Past and Present: Michigan Avenue Bridge

64th Anniversary of Death of Henry Ford

On this day in 1947, readers of the Ypsi papers learned that the 84-year-old "elder statesman of the automobile industry" had died at his home in Dearborn. His influence changed the demographics, economy, and even the very geography of Ypsi in ways that have lasted to this day. DD thinks of Ford Lake as a passing titan's footprint that filled up with water in his wake.

Now himself a historical figure, Ford is often misquoted, and misquoted without context, concerning his alleged quote "History is bunk." He did not say this as quoted, and a more thoughtful analysis of what Ford meant may be found in a 1999 Globe and Mail column by Robert Fulford:

"A few years ago, in an essay called 'Doing History,' [historian Eugen] Weber analyzed Henry Ford’s famous remark, 'History is bunk.' Since Ford was a bigot and a tyrant, that's usually quoted as an example of ignorance. But Weber used it to demonstrate that we can understand nothing except through context. Ford actually said 'History is more or less bunk,' which is slightly different, and he said it in 1916, in the middle of the First World War.

"Ford thought that devotion to the past prevents us from grappling with the present and may encourage us to make war out of historical grievance. In 1914 all the European leaders knew history, Ford said, yet they blundered into the worst war ever.

"On another occasion Ford recalled looking in American history books 'to learn how our forefathers harrowed the land'; he discovered that historians barely mentioned harrows, the iron-toothed rakes essential to modern farming. Harrows, Ford argued, meant more in history than guns and speeches. When history 'excludes harrows, and all the rest of daily life,' then history is bunk.

"Maybe Ford felt strongly about harrows because he manufactured them, Weber says; even so, he was right when he argued that history should tell how ordinary people lived. And Ford won. The rise of social history began in the 1920s with the Annales movement in France, and has spread ever since. As Weber says, 'The sort of history that Ford wanted is pretty much the history that we do today'."

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.

101st Anniversary of the Death of Daniel Ogden

Today is the 101st anniversary of the death of Ypsilanti teen Daniel Ogden.

17-year-old Daniel spent Thursday, April 7, 1910 attending classes at Cleary Business College (at left) on Michigan Avenue. Spring was coming; the day had been around 45 degrees and fair. Daniel finished work for the day; it was time to go home.

His parents, 44-year-old Harry and 46-year-old Theda or Lillian Ogden maintained a small farm just east of Ypsilanti near the Wiard family farms, now the site of the Willow Run plant. Daniel had four younger siblings. Vera was 16, Elmer, 15; Loyd, 14; and Dewey, 12. The three youngest boys were attending grade school.

Daniel apparently didn't feel like walking the few miles home. On the eastern edge of downtown, he heard a train beginning to pull out of Depot Town to his left. He had an idea. He waited until the train approached as it slowly gathered speed, timed it, and grabbed on.

It was exhilarating to be riding. The train shook as it racketed over the rails. Trees and buildings slid past. He'd be home early. The Wiard station was coming up; it was time to jump off.

Daniel never saw, on the adjacent track, the other train.

Daniel's death certificate notes that he was "Accidentally killed by the Michigan Central Rail Road." He was buried in Highland Cemetery* four days later. The death certificate and the April 8, 1910 Ypsilanti Daily Press story about his death are reproduced below (click either twice for full image).

R.I.P. Daniel Major Ogden.

*EDIT: Kind reader Crystal K asks if he was instead buried in one "Highland" in Oakland County. It turns out his mom and dad are buried in a place called "Highland" in Oakland County. His death certificate seems to read "Highland Station." I don't know where that is, but it may be I was wrong to say he is buried in Highland Cemetery in Ypsi. Checking and will correct if needed--thanks to Crystal for pointing out a possible big mistake! Yikes!

"New" Labels for City Council Members

I personally think that local media should resume--after a brief 100-year hiatus--calling our City Council members "City Dads." It's punchy and makes a good headline.

Don't know what to do about Ward 1 representative Lois Richardson though. "City Dads and Mom"?

And what does that make honorable Mayor Schreiber? "City Gramps"? .....Actually I really like that.

