A Bittersweet Ypsilanti Wedding, 2/3/1910

This February 3, 1910 account of a home wedding offers a look at the usual wedding customs of a century ago. Home weddings are the norm according to what I read in papers from this era. In fact I can't recall reading about any wedding that wasn't a home wedding, even for a well-off couple like this one--the bride was the daughter of successful Frog Island lumberyard owner and onetime mayor H. R. Scovill. Note the symbolic use of bittersweet.

"A pretty mid-winter wedding took place Wednesday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Scovill [120 Washington] when their daughter, Genevieve, was united in marriage to [traveling salesman] Mr. Herbert A. Bisbee. The house was simply but effectively decorated with bittersweet, cut pine, and smilax. The impressive ring service was performed by Rev. William Gardam. As the groom is in mourning the guests were limited to the relatives and immediate friends.

"Preceding the cemetery the solo "O Promise Me" was rendered by Mr. William Ryer, after which the wedding march was played by Miss Mathilda Holmes, to the strains of which the bride entered the back parlor and proceeded through an isle of white satin ribbon, to the tower window, where the groom and best man were waiting. The marriage ceremony took place in front of a bank of palms and ferns with a background of white outlined with bittersweet berries. The bride was given away by her father. After congratulations a second solo "When thou art near" was rendered by Mr. Ryer.

"The bride was prettily attired in a gown of cream crepe de chine, entrain, and carried a shower bouquet of bride's roses and lilies of the valley. She was attended by her sister, Miss Laura Scovill, who was becomingly gowned in pale blue chiffon cloth with gold trimmings, and carried pink bride's roses. The groom was supported by Dr. H. H. Harper. A pretty feature of the ceremony was the carrying of a ring in the heart of a calla lily by Little Miss Catherine Boss of Imlay City, a cousin of the bride.

"After congratulations had been extended, a wedding supper was served in the dining room, which was decorated in pink and green. The color scheme was carried out with roses, carnations, and smilax.

"The large number of beautiful gifts including cut glass and silver, attest to the popularity of both bride and groom. Miss Scovill has lived in Ypsilanti all her life and has a wide circle of friends among the citizens. Mr. Bisbee, who has made his home in this city for the past few years, is well-liked and has made a host of friends who extend to him and his bride their best wishes.

"Mr. and Mrs. Bisbee left on the 9:12 [p.m.] train east for a short trip after which they will be at home, after March 1, at 801 West Congress Street (Michigan Ave.)."

Skin Grafting in 1908

When an Ypsilanti servant girl suffered a near-fatal burn, one that fused her clothes to her back, she was taken to Ann Arbor and given a skin graft that covered her entire back and some of her arms.

No one thought she'd survive. The story.

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.

James Mann "Ghost Tour" in Highland Cemetery

Dusty D were privileged to take part in a tour of Highland Cemetery last night with local historian James Mann. Bonus: atmospheric kerosene lanterns!

About 15 people showed up at 6 p.m., mostly young people from a local History Club (?). James lit the lanterns and leading the way with one, led us through the side gate that the caretakers had left unlocked for him. We walked under the huge yellow trees lining the driveway, over yellow leaves like decals on the wet asphalt.

James led the group south past the graves of O. E. Thompson and his wife, onetime merchant in the THompson Building. He stopped at two small graves under an incandescent yellow maple tree. "How many of you know what green stamps are?" he asked. Three adults raised their hands, and James proceeded to tell the story of Shelly Hutchinson's rise as the pioneer of these consumer "points" stamps.

A pause at the Soldier's Memorial was followed by a stop at pioneer doctor Helen McAndrew's grave, near the spot where last week's SLAPS tour had had an encounter. We turned at the southwest corner and headed north along the back of the cemetery.

James paused at several graves and gave talks about the person resting in each one. The high point for Dusty D came when we visited lumber baron Scoville's family plot. James talked about the iconography on three graves standing together. One showed clasped hands. The next, a hand pointing up. The last, the grave of Elizabeth Scovill, showed a hand pointing down. James said that none of the researchers at the Archives had been able to find any information about her--not even an obituary, for one of the most well-known families (that included a mayor) in the history of Ypsilanti.

You can be sure that Dusty D was intrigued. I also noted that the top of this monument had been broken off at one point, and replaced. Hmmm.

Night and rain fell. James continued to lead the umbrella'd group around in the northern section of the cemetery, but sweetie and I said a goodbye and scooted off. Dusty D was glad to see James in action and observe how he conducted a tour. It was a pleasant evening in a stunningly beautiful red, orange, green, and yellow October-evening.