raymond - 2005-03-03 09:34:10
Lynne's Waterworks Park suggestion is a good one. The Salvation Army in its continuing campaign to usurp city property has refused Waterworks. It's floodplain. Like the rest of us, if the SA gets something for nothing it wants the gift to be worth plenty and be free from restrictions. But the ballfield on Factory Street is, I believe (Ford? Visteon?) not part of the city's holdings. The only users I've seen at Waterworks are loiterers drinking from brown paper bags and ladies of the street resting from tiresome work.* * * * * * * * * * * *
Yes, I think her Waterworks Park idea is a good one, too. It sounds like the park currently has the same conditions Lynne described as existing in Riverside Park a few years ago, until the dog people started making their regular presence known.
Not sure who owns the ballpark.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2005-03-03 09:49:07
I cannot bring up a clear memory of ever having seen anyone playing baseball in that field. Maybe back in the 60s, not sure... To see an utter ruin of a park, look behind the old Arlen's building. Pictures of the old Gilbert Park on Michigan at Park shame us.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-03-03 09:56:27
Raymond, I have to say that is one park I've never seen nor visited. Nor, I admit, heard of. Is Gilbert Park behind the old Arlen's Building? Is there any relation to the (now rehabbed) Gilbert Mansion on N. Grove? Can I ask another ignorant question? What is the old Arlen building? I've heard of it, but don't know where it is. * * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2005-03-03 10:38:28
The Arlen's building is behind the old State Police Post. It was built in the early 60s. The modern shopping center was thought by city government to be a savior of downtown. Guess what. It helped run stores out of business. Gilbert Park faced Michigan Avenue. The park was sold. A small park with an elaborate lighting system was built behind Arlen's.
By the 70s Arlen's was having hard times. Closure and a fire finished it. Later in the 70s, the Ypsi Flea Market took over the entire building (part of it, the west end, had been a grocery store). The Flea Market drew shoppers from all over southeastern Michigan and northern Ohio.
The MESC took over part of the building, the east end, after the MESC office on Cross Street closed by the 80s. During the Reagan years, business dropped off. Traffic in the Flea Market dwindled as people fled Michigan. Eventually a Secretary of State office and Crawford Door were established in the west end, where 555 Gallery passed through. The Flea Market failed altogether. In the end, the state also abandoned the site. The city chased out Crawford Door for the Water Street Project, the latest savior.
Anyway, Gilbert Park was across from Woodruff School, right on the interurban line, now a vista of desolation.* * * * * * * * * * * * lynne - 2005-03-03 11:34:38
Oh cool. I am glad they published that. I will have to go buy a copy. I live on N. Grove near the Gilbert Mansion. There is some vacant land right across the street that is run by The Boys and Girls club. They have a baseball diamond that I have never seen used and a basketball court that gets used quite a lot in the summer. Thanks for the link to the Gilbert Mansion photos. I never realized that it was ever in such a state of disrepair. You cant tell by looking at it now that it ever had those kinds of issues. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-03-03 13:01:55
Raymond: Aha. I see. Thank you for the picture and for the history of the site (a tale of serial failed saviours). I actually remember the Sec. of State there. And am now very curious to see the abandoned park--I'll try to get down there this weekend to see. Thank you for the tip.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-03-03 13:08:01
Lynne: you are welcome for the photo link. It was run-down, indeed, in hte early 80s but as you say looks spiffy now, though I wouldn't have chosen that color combo. At any rate.
Once again, kind readers tell me about hidden nooks of Ypsi that I had no idea about and now am eager to explore. Is it my imagination or is Ypsi filled with such hidden nooks, forgotten pockets of history?
Which reminds me of the Trailer Park that Time Forgot, just off Michigan Ave a bit west of Harris, if I remember right. It's invisible unless you're on foot. I walked my dog through there. Some of the trailers looks like they're from the 30s. It was weird and interesting and very forlorn.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2005-03-03 13:25:23
The Gilbert Mansion was derelict in the 70s and 80s. A team of brothers (White?) bought it and fixed it up. I have a pic of it now but not online. I still find it a little spooky looking, although it used to be downright scary.* * * * * * * * * * * * Charlie Kondek - 2005-03-03 13:29:48
Great letter, Lynne. I was cracking up when I read about the days of "dogs and crackheads." A dog park would be awesome and might even bring in visitors from out of town.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-03-03 13:36:33
(...sung to the tune of "Days of Wine and Roses"...) * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-03-03 13:40:02
It was a good letter, indeed. That is a good point, Charlie--it would definitely be a destination-park, especially since there isn't one in Ann Arbor. Or Belleville. Or, so far as I know, Wayne County.
Make a restaurant or two on Michigan Ave. pet-friendly, with dogs welcome--as they should be in the first place--and there you go.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-03-03 13:42:46
Raymond: I too still find the rehabbed Gilbert Mansion a tad spooky, even now. Just something about it. Lot more sinister before the fix-up. I wonder if anything every happened there.* * * * * * * * * * * * Ypsi dweller - 2005-03-03 14:16:47
A little while back, maybe two years ago, the chimney collapsed in the house. Didn't hurt anyone but made a big freakin mess. It was a giant inside chimney.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-03-03 15:15:45
That's interesting. I would have liked to have seen that; always like poking around old buildings. Wonder why it collapsed when the rest of it seems to have held up well.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2005-03-03 15:49:51
In the chimney rubble did they find a big skeleton, a moth-eaten red suit, and white whiskers? And jingle bells?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-03-03 15:52:50
That could explain the eerie air the place has. Seriously, I am wondering if the brothers who redid it now live there. Looks kind of deserted (one of those dreaded "vacant" buildings maybe).* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-03-03 23:12:21
The plat maps tell the story of Gilbert Park's prehistory.
In the 1856 plat, the land tucked into Gilbert Park's bend in the river is owned by a H. W. Larzelere. Catherine Street appears, in its modern-day path, bending down to and ending at the river. Just west of where Catherine meets the river is a "Woolen Mill."
In the 1864 plat, a new mill race has been dredged. This canal links the upper end of the riverbend to the lower. The section of Catherine along the mill race is now named "Race St." The woolen mill is gone. Race St. crosses the river and becomes Factory St., which dead-ends on Grove. A paper mill appears south of Factory St. just east of the river.
In the 1874 plat, Mrs. H. W. Larzalere owns the land [presumably her husband died] within the riverbend and mill race, which is now labeled "Old Race." The paper mill is here named "Cornwell's Paper Mill."
In the 1895 plat, Samuel Barnard owns most of the land within the riverbend; the City owns the southernmost sliver. The bit of Catherine next to the mill race is labeled "Race or Pierce St." A City Well appears just north of where Race/Pierce crosses the lower part of the bend. The mill race no longer connects the upper and lower parts of the bend, but stops at the edge of the city-owned property; the race is now a truncated canal. The former paper mill is now labeled "Waterworks and Electric Light."
In the 1915 plat, the land within the riverbend (aside from the City-owned sliver) is now owned by an Elmer Brown. The city well remains. The race reappears, reconnecting the upper and lower parts of the bend. "Waterworks and Electric Light" remains in its spot just south of where Factory crosses the river.
The following picture is from 1874. You can see the mill race (green dots), Race Street (red line), Independence Island (circled in white), Cornwell's Paper Mill (building at lower edge of photo, just east of the river) and the old city well (blue dot).
* * * * * * * * * * * *
add your comment: