the best and most original costumes.”

By 1950, Halloween parties were held at every school in town, but the efforts only went so far. Destructive behavior climbed that year as police responded to 40 calls. One car was pushed into an apple tree and a convertible had its top slashed. Someone was shooting at cars on the expressway. Multiple leaf-piles were set on fire, as well as a Franklin Street outhouse.

But it wasn’t all bad. When Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were startled by an indoor bat, “Mr. Anderson put on a pair of heavy gloves and woke the bat from restful slumber,” said the October 30, 1950 Ypsilanti Daily Press. He temporarily put the bat in an empty canary cage. Mrs. Anderson planned to turn the tables on trick-or-treaters, said the paper, and show the bat (eek!) “to any interested ‘beggar’ who comes around to her house.”

Fun with Prepositions

My new weekly column in the Ypsi Citizen is called "To the Archives." Heh. My weekly column in the Ypsi Courier is called "From the Archives." Dusty D's husband found this hilarious and immediately started riffing on it. "If you get another column, you'll have to call it 'Near the Archives'. Or maybe 'Under the'--no, that wouldn't work. 'By the Archives'. 'Somewhere Within Spitting Distance of the Archives'." And so it goes.

Adoption Puzzle

Here's a puzzling situation I'd like to present to y'all for your ideas. I am researching a guy who "according to family stories, was adopted by his wife's parents." Huh? This apparently happened when he was an adult. Odder still, he himself adopted a girl quite late in life, whose parentage was "unknown". Even odder, her name appears to change from Minnie to Mary, unless those were 2 different individuals. At any rate, that strange story of his adoption has the ring of a strange truth...but why on earth would his inlaws do this? Sweetie says something about an inheritance...but--they could just give him stuff, right? Why would he need to be adopted? Bit flummoxed here....

AnnArbor.com: Eclectic Oil and catholicons

Feeling a little run-down on this drippy & rainy day? I've got just the pick-me-up for you, brother--a good big shot of Eclectic Oil!

Dusty Diary in Ypsi Citizen!

Dusty Diary takes great pleasure and pride in telling you that the first of my weekly columns for the Ypsilanti Citizen has just been published in the Citizen's new "Voices" section!

My first story is about a onetime festival that brought a bit of color and joy to kids during the Depression, with carnival rides set up right on Michigan Ave! Read all about it here!

The 1874 Diary of Ypsilanti Teen Allie McCullough

Part of a year-long weekly series of excerpts from Ypsilanti teenager Allie McCullough's 1874 diary, from the last year of her life.

You may remember that last week Allie went to Lyceum, helped out at home by washing the kitchen walls, and was approached by a Mr. Blair who asked if he could accompany her home, but she "gave him the mitten" (rejected a suitor). She also said, on watching Will leave to hunt, "Wish I was a boy."

Oct. 30 Fri. Did not go to school in the afternoon because Jennie S. did not come. Got ready and went up to the Normal with Will. Fell down on the way up there. Had a jolly good time. Got with Minnie B. and C.M. Mr. Blair came and sat down with me and asked my company home. He is nice, but I gave him the mitten. Did not get home until almost one.

Oct. 31 Sat. Had a good time flirting last night. The other night when I was up to Carrie's I was coming away and something was said about going to prayer meeting. I said, "If you go, pray for me." Carrie said that Durbin said he never would respect me again for that. No love lost but he shall not despise me. If I know it, I shall do all in my power to make him change his mind. C. and Joe called on mt this afternoon. I went to dancing school in the evening. Lots of fun.

Nov. 1 Sun. Went to Sunday School in the morning. Minnie B. was there. Had a good talk with her. Read all the afternoon. Carrie came down about dark and went to Church with me. Seemed almost impossible to stay awake. C. stayed all night with me. Durbin has gone home.

Nov. 2 Mon. Carrie went home before school time. We have had a nice visit. Had some fun in school today and the girls have made Lane mad as hops at them. Jennie Shipman has a new calico dress. Quite pretty.

Nov. 3 Tues. Jennie S. and I went up to Carrie's tonight. Had a magnificent time. Named apples and did almost everything that could be thought of. Never had a better time. Carrie came down town with me. Did my hair up a new style today.

Nov. 4 Wed. Have got a new Beaver coat. It is nice. Four dollars a yard. Would like a new dress but cannot have it now. Have a terrible cold. Received an invitation to a surprise party down below Raisinville [Rawsonville].

Nov. 5 Thurs. Rained this morning but has grown cold. Was terrible sick this afternoon in school, bur feel better now Have written in Lydia Day's Album tonight. Jennie S. and I had a good talk this morning and I told her what Durbin said about me.

Nov. 6 Fri. Marion came up to school for me this afternoon with the horses. We took a long ride. Then I got home I had to fly around, ger ready to go to a party in the country. Laura Eaton went with us. Had a magnificent time. Danced almost every set and gave someone the mitten, every time I didn't dance. A delightful ride down.

Thanks for reading; tune in this coming Friday for another chapter!.