Postcards from the Archive

Vignettes Along the Road to Saline, Sunday, April 3, 2011

News Tidbits from the April 4, 1895 Ypsilantian

"The well known temperance lecturer, Francis Murphy, and his son William J. Murphy will begin a series of gospel temperance services in our city April 14. The Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Congregational churches unite in these meetings. The first meeting will be held in the Methodist church on Sunday evening April 14. These men are known throughout the country as working distinctively along Gospel lines. Spread the news to all the men in the city and let all attend these meetings."

"Miss May Ebling left Monday for Cleveland, where she will receive medical treatment from Dr. Wood, formerly of Ann Arbor." This may have been the physician Neal Wood, a onetime doctor of obstretics and gynecology in the homeopathic college at the University of Michigan.

"Ypsilanti again defeated Ann Arbor at chess last Thursday evening. They won three out of four."

"Next Tuesday evening Queen City Hive, No. 64 L. O. T. M. [Ladies of the Maccabees, an auxiliary to the fraternal group], will celebrate its fourth anniversary. A fine program has been prepared and supper will be served. Admission 25 cents."

"The W. C. T. U. [Women's Christian Temperance Union] will hold a county convention in this city on April 11 and 12. A large attendance is desired."

"The ladies of St. Luke's Parish Aid Society hold a sale of home-made provisions of bread, pie, cake, etc., every Saturday afternoon, in the Parish House, from 2:30 to 5. The usual 15 cent supper at the Episcopal church house Saturday, from 5:30 to 8 p.m."

"The Council held a meeting last evening. Henry Denike asked for damages to the amount of $300 for injuries sustained by his wife in a fall on the side walk on River street; J. L. Harlow asked for $75 for caring for the diptheria patient; these were referred to committees and other business of no special importance transacted."

"Miss Jessie Pease Scrimger has composed a piece of instrumental music entitled "The Butterflies." It is very highly spoken of and will appear in the next issue of the Song Journal."

Cross Street Bridge, 1859

A rare early photo showing Cross Street Bridge when it was, apparently, made of wood. The large white building on the left is labeled on the 1864 plat map as "Grist Mill," the first of a long line of mills under various ownerships at the spot through the years.

Past & Present: Cross Street

Postcards from the Archive

A view of the Michigan State Normal College campus.

1907 Aurora Editorial Staff

A portrait of the students who created the 1907 EMU "Aurora" yearbook. (Click for larger image).

Farewell to women's history month!

Hey, it's a two-story day! Yay! Pick up a paper Ypsilanti Courier if you'd like to read "Ypsi 'Factory Girls' predated Rosie the Riveter." It was fun to research. A final salute to women's history month.

Ma'am, May I ask about your Underwear?

State officials canvassed thousands of women in 1892, asking one question in particular that probably earned them a hearty slap on the face.

Or two.

Or fifteen.

Yet they kept at it, published their data, and thus immortalized one of the stranger tidbits of Michigan history.

Postcards from the Archive Collection

A look at a onetime floral garden on the EMU campus. I don't believe these are the onetime "science gardens" in which students practiced botany. I know for sure the fountain is not the large student-given fountain that used to stand near Cross Street. At ant rate, a sepia glimpse of a campus past.

The Physician of the Future

It's disconcerting when a journal devoted to the quackery of homeopathy--which even in its late-19th-century heyday was derided by many--pans one's earnest medical paper. This sad fate happened to Detroit doctor Mary A. Willard when she read her paper on "The Physician of the Future" at a May 17, 1892 Detroit meeting of the State Homeopathic Medical Society. From an article in the January, 1893 issue of the Homeopathic Recorder:

"Says Dr. Willard, "What is disease in its entity? Sin. What is sin? God's broken laws, but let us say Nature instead of God." But why say Nature? Is nature God? The physician of the future is to have authority "to regulate all matters pertaining to health," i.e., to drain swamps, to abolish graveyards, funeral processions, corsets, French heels, alcohol, tobacco and houses of ill fame, etc. "He will see that medical colleges give thorough instruction in sanitary science, and that none but clean men and women, pure physically, pure morally, receive their degree." The physician of the future certainly will have his hands full, and, as is said in this degenerate age, be a "boss." If it were possible for reformers, medical or lay, to make clean and pure all foul and dirty places, habits, men and women, we should say, All Hail! But they can't do it. It is against Dr. Willard's major premises, that the root of all the trouble is "sin." If reformers have the money they can drain swamps, etc., but they cannot cure "sin" by hygienic measures or statutes. If they can, then they should hasten to abolish the Church, which teaches something very different."

The 1890 Diary of Abba Owen

Newest chapter in an ongoing serialization of the 1888 diary of Abba Owen, daughter of Ypsilanti mineral water baron Tubal Cain Owen and Anna (Stowe Foote) Owen. The Owens lived in a now-vanished house near the current day Roosevelt School building on EMU, where Tubal also had his magical and very profitable well.

Saturday March 22nd: A pleasant day. Miss Gray and Margarete Gilbert spent the afternoon and took tea and spent the evening. We took pictures in the afternoon and in the evening we had scherades [charades?] and had a lovely time.

Sunday March 23rd: Quite cold to-day. We all went this evening to confirmation at the Episcopal church and it was so full that the boys went and got some chairs to place in the isles [aisles] for us. There were 30 confirmed. Last of [car whir] Eber and I were confirmed there were over forty. [not sure about the 30-40 discrepancy]

Monday March 24th Real chilly. Mrs. Moore and Eber returned to Ann Arbor this morning. Suderer did not come tonight.

Tuesday March 25th: A windy disagreeable day. I went over to the Sappho club. Rich and I went over to a pupil's recital at the conservatory this evening.

Wednesday March 26th: About same as yesterday. Eber came home to-night.

THursday March 27th: I went up to Normal Chapel this morning. Mrs. Pease, Mrs. Hodge, Mr. Seringer and Mr. Breresford of Detroit sang a quartet "God is a Spirit"; the choir also sang.

I am taking now a musical course having Adv. voice culture Structure [?] of music and Adv. vocal music. It keeps me pretty busy. Took mama down to society and then went to church.

Friday March 28th: Terrible storm commenced last night, snowed and the wind blew all night and all to-day. The wind is blowing terribly. About 4 in. of snow on the ground. School closes to-day for a week's spring vacation.

Saturday March 29th: Stormy. Louise Snyder called here this afternoon. I had not seen her in nearly two years. She is in Detroit studying music. Grandpa went to Plymouth this morning.

Tune in next Tuesday for another look at Abba's doings.

Historical Society of Michigan Conference 3/25/11

The 1890 Diary of Abba Owen

Newest chapter in an ongoing serialization of the 1888 diary of Abba Owen, daughter of Ypsilanti mineral water baron Tubal Cain Owen and Anna (Stowe Foote) Owen. The Owens lived in a now-vanished house near the current day Roosevelt School building on EMU, where Tubal also had his magical and very profitable well.

Sunday March 16th: A pleasant but windy day. Mr. Moore, Eber, and I went to lunch this morning Mr. Post made us a call as usual. I wrote to Nellie Whiting.

Monday March 17th: Pleasant. Ebe and Mr. Moore went to Ann Arbour this A.M. Mr. Sudirk was here to-night.

Tuesday March 18th: Looked as if it would rain all day. Mama and I went to Sappho this A.M. Papa is going to Chicago to-night. Made grandma a visit this afternoon.

Wensday, March 19th: A damp day. Richard and I played a violin duet ("Souvenir d'Alamange arranged by Prof. Suderer) at a musical given by the ladies of the Congregational Church at Mr. Child's.

Thursday March 20th: A very pleasant day. Took mama to society and after society we went to church. Mr. Suderer stop overone train to-night to play [under?]

Friday March 21st: A lively warm day. Margarite Gilbert and I rode all the afternoon. Mr. Moon came home with Eber to-night.

Saturday March 22nd: A pleasant day. Miss Gray and Margarete Gilbert spent the afternoon and took tea and spent the evening. We took pictures in the afternoon and in the evening we had scherades [charades?] and had a lovely time.

Tune in next Tuesday for another look at Abba's doings.

State History Conference March 25

This humble blog is gonna be dark for a few days since Dusty D is preparing for her presentation at the state history conference on Fri-Sat in Troy. Highlight: keynote speech by 77-year-old Fred Meijer!

Lots of tweaking of my Powerpoint slides and last-minute fact-checking. It should be fun; last year's conference in Dearborn, which DD and husband attended, was informative and interesting. So come Saturday the pressure should be off and I'll be back to report on how things went.