Response to Reader Question: Pics of Schad(e) Block?

A reader asked if I had any pics of the actual Schad(e) Block, to compare with the one the Bentley ID'd as a pic of said Block. Yepperooney. I could only photocopy them, since the computer-scanner was in use today at the Archives. These photos are from one of the Locations files corresponding with 302 E. Michigan Ave. (roughly, Bomber restaurant today). On the back, the photos were labeled "Schad Block."

Below is the Bentley pic that James Mann ID'd as the first bit of N. Huron Street. James kindly showed me the original, which was printed with the legend "N. Huron Street." Second are the Schad(e) Block pix I photocopied.


And just for good measure here's an ad that was also in the Location file for 302 E. Michigan Ave. There's no date, so I don't know if it corresponds in era to the Schad (bah, go away, "e") Block pix. At any rate, I hope these are of interest! Thanks to James, and readers, for helping solve this perplexing mystery!

Where is that darn Schad(e) Block, anyways?

Dusty D went to one of the foundational books of Ypsi history to find out. In Harvey Colburn's "The Story of Ypsilanti" I found this on page 196:

"The Schade block, at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Park Streets, was built by Leopold Schade, in 1871."

The picture (seen here) that the Bentley Library calls "the Schade Block" and dates as 1895 is, as Joe noted, reproduced in James Mann's "Ypsilanti: A History in Pictures" on page 62, labeled "Seen here is the west side of North Huron Street between Michigan Avenue and Pearl."

Now, I know Mathias Stein had a cigar factory and store in that area, next to Shaefer Hardware and a barber shop.

The 1905 city directory has cigar and tobacco shops in both places:

CIGAR MANUFACTURERS.

Prick G A, 304 Congress E.
Stein Mathias, 25 Huron.

CIGARS AND TOBACCO.

Brichetto John, 15 Huron.
Deuress C C, 22 Cross E.
Manning J H, 212 Congress.
Smith Bros, 103 Congress.
Stein Mathias, 25 Huron.

1905 city directory (personal copy): no listing for "Schad" or "Schade" block.
1910 city directory (personal copy): "Schade Block and Hall, 302-306 Congress E. (Michigan Ave.)
1922 directory (online): 302-306 Michigan Avenue E.
1924 directory (personal copy): "Schade Hall 304 Michigan Avenue E"
1926 directory (personal copy): "Schade Block 302-06 Michigan av E; Schade Hall 304-06 Michigan Av E"

Online PPNA timeline: 1900: The James Brothers Henry and Joseph of Windsor Ontario rent a room in the Shad Block of Congress (now E. Michigan Ave.) and Park St. and set up a gambling parlor called the “Ypsilanti Stock Exchange". 60 or 70 patrons would arrive daily on special inter-urban cars from Detroit. They were run out of town after a few days by Mayor Allen."

But the final word on the subject came from the ever-helpful James Mann. He kindly dug up the original photo he used in his photo book. It is labeled "Huron Street." Dusty D also checked for old pics of the 300 block of E. Michigan. Voila, there it was, several old pictures of the Schad Block. Now gone, it stood at the southeast corner of Park and Michigan. It housed a meat market and the Schad residence was attached to one wall. Thanks to James Mann, the mystery of the Schad Block was finally sorted out!

Bonus Mystery Spot: Ypsilanti's Schad Block

Here's a picture over at the Bentley that stumped me. I have no idea where the Schad Block was or is, and the clues in the pic help not.

You can see the tobacco store on the left (complete with "wooden Indian" out front. To the left there's the Huron Woolen Co. and something-something millinery shop.

The main building has a distinctive asymmetrical peak, but I'll be hornswoggled if I can puzzle out where this is and the city directories aren't helping!

The cool thing, however, is that you can zoom in super close...close enough to see that the road is littered with road apples, ew. Horsie at right. Spitballin' the date at...oh, 1890 or so? This pic has me thoroughly fuzzelated and swing-bungled, yessir.