Jane Irwin - 2004-10-28 12:26:38
Moohahaha. I can vouch for the presence of the EMU Tunnels. Used to have a map to 'em. A friend of mine bs'ed his way into the physical plant and said he was doing research on the steam tunnels under EMU. Dude reached right up and pulled the blueprints down off the wall and handed them to him.
I passed them to another friend a while ago. I never went down, because I was told the semester I got there that they'd installed all sorts of motion detectors and stuff. Yeah, I'm chicken, but I was there on scholarship and didn't feel like getting tossed out for trespassing because I didn't have the money to go anywhere else.
My friend said the best entrances were behind the greenhouse behind Sherzer and in the basement rec room of Jones Hall. Unfortunately, in his day they were left open, in my day they were securely padlocked. Bummer, huh?
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Wow--very interesting, Jane. I have my doubts about the Prospect Park--Huron River tunnel story. That seems not to have any function and I have some difficulty believing a little girl--or boy--would have the gumption to just stroll on down an unlit tunnel, alone, encountering Heaven knows what in there, all the way from the river to the park. That seems a stretch.
Also, the passage of time seems to have garbled the boys-in-the-Thompson-tunnels story. ("Counterfeiters?"--what the...?) Something's been lost in the translation, there. I was just passing on what was told to me.
There's another tunnel map out there, of the Depot Town area tunnels. It is or was among the family papers of one of the families who once owned at least one of the buildings--I don't remember the family name my friend mentioned (I should have written this stuff down).
My conclusion after digesting all this info is: depot town, yes; EMU, yes; Michigan central drainage tunnels, maybe ("tunnel" or little "drain"?); modern utility tunnels, yes; Prospect Park, um, probably not.
I have a feeling that history-minded people just simply like the idea of mysterious networks of historical tunnels under their city. I can say that I do, in fact.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura again - 2004-10-28 12:43:24
well, instead of "conclusion" I should say "impression."
Jane, I'm going to see if I can suss out the entrance you mention by the greenhouse, just out of curiosity. I'd just like to see the door to that underground world. I was very interested to read about the blueprints; are they still out there somewhere?
I wouldn't say you were chicken at all; quite sensible, I'd say, to not wreck your whole scholarship.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-10-28 18:46:02
I've seen enterable tunnels along the RR tracks near US-12. Spooky. I haven't entered. Yet.
Have you read Harvey Colburn's mention of "The Cave" somewhere down in The Grove in "The Story of Ypsilanti"? As I recall it wasn't counterfeiters but robbers of another kind that were fabled to have used it for a hideout.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-28 19:16:44
Wow, two wonderful tidbits of juicy info, thank you Raymond.
May I ask, where are the enterable tunnels exactly? I am very curious!
Also, no, unfortunately I haven't read about "The Cave," and in my ignorance I don't know the location of the Grove. Could you please tell me where that is? I have to get a copy of that book! And your note about the robbers is probably the explanation for that "counterfeiters" thing! All this stuff is fascinating to hear about; thanks Raymond.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-10-29 07:26:54
The Grove was the wooded area roughly down South Grove from Michigan Ave to the rock marking Woodruff's Grove. It was reported to be an area of much whooping, hollering, and 'sporting houses.' It certainly was that through the 1980s into the 90s. But its reputation was earned from the get-go. The Arbeiters also had a camp down their where they could Sieg and Swig, located exactly where I don't know. The big meander of the river to the east downstream from Independence Island would have been a good place.
In the sides of the RR cut between Prospect and US-12 I've seen some places where one could squeeze into a crevice. Dank and seepy, overgrown with weeds, they might be more visible as the leaves fall. Yahoos and thugs encamp down there, building fires, throwing rocks at trains, changing their feminine hygiene products, stashing old apparel, leaving behind their babies' playthings, drinking liquor, smashing bottles, and making tracks with Krylon spray paint. Beware piles of excrement.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-29 09:19:44
Raymond, I've taken a stab at mapping the 2 places you've mentioned; may I ask, is this roughly correct? Green is RR cut and blue is "The Grove"...maybe.
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As the lonely stretch of tracks, yes, and The Grove, my understanding is it was the woods more or less in the middle of where you map it.
Do try to get Harvey C's "Story of Ypsilanti" as it was done for Ypsi's centennial when myth and recollection were fresher. Later notes were added by A.P. Marshall who was in life and remains in spirit a great resource.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-29 09:37:56
Thanks for the clarification, Raymond. I'll see if I can track down this very intriguing-sounding book this weekend; I definitely need a copy, it sounds like.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-10-29 15:48:44
I'm mistaken about any Marshall update. However, for a possible source see:
http://www.hvcn.org/info/gswc/society/socypsilanti.htm* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-29 15:52:35
Sure enough, the Society offers the Colburn book for sale! Great! I'll order one from them tonight--thanks for the tip, Raymond.* * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-10-31 12:14:36
the prospect tunnel sounds reasonable, considering Luna Lake needed to drain someplace. There's still a manhole there, as well, which is probably the entrance to the tunnel. Please note that I have avoided making any jokes about "The Ring".
The counterfeiter story in the colburn book puts the cave beneath the current Bayer Hospital. Counterfeiters were everywhere in the early nineteenth century, and children would have felt the same way about them as kids today might be afraid of 'drug dealers'.* * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-10-31 12:38:59
Luna Lake:
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pansies offer - 2005-10-12 04:52:00