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Comments:
Annarborcrat - 2004-11-22 12:05:04 They do indeed have lots of interesting items, including 3 copies of the old Ypsi High School's early 20th-century yearbook, called...the Ypsi Dixit. That was fun to see. But I don't know if they're moving out of downtown, or to another spot downtown. There are several open storefronts, so I have to wonder why the tax lady couldn't settle for one that's already "cleared out," instead of making a (theoretically) bigger offer to convince White Raven to move. Also, locating a few doors down from H&R Block is not especially smart, I think. But what do I know.* * * * * * * * * * * * Annarborcrat - 2004-11-22 12:41:10 Laura, In fact I was looking for copies of the Yspi Dixit from 1897,98 when I was last there which would have my grandfather in it, but that is a little too early for their holdings. Ypsi museum's collection begins just after that also. Maybe they don't exist. I assume that that title and your moniker is a play on words from Ipsi Dixit?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-22 12:57:23 That's very interesting--I'm sure there is an older copy of the Ypsi Dixit yearbook floating around somewhere out there; I'm a bit surprised the museum doesn't have one. Yes, "Ypsi Dixit" is a play on "ipse dixit," or, "a dogmatic statement resting merely on the speaker's authority," which is my way of warning people that, given what is clearly a limited intellectual authority (see my characterization of Willis as a ghost town, below) these little blog entries are at times pure-D buncombe, but hopefully fun nonetheless. At any rate.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura again - 2004-11-22 13:02:08 Abebooks has, as you doubtless know, has a 1918 and a 1902 copy of the Ypsi Dixit. May I ask, Annarborcrat, when did your father graduate from the high school? If you don't mind my asking, what did he do upon graduation? I would love to hear a story or two. Thank you Annarborcrat.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura yet again - 2004-11-22 13:30:31 Annarborcrat, as you doubtless know the Bentley Library has a roster of YHS students in 1898-9 that you could look at (their holdings are open to the non-U-M public as you know, although you have to do a little song and dance before you can poke through everything). They don't have so much as one copy of the Ypsi Dixit, though, which is strange.* * * * * * * * * * * * Annarborcrat - 2004-11-22 14:07:04 Laura, Thanks for your suggestions. I researched at Bentley once long ago on an unrelated topic, but had not thought of them for YHS rosters. My grandfather was 21 in 1900 so he probably graduated around 97. He was in the Spanish American war from Ypsi, worked on the Michigan Central Railroad and later worked for the Ypsilanti Press, but not as a reporter. Before him, his father was a butcher in downtown Ypsi in the 1870's or 80'. The generation before that had farms in York and Pittsfield townships and also near Willow Run in the 1830's-1860's. My father graduated from YHS in the 1920's and worked at the Ford plant in Ypsilanti. Is the current highschool yearbook still called Ypsi Dixit or is that long gone? * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-22 14:12:47 That is fascinating family history, AnnArborcrat--it sounds like you have a clear line of historical sight right back to when the first settlers came here, and that your family goes back that far--very interesting. Hmm...is there any chance your grandfather worked at the old downtown Ypsi butcher's shop that is now Bombadill's coffee shop? Didn't they close down that butcher shop because they passed a law making it illegal to have an abattoir within the city limits? The yearbook ceased to be called the Ypsi Dixit some time ago...in the 30s perhaps? Not sure what it's called now.* * * * * * * * * * * * Suzie - 2004-11-23 10:09:09 I think that White Raven may be moving to Pearl Street.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-23 10:11:50 That's interesting. Suzie, would you know where on Pearl Street? Is there an open storefront around Congdon's? I don't remember one...and right after the bus stop it becomes residential. Hmm.* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric * - 2004-11-23 11:24:14 It's moving next to the new coffee shop into the old GAR Hall.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-23 11:26:53 Excuse my blundering question please Eric ": do you mean next to Bombadill's on Michigan Ave.? I didn't know there was an old GAR Hall there. And, um, what is the GAR? Thanks Eric *.* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric * - 2004-11-23 11:37:58 Geez. Kids today. There is a third coffee shop in the works -- the windows are even painted. I'll leave it up to you to find it. What fun would it be if you didn't have to search it out? I will give you the GAR, however. Grand Army of the Republic. And there's a very nice GAR Hall in Marshall.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-23 11:41:52 Eric *! Clue, please! This maddeningly vague info is driving me to distraction. Is it on Michigan Ave? Do I have to do a pilgrimage--on foot, mind you,--up and down the whole street, peering into every darn window? Or would you be a kind person...and just tell me? (beseeching look).* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric * - 2004-11-23 11:45:34 It's not even that tough. There are clues in this thread already. It's almost not even worth not telling. It's on Pearl.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-23 11:48:41 There are clues in this thread? On Pearl? Where in Heaven's name would they squeeze in a coffeeshop there? Might get foot traffic from we buspeople, actually--that'd be cool. Let's see. There's Congdon's, there's the shoe repair guy...ok, my memory fades at this point. There's the Democratic something across the street. Then that buffalo wings place. Then Deja Vu--that's it. Oh, I'm so confused...more clues please.* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric * - 2004-11-23 12:21:42 The new coffee shop is going into the Huron Hotel next to BW3. The GAR is the building immediately to the right of that.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-23 12:27:40 As the last shreds of my Ypsi cred spiral around the drain, I have to hang my head and ask: isn't the Huron Hotel called "Independence Gardens" or some such? Over the wings place? And what the heck is BW3? It sounds like a metro stop, not a place (sighs).* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric * - 2004-11-23 12:31:55 Are you really from Ypsilanti? The Huron Hotel is on the corner of Pearl and Washington. BW3 is Buffalo Wild Wings (I'm not sure where the 3rd W comes from). The Huron Hotel is now apartments and the entrance is on Pearl Street. Next to the Pearl Street entrance is what will be the new coffee shop. The building next to that is GAR Hall. The Huron Hotel was effectively the first retirement home. It was a hotel to which widowed women would moved when they could no longer keep up a home. Ask James Mann about it when he's at the Sidetrack.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-23 12:40:06 James Mann? Does he run the Sidetrack? Or is he someone who resides at the hotel? I didn't think he was retired. Now I'm really lost. Am I really from Ypsilanti? I'm beginning to wonder. [whispers](Ha ha!--I got the info I wanted...my little ruse of ignorance worked like a charm...mwaahahaha...)* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric * - 2004-11-23 12:46:42 You don't know who James Mann is? He's an author that writes a lot of books about politics. I just finished "About Face : A History of America's Curious Relationship with China, from Nixon to Clinton." I can't wait to get ahold of "Rise of the Vulcans." http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0679768610/qid=1101232053/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-0295103-1281677?v=glance&s=books* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-11-23 12:48:13 Oh, he was on NPR the other day--no, yesterday--now that you mention it. I didn't know he lived in Ypsi--that's fairly amazing. He is some national expert on something or other, that's all I know about him.* * * * * * * * * * * * dale - 2004-11-26 15:37:49 According to Hedger (White Raven books), they are moving to a location on Pearl. It is currently not used. It is an office type settind (as opposed to retail). I think he said it used to be a law office. Basically he is goig to be doing internet sales mostly. I suspect he might be open by appointment only. Another tax service is just what we need in this block of Michigan ave to increase sales! We now have 4 "retail" stores in the block that keep somewhat regular hours (City Hatter, Bicycles in town, Puffer Reds and eKlectic). I really welcome the tax service!!!! NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! * * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |