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Comments:
Gus - 2005-02-14 13:26:59 If I remember right someone commented not too long ago that that's the grungiest bar in Ypsi. Boy, even the name is depressing...lassitude, apathy, a sagging life...* * * * * * * * * * * * Gus - 2005-02-14 13:30:28 Lies, all lies. You'll love it there. I bet they buy you free drinks.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-14 13:33:12 by "they" do you mean "regulars"? I can see them now. Somehow this particular spot is the absolutely least attractive, if not downright most repulsive, locale in town. See ya at the Pea Pod.* * * * * * * * * * * * Dave D. - 2005-02-14 13:41:28 Isn't the Idle Hour that inky-dinky little bar on Ecorse? And as a connossieur of the Ypsi bar scene, the grungiest bars are definitely Arthur's and Mr. Mikes. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-14 13:44:09 Am I remembering right to think the Idle Hour is perched right at the Michigan Ave.--Ecorse split? And I have to day Dave D., I've never heard of either of those two spots. There's good grunge and not-so-good grunge, so I guess it depends. May I ask what they're like?* * * * * * * * * * * * Dave D. - 2005-02-14 14:10:34 Those two bars would probably be the "not so good" ones then. Arthur's is right near Ecorse/Mich, and there's fights there on a nightly basis. There's usually a county sheriff parked outside most evenings and I'm surprised the place is still open. Mr Mike's is on Ecorse, and is not as bad. It looks like an old machine tool shop from the outside, and the inside is no better, but they have a nice setup for live music because of the space. I was thinking the Idle Hour was this tiny round building on Ecorse. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-14 17:14:48 Fights--on a nightly basis? Wow. I seem to remember the Idle Hour as roundish too.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-14 17:19:51 The Idle Hour is near the lovely Your Motel. Throw in a greasy coney dog somewhere and you have the perfect Valentine's Day romantic getaway.* * * * * * * * * * * * LF - 2005-02-14 18:41:32 Anybody know if they still have the nude velvet paintings in the Idle Hour? Dave D is right - Arthur's is a good place to go if you want to get punched. Mr. Mike's wishes they were as rough, but they are all posturing, no asskicking I liked the Tap Room in the 80's, before it was rehabilitated - a sticky-floored dark pit.* * * * * * * * * * * * LF - 2005-02-14 18:43:15 Laura - you forgot to stop at Leg's on your romantic itinerary* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2005-02-14 18:52:54 Linda French notwithstanding, the Central was a good place to get your ass kicked in the 70s over a pool table or the only pitcher in the joint. Long live Gentrification (and Ladyfication?)!* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-14 19:07:01 LF: Silly me, of course, I forgot entertainment. Yes, that would make the evening complete.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-14 19:15:41 I dunno, Raymond; Arthur's and the I.H. sound as though they've escaped the scourge of gentrification... And I have to admit I love coney dogs. I like going to that forlorn yellow coney dog place on Michigan Ave. by Value Village and the coffin shop, in the summer--bikeable. * * * * * * * * * * * * LF - 2005-02-14 19:25:22 Ah, Bill's hot dogs. Kind of a bizarro World A&W because the car hops are all boys, not girls* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-14 19:45:50 That's right. There's a strange sense of luxury to sit out on the old picnic table and be served your deliciously oozing repast. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-14 19:47:12 (simple pleasures...)* * * * * * * * * * * * Andy - 2005-02-15 02:56:03 In A2, on Packard about halfway between State and Stadium (Blue Front and Food & Drug Mart), lies a rooming house I used to live in that says "IDLE HOUR" over the doorway. I believe the kooky landlord financed the purchase of this place with proceeds from his Ypsi bar. * * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2005-02-15 07:56:59 Rummies nowadays can't hold a proverbial candle to the belligerants of old. Gunfire was common in the streets. Dynamite was the preferred means of urban renewal in Depot Town. The Central had a kind of grit that would make Arthur's goons holler for their mommies. What was the name of that joint on East Michigan where Billy whacked the people in the parking lot before going out Ecorse and killing more and then home to murder his ma?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 09:11:18 Andy: I just went by that house the other day on the bus. I've seen the legend before but always assumed it was just those crazy college kids giving some nutty name to their house. It is very interesting to find out the Ypsi connection.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 09:13:16 Raymond: Wow. May I ask, who is this Billy you refer to, and when did this crime occur? Also, please forgive me for asking, where was the Central exactly?* * * * * * * * * * * * Lee Forge - 2005-02-15 09:29:54 I had a freind that died of lung cancer a year ago. He was in his late 50's. He was very kind and gentle soul. We toured many an Ypsi junk yard pilfering parts for our junk rides. I saw an old drivers license of his where he looked like a crazy werewolf. He was black. He said when he was drinking he was insane. Would make as much trouble as he could in Ypsi bars. Got shot at, had shots fired at him to make him leave. I agree that Arthurs customers are mommas boys trying to be something they never will be. Amazing what a harley loan and black leather vest purchase will do to an already dim bulb. If bars are judged for there degree of piss smell I would rate them (from memory) Idle Hour, Arthurs, Mr. Mikes. However, If I were to rate for posturing level, I would say, Arthurs, Mr. Mikes, Idle Hour.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 09:35:21 "Amazing what a harley loan and black leather vest purchase will do to an already dim bulb"--I had to laugh at that. Interesting but tragic (young death) anecdote about your friend. These are really vivid descriptions that are fascinating reading--there's a whole Ypsi bar culture out there I was completely ignorant of. I'm enjoying reading about it.* * * * * * * * * * * * Lunk Monkey - 2005-02-15 09:49:40 Concerning the casket store: It's kind of creepy that there is a "Dead End" sign next to the building. Makes for a good photo though.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2005-02-15 09:56:27 The Central was where the Sidetrack is. The walk-through across the street is where the motorcycle club was that got blown up. Billy Hardesty killed people back in the 70s. 76ish? He's in OTIS. There used to be a dive on Michigan in the block from Grove to Park. Can't remember the name of it. Something-Saloon? The saloon is where Billy got started, then moved to a machine shop on Ecorse. After he went home to mama's corpse on Martz Road he held the cops off for a while, taking a few shots which missed. The cops didn't miss. They got him in a leg. Seems odd how common public gunfire used to be. Is it because honest citizens now can pack that shooting for the hell of it is reduced? Fear of people shooting back? I don't know. Lung cancer is a damned nuisance, I know that for sure. Ten years and tick, tick, tick... * * * * * * * * * * * * Lee Lorge - 2005-02-15 10:02:45 The worst part of his death is when all the previously unknown relatives came out of the woodwork to have a grab-fest. Not that he had shit anyway.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2005-02-15 10:02:52 I have some shots of the casket store, some with the dead end sign. Funny/creepy indeed.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 10:03:39 :) Lunk Monkey, I've seen that "Dead End" sign. Amazing stories, Raymond. Wow. Ypsi was a woolly place, sounds like, back then. Yes, why so much public gunfire back then? Also, I might be overlooking it, but I don't see Billy's last name; what was it may I ask? Also, might you know, has anyone written up this period? If there's a book or something about this time in Ypsi history I'd sure love to read about it.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 10:06:13 Lee Lorge, when did that (grabfest) happen may I ask? It appears this man looms rather large in Ypsi lore; I ignorantly had never heard of him. Was he a bar owner, or...hm, just wondering about him.* * * * * * * * * * * * Lunk Monkey - 2005-02-15 10:07:34 The "Michigan Murders" details quite a bit.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 10:10:00 Thanks LM; I'll take a look in the library. Sounds to me like he deserves his own book, though. (Sheridan says, incidentally, that he can't keep the MM book on the shelf. I asked for a copy last weekend--no dice. I've read it before, of course, but just wanted a copy.)* * * * * * * * * * * * R.I.P. Ervin - 2005-02-15 10:13:18 No, you have never heard of this man, but you have seen him everywhere in Ypsi. You saw him buying lottery tickets he could not afford at party stores, you saw the Korean Chicken restaurant owners eyeballing him angrily because they had to serve him, you heard him driving by in one of his five loud shitty cars, you saw his crappy house where he rented an overpriced apartment with sagging floors and a toilet almost falling through the floors, and in the end you could smell him dying and the unwashed dishes that smelled like puke and flies everywhere. He was everyone, but he was no one. And he worked all his life making 7 bucks an hour while white boys doing the same work got 14.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 10:19:30 You are right. I have seen him everywhere in Ypsi doing just the things you describe. That is beautifully written. I find it tragic. It is moving and sad. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 10:26:18 There's a lot of power in that piece of writing. Makes me wonder if you have ever thought about writing about him. Biographical portrait. Maybe an essay. I would sure read it. This is good writing and there's obviously a story here that needs to be told, loudly. Just my two cents. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura again - 2005-02-15 10:32:59 (Wondering if the unknown writer of "R.I.P. Ervin," above, ever read Let Us Now Praise Famous Men.) Also, I got mixed up and thought the "grabfest" was referring to that shoot-'em-up Billy. Not Ervin. My mistake. Sorry about that.)* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2005-02-15 10:35:54 Dead End* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 10:38:01 Perfect--thanks Raymond. Kind of a mini-landmark in my neighborhood.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2005-02-15 10:46:01 I'm on my way into Detroit. I hope the casket store isn't my first stop on the way home. Or the nearby cremetory.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 10:47:47 Raymond: There is a crematory nearby? I had no idea. * * * * * * * * * * * * LM - 2005-02-15 13:31:10 Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. I never owned a car, free of rust. When I was young and foolish, I made my try, but in the end I was born to die. When I'm gone you can grab my stuff, just remember all those things will never be enough. Free yourself from greed, and the other six sins, and laugh while you can because the man always wins.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 13:34:48 Nicely done I think. The "free yourself...sins" part rings especially strongly to me; I agree with that.* * * * * * * * * * * * Dan Arbor - 2005-02-15 15:09:19 Hardesty went on his rampage in late 1978. Sentenced 1981. I remember how freaked out everyone was when that happened. Michigan Murders is about John Norman Collins. Man, he is one scary-looking dude...* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 15:18:47 Wow. Thanks for the links Dan. I note several interesting tidbits in there. First, Hardesty was convicted on 7 counts, all but 2 of which were murders, and all of which happened on that fateful night in 1981. 5 murders in 1 night. Staggering. Second, he got life for the murders, but, for the lesser count of "assault with intent to commit murder" he got...150 to 300 years. Which doesn't make a bit of sense. Why is the assault more? And why bother with 300-year-sentences? The guy's not Methuselah. Last, I note that for all his notorious crimes, Collins was convicted on just one murder. As a parting note, I must say these 2 men look rather similar, with the same manic blue glare. * * * * * * * * * * * * yd - 2005-02-15 15:30:58 He looks like many dudes walking around Ypsi right now. They both do.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 15:32:11 They sure do, you're right. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 15:34:55 But, I have to say, I've biking home from the bus station the whole winter after dark & have never once felt the slightest bit unsafe.* * * * * * * * * * * * Dan Arbor - 2005-02-15 15:37:40 I believe they have now become what they call "institution men," hence the gray pallor and lockup stare. The crimes a person is actually charged with, and the length of the sentences are often a dance designed to determine how much time they'll actually do. Sometimes, multiple sentences are set to run concurrently with each other, so that they effectively become one sentence. Conversely, if a judge were to stipulate that the sentences run consecutively, then the inmate would have to serve all of one sentence before beginning another. Ergo, they would be in prison longer. It may be that all of Hardesty's murder sentences are concurrent, for reasons based on legal precedent, astrology, court whim, etc. So, they likely tacked on the Assault sentence as a back-up, should he be freed from the murder convictions on some sort of technicality. But, I am no legal expert, and this is speculation... As for Collins, I believe they had a difficult time even convicting him on the single count. Most of the evidence, while compelling, was circumstantial. What did him in was the fact that a murder of identical m.o. was committed in California at the time Collins was vacationing in the very same area. Interesting side note: A former co-worker once told me that he shared a house on EMU's campus with Collins back in the 60's. Said he was friendly, liked smoke pot, and when really stoned, would show you his "pictures," drawings that my former co-worker said were very disturbing. The co-worker graduated, moved on, and read about Collins the following year. He told me he couldn't tell anyone about his former housemate for a good ten years, because he was so freaked out. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 15:42:09 Your speculations about sentencing procedure sound very reasonable, actually. That makes sense that JNC only has one count--circumstantial evidence. The story about JNC is indeed freaky. One does wonder what was in those drawings. Or if you'd even want to see them.* * * * * * * * * * * * Dan Arbor - 2005-02-15 15:44:06 LM: You're right, they do look like folks I've seen on the streets. 'Course, that's where a lot of the Ypsi State folks ended up...go figure. * * * * * * * * * * * * yd - 2005-02-15 15:48:00 I think it is cruel and inhumane that Collins and Hardesty are not in the same prison. They can't share all their "Ypsi" memories.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 15:49:11 Well, they can if they're allowed to blog and fiddle around on computers.* * * * * * * * * * * * Dan Arbor - 2005-02-15 15:49:20 I recall seeing a collection of artwork from some of the most violent and noteworthy killers of our time on the web (where else?)recently. Some were very disturbing; but some were fairly "normal" with "mainstream" subject matter (i.e., unicorns, and rainbows and stuff -- not kidding). Inevitably, those "normal" drawings were attributed to people who were at the far end of horrific on the crime scale. That's what freaked me out the most. * * * * * * * * * * * * yd - 2005-02-15 15:51:14 I knew these dudes that used to paint carp murals on a railroad bridge by the Huron. They were all pretty fucked up too.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 15:51:17 Yes, I've seen that page too. Art by Serial Killers I think it's called. It is spooking me out that the "normal" drawings were from those on the horrific end of the scale...ugh.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 15:53:05 oops, yd commented first. Anyways, yd, I'm curious about those people--I am veyr fond of all murals and once contemplated a career as a muralist/signpainter but *anyways*, what was it about them that was messed up? Just wondering.* * * * * * * * * * * * yd - 2005-02-15 15:54:06 They were all losers. I bet they still are.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 15:58:02 Oh. At any rate, would you tell me, please, yd, where I might see those murals? Is it the RR bridge near Forest? Never get tired of murals.* * * * * * * * * * * * yd - 2005-02-15 16:11:03 Go to Superior Rd. and park a little north of where the river goes under. Follow the RR Tracks west towards AA till you get to the river again. (About 400 yards) I wonder whatever became of all of them. Probably all in jail.* * * * * * * * * * * * yd - 2005-02-15 16:26:47 I bet Hardesty and Collins have both blogged and fiddled, but not with computers.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 16:28:58 oh, that RR bridge. Thanks yd. I'll check it out next weekend and take some pictures.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 16:32:50 OK, I see it on the map; just south of "Superior Pond," which I hadn't even known about. Lots to explore come spring. * * * * * * * * * * * * Al Pugno - 2005-02-15 16:37:49 Superior Pond is LF's favorite place to fish in the world. But I cannot fish worth a dam.* * * * * * * * * * * * LF - 2005-02-15 20:36:41 Pugno, you old crappy fisherman, when did ya get outta the joint?* * * * * * * * * * * * LF - 2005-02-15 20:44:42 I haven't read The Michigan Murders in 15+ years but I believe the main thing that sent JC (John Collins, not Jesus Christ) off on his coed slaughtering rages was menstruation. Being the handsome athlete that he was on his dashing (and stolen) Triumph motorcycle, he easily picked up campus girls during the era of free love. If the girl was menstruating, her fate was sealed. Read the book for the graphic details. What a sick bastard. You gotta wonder what happened to him during his Catholic childhood in Centerline.* * * * * * * * * * * * LF - 2005-02-15 20:51:05 What really did JC in was the murder he committed in his uncle's basement while his uncle was on vacation. He was already a person of interest to the local cops and his uncle was a State Cop in the Ypsilanti post! They found short blond hair clippings on the last girl's body and they eventually matched them to the hair clippings from JC's uncle's basement, where he clipped his boys' hair.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 21:09:44 Al Pugno, I have the sense you're selling your fishing skills short. Out of modesty maybe. At any rate, do you eat these fish? Take them home and clean them? Or are they PCBsicles? Ypsidixit counts among her meagre skills the ability to more or less (less) scale and gut a bluegill, from a long-ago stint as a camp counselor. She'd love to find an additional way to live off the land. Pond. Whatever. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 21:12:13 LF, now that you mention it, I vaguely recall the hair-clipping detail. They did not have DNA evidence back then, so one does wonder how they matched them.* * * * * * * * * * * * LF - 2005-02-15 21:25:45 The reason the county sheriff is in that old seminary on Hogback is because of JNC. The local agencies were all working separately and getting nowhere, so they (state, county, ypsi, A2) set up a task force at the abandoned seminary, which the sheriff uses to this day.* * * * * * * * * * * * LF - 2005-02-15 21:27:45 is because of? time to go to bed.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-15 21:45:04 Never knew that...another nugget of local history; thanks LF.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2005-02-16 07:07:19 Billy Hardesty's longer sentence for assault was for shooting at the cops with the intent of hitting them. The lesser sentences were for murdering bar patrons, co-workers, and his mother. "Let the pusishment fit the crime."* * * * * * * * * * * * AP - 2005-02-16 08:54:47 I never catch any fish, ergo, some can eat them, but I cannot.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-16 08:56:31 Raymond: Oh, ok, I see. The only other crime I can think of with so many counts was that undertaker in Georgia who didn't bury his, um, customers--he got something like 728 counts.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-16 08:57:31 Al Pugno: They sound edible. I think in moderation they'd be fine. Better than the creatures from the deep in Ford Lake, anyways.* * * * * * * * * * * * Al Pugno - 2005-02-16 09:04:18 The WWTP is at the east west side of Superior Pond. Think of all the prescription medicines being flushed down Ann Arbor toilets. Add a dash of transfluid, pinch of DDT, splash of Dioxin, and a good rainshower to overload the plant... sounds like a good dinner to me.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-16 09:09:19 You are right about prescription meds in the water supply. Traces of same were found in watersheds in Canada and Britain. It disgusts me. Who wants to ingest that filth, even in minute quantities? Not me. Plus many poisons build up in fish fat, like PCBs. I don't recall what the Michigan fish people say about limiting fish consumption--I think it's one meal a week for adult men, if I remember right. Different for pregnant women and kids. * * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2005-02-16 09:47:03 I can't find *anything* about Hardesty -- does anyone know of some links? I had never heard of him despite living in SE Michigan for 10 years. It would be really interesting if they could go back and DNA test the hair clippings in the JNC case. I'm sure they still have them -- aren't police departments supposed to keep that kind of thing? I don't think there's really a lot of evidence that menstruation set JNC off -- not all of them were menstruating, and given that womens' periods happen monthly and last between 3-7 days, the chances are that if you attack enough women, some of them will be menstruating.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-16 09:54:01 I had never heard of him, either. I'd love to know his whole story and the road that led to that fateful night in '81.* * * * * * * * * * * * LF - 2005-02-16 10:28:40 If I remember right, the girl that JNC killed in califiornia was only 14 or 15. The body was found on a hillside lushly blanketed with poison ivy. When JNC got back from California, he was covered head to toe with a poison ivy rash. The cops who were tailing him around Ypsi were quite impressed at the time by the incredible amount of work he put into washing, vacuuming and cleaning his Chevelle. He did such a good job that all the cops found later was a 2mm speck of what they thought to be the girl's dress. * * * * * * * * * * * * LF - 2005-02-16 10:30:42 Anna - I think you're right about the menstruation. I think that was a theory posited in the book, but dismissed.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2005-02-16 10:46:13 The date in my notebook for Hardesty's shoot-fest is 10-19-78. The parking lot where Billy started was at Abigail's Dirty Shame Saloon at 327 E. Michigan, now long gone. I thought I had more details written down, but can't find any. I find a quote, though, from someone who knew Billy: "He's as nutty as a fruitcake. He should have been locked up a long time ago." It was typical Ypsi hijinxs, so it wasn't big news elsewhere. The Ypsi papers have good articles about it. Find them on Whittaker Road or at EMU.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-16 11:00:22 Amazing story LF. I remember the ivy, now that you mention it. Thank you for the date correction, Raymond. I mistakenly was thinking of the conviction date. Your suggestion to peek in the microfilm is a very good one. I'm very curious now.* * * * * * * * * * * * 888 poker - 2005-11-10 20:07:11 It is understood gambling 888 poker baccarat! * * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |