Ypsilanti, Michigan.  Population: 22,362

 

Sitting in the shadow of its big sister to the west--Ann Arbor--Ypsilanti lies on the eastern edge of Washtenaw County on the banks of the Huron River.  The city's name is inspired by General Demetrius Ypsilanti, a hero in Greece's war for independence.  Established in 1823, it is Michigan's second oldest city.  The City of Ypsilanti actually had its beginnings as a French settlement - Godfrey's Trading Post - founded in 1809. Fourteen years later the settlement of Woodruff's Grove was founded two miles southeast of the trading post. In 1825, when the original Chicago Road was laid out from Detroit, the Village perished and the land was purchased and platted for the Village of Ypsilanti.  Ypsilanti boasts the second largest historic district in the state. Approximately 20 percent of the City's 4.4 square miles is in the historic district.  Ypsilanti was recently designated a "Cool City" by Governor Jennifer Granholm.

 

Some interesting facts about good ole Ypsi (and it is so often affectiontely referred).  Also known as little Detroit because if its large African-American population and crime rates.

 

• The oldest producer of wood ladders in the nation was founded in 1901 in Ypsilanti. The corporation still manufactures wood ladders today.
  
• In the late 1930's, after Henry Ford brought automotive manufacturing to Ypsilanti, the area became the site for one of World War II's most ambitious manufacturing programs, the Willow Run Bomber Plant. This plant manufactured 8,000 B-24 Bombers or one Bomber per hour.
  
• Miller Motor Sales in Historic Depot Town is the nation's sole surviving Hudson dealership.
  
• Domino's Pizza's first store was established in Ypsilanti on December 9, 1960.
  
• Ypsilanti's Riverside Park is home to the Michigan Beer Festival, which was recongized in USA Today as one of the best beer festivals in the United States.  Pope, you gotta check this out someday.  Hot summer Michigan day, great beer.  What more could you ask for?
  
• The Michigan Firehouse Museum is located in Ypsilanti
   
  

 

Ypsilanti is home to Eastern Michigan University (GO HURONS...errrr Eagles).  My alma mater.  Eastern Michigan was founded in 1849 as the Michigan State Normal School for the purpose of training teachers.  It was first teacher's college west of the Allegheny Mountains.  Today, it is a major Division 1 University with an undergraduate and graduate enrollment of over 23,000 students. 

 

Ypsilanti isn't the best college town; of course it doesn't help that Ann Arbor is just down Washtenaw Ave.  But it is diverse, progressive and much to my disapproval, liberal.  But I still like it nonetheless.  :-D It has a great arts community and is very friendly to gays and lesbians.  The biggest problem with Ypsi is that its property taxes are some of the highest in the state of Michigan (higher than Ann Arbor and Birmingham).

 

Today's tour will focus on Eastern Michigan Unversity, the Cross Street Business District near the University and Depot Town, Ypsilanti's first commercial district near the train depot just east of the Huron River.  A second commercial district--downtown Ypsilanti--was established along Chicago Road (today U.S. 12 or Michigan Ave).  That district, as well as some of the residential districts will be covered in another future thread.

 

First, the most notable landmark in Ypsilanti, the Water Tower (built in 1890).  MayDay, don't get too excited.  :-P Legend has it that if anyone graduates from EMU a virgin, the tower will fall.

 

 

Bust of General Ypsilanti in front of the Water Tower.

 

 

The main campus of Eastern Michigan University is really small and compact.  The main campus is less than 300 acres.  Architecturely speaking, the campus is nothing to write home about (especially when compared to other MAC schools like Miami and Ohio University).  The the campus has its share of WPA buildings and 1950s-1960s style buildings.  The southern part of the campus is the oldest, and featured in this tour. 

 

Welch Hall.  Built in 1896 as the Training School Building.  Expanded in 1900 and again in 1909.  1909 expansion torn down in 1974.  Closed for several years in the 1980s.  Almost saw the wrecking ball (like so many of Eastern's older structures)  :x.  Placed on the Historic Register in 1984.  Renovated in 1988.  Now University Administration.

 

 

Starkweather Hall.  Oldest building on campus--beating Welch Hall by three days.  Built in 1896.  Originally built for the Student Christian Association.  Eastern was the first teachers college in the United States to have a building designated for religious activities.  Placed on the Historic Register in 1977.  Now Office of Graduate Studies.

 

 

Sherzer Hall.  Built in 1903.  Burned in 1989 and rebuilt in 1990 (thank god!).  Originally used for natural science laboratories and classrooms.  Placed on the Historic Register in 1984.   Today is used for Art Department studios and classrooms. Also home to the University Observatory.

 

 

McKenny Union.  Built in 1930.  Expanded in 1963.  Renovated 1992.  A combination of Collegiate Gothic with Art Deco.  Has been used as a student center since the beginning.  Placed on Historic Register in 1984. 

 

 

New Student Union under construction.  Bleech....I don't like it one bit.  :-( McKenny will become Alumni Hall. 

 

 

Boone Hall.  Built in 1917.  Originally for administration and classroom use.  Former home of the College of Education.  Renovated in 1999.  Now used for Extended Learning Program, World College/Academic Programs Abroad,Continuing Education, National Institute for Consumer Education, Workforce Education.

 

 

 

Pease Auditorium  Built in 1914.  Renovated in 1959 and again in 1993-1994.  Placed on the Historic Register in 1974, 

 

 

and lastly Pierce Hall. Built in 1948 on the site of the former Old Main, which sadly burnt to the ground.  Prior uses included adminstration and classrooms.  Today it is home to Student Services, Registration and Accounting.   Meant to be a modern interruptation of Old Main (a poor one at that), but includes a bell tower.

 

 

Cross Street District.  Across from campus is known as the Cross District Commercial District.  The area is relatively small and somewhat rundown.  The older residential structures are homes for fraternities and sororities as well as other student housing.  The district is home to restaurants and businesses that cater to the University.  The legendary Theo's Bar.  Not very exciting place to visit for students.  No wonder why so many go home on the weekends.  The first Domino's Pizza (then Dommicks) was located in this area, I think where Tower Inn Pizza is now.

 

Looking west right across from campus

 

 

A row of nice looking homes

 

 

Close up

 

 

 

And to the east

 

 

Kinda sketchy don't ya think :|

 

 

Ah yes....Tom's...lots of memories of Tom's.  They are known to sell to anybody :evil:

 

 

A view of the whole district.  Looking west

 

 

Depot Town  I didn't discover Depot Town until close to graduation (hey, I didn't have a car and Michigan winters can be down right cold!).  Today, it is home to one of my favorite spots to hang out--SideTracks.  The area is just east of the Cross Street District over the Huron River.  It developed as Ypsilanti's first commercial district around the railroad depot.  The depot is not in service any longer, but Amtrack still uses the tracks for its Detroit-Ann Arbor-Chicago line. Most of the structures were built 1860s-1890s.   Today it is a well-preserved area, thriving with speciality shops, bars and restaurants.

 

Riverside Park on the western border of Depot Town.  To the south of the park is Downtown Ypsilanti.  Nice link between the two commercial districts.  Home to the Michigan Beer Festival in July.  July 22, 2006 to be exact.  Mark your calendars.  :banger:

 

 

The back of historic homes overlooking the river.  The First Presbyterian Church of Ypsilanti is also in the background.

 

 

 

Structures on the north side of Cross Street.

 

Notice the "historic looking" clock in the middle of the street.  Nice touch!

 

 

 

 

Across the tracks.....

 

The Depot.  It's in sad shape at the moment.

 

 

Ypsilanti Farmer's Market in the old freight house

 

 

Along River Street.  I'd love to get my hands on this structure

 

 

The Hudson Dealership and Museum

 

 

The Ypislanti Food Co-op on River Street

 

 

The southern side of Cross Street

 

My favorite block of buildings

 

 

A close-up of Sidetracks...my favorite watering hole.  GQ named them as one of the best 20 spots to grab a burger.  They are good, but I wouldn't put them in the top 20.

 

 

Newly renovated

 

 

I had lunch here while doing my tour

 

 

This building is available

 

 

Cady's

 

 

Cute little day spa

 

 

 

Close up on the clock

 

 

Just for show.

 

 

Up next...Downtown Ypsilanti and historic residential neighborhoods......

Looks like a cool place. I like the building you had lunch in best...but thats probably because of the "churchy" windows.

 

Middletown is missing you...

Great tour of Ypsi!! I lived there a couple of summers ago, my brother graduated from EMU and my sister-in-law works at Cady's. I definently recommend the Beer Festival!!

Thank's for the pic's. I have always been interested in seeing other MAC campuses. It is amazing to think about the number of the college students in that area with Michigan being next door. I have seen pictures of EMU's Convocation Center. From what I have seen, It may be the second best arena in the MAC, just behind another certain Convocation Center!  :wink:

Around 1959, my brother and I bought a 1916 single-cylinder International Harvester engine, about 3 tons' worth, out of a sawmill at 6060 Geddes Road, Ypsilanti. The owner, Fred J Parker, was 93 years old and had run the sawmill and his woodworking shop until he was 90, and he was still active although he had skin cancer.

 

Fred had made batons for the Ann Arbor PD for years, along with fine furniture, in a woodworking shop where all the equipment dated from the very early 1900s, and he and his brothers had run a stone mill on the river nearby, specializing in buckwheat flour.

 

He told of watching a man go down the street lighting the gaslights in Ann Arbor at dusk, and of seeing the first automobile in Ann Arbor. He commented with some irony that the last time he had gone to town, he couldn't find a parking place.

 

Fred had sold his property to someone from Detroit who wanted to build a luxury home on it, with the stipulation that Fred could occupy the property as long as he lived; the purchaser figured Fred had one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. Seven years later, we got a letter from him. He had made it to 100, the skin cancer had gone away, and he was still going strong. I'll bet the purchaser of his property was about to go nuts, wondering how long Fred would live.

Great pictures, my brother attends EMU and my other brother lives right by downtown Ypsi.  I don't live too far so I'm there once in a while.  I especially like Depot Town.  To see my collection of Ypsi pictures then go to:  http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c198/DowntownZack/Ypsilanti/

Great to see pics of Ypsilanti.  Not only never been there, but I don't recall seeing any pics before.  That block of buildings you pointed out does look pretty darn good. Thanks for the tour.

I never did like Ypsilanti but you made it look nice!

I think there used to be a state insane asylum there, too...

 

 

...it was the site of a famous pyschological experiment .."The Three Christs of Ypsilanti" that was written up in a book:

 

 

 

Is that Ypsilanti Regional Psychiatric Hospital?  It's been abandoned for a while since a new one was built down the road.  But it will get demolished soon if it hasn't already started for a dodge plant I believe.  My brother and I urban explored the hell out of the place.  Everything was left in it rather then taking it down to the new one.

The study happened in the 1960s, so it probably was that old one you explored?

Yep, must of been the one.  I've never heard of that book but I'll have to check it out sometime.

Thank's for the pic's. I have always been interested in seeing other MAC campuses. It is amazing to think about the number of the college students in that area with Michigan being next door. I have seen pictures of EMU's Convocation Center. From what I have seen, It may be the second best arena in the MAC, just behind another certain Convocation Center!  :wink:

It is a nice place.  I think it is one of the largest in the MAC.  It was after my time.  The previous "arena" or "convocation center" was known as Bowen Field House.  I actually prefer it.  More intimate.  Loved watching Earl Boykins (a native Ohioian) play in there.  Those were the days when EMU had a winning team. 

Great pictures, my brother attends EMU and my other brother lives right by downtown Ypsi.  I don't live too far so I'm there once in a while.  I especially like Depot Town.  To see my collection of Ypsi pictures then go to:  http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c198/DowntownZack/Ypsilanti/

Where do you live Zachariah?  I noticed you had a lot of local cities in your photobucket account.  Great pictures btw.  I'm not to far from Ypsi myself.  I've been considering purchasing a house near Depot Town.

I live in Canton, what about you?

I attend Eastern Michigan now.  I will take a photo of the new student center sometime. 

 

The Pease Auditorium is currently under rennovation.

Hum...Ypsilanti looks less impressive than it did when PR first posted this. The business districts are certianly less impressive than his hometown.

I attend Eastern Michigan now.  I will take a photo of the new student center sometime. 

Congrats on becoming a Huron. The Pease Auditorium is currently under rennovation.

Again????  Wow, it was closed for renovations when I first started going there.

 

Hum...Ypsilanti looks less impressive than it did when PR first posted this. The business districts are certianly less impressive than his hometown.

Ink, Ypsi has three commercial districts.  1.)Cross Street area around campus.  Agreed.  Less than impressive.  2.) Depot Town, which at this time is the most thriving of the three.  Small in scale, however. 3.) Downtown (no pictures in this thread) which has seen some investment lately.  I need to do a pics thread of it. 

 

Now to say its less impressive than my hometown.  Well let me say, they would have never let their old library building get to the point of where Middletown's is today.  EMU has one of the better Historic Preservation Programs in Michigan (in fact, Urban Planning Students at UofM rave about it).  So there tends to be a strong focus on Preservation.

Now to say its less impressive than my hometown.  Well let me say, they would have never let their old library building get to the point of where Middletown's is today.  EMU has one of the better Historic Preservation Programs in Michigan (in fact, Urban Planning Students at UofM rave about it).  So there tends to be a strong focus on Preservation.

 

That's what I'm going for, Historic Preservation.

In 1825, when the original Chicago Road was laid out from Detroit, the Village perished and the land was purchased and platted for the Village of Ypsilanti. 

 

The village perished?  How could that have been?  Did you mean "flourished"?

Now to say its less impressive than my hometown.  Well let me say, they would have never let their old library building get to the point of where Middletown's is today.  EMU has one of the better Historic Preservation Programs in Michigan (in fact, Urban Planning Students at UofM rave about it).  So there tends to be a strong focus on Preservation.

 

That's what I'm going for, Historic Preservation.

 

And what do you plan to do with that?

No damn clue lol  Eastern sent me a packet with info about historic preservation and had a list of jobs people typically get with the degree and a lot of them looked interesting.  Someday I'd love to buy old or abandoned houses and fix them up but that's not for a looong time.

Do you think you'll stay in Michigan?

I would like to, only because my family is here but I'll probably have to go somewhere else.  No big deal though, gives me more towns to explore.  I've been everywhere around here.

I just love this block. Too bad this isn't commonplace there, it'd certainly attract visitors.

 

 

 

I love the bar that's in the far left building.  I was just there tonight :)

 

Most of Depot Town is well maintained.  And the one building that's not is currently undergoing renovations.  I didn't have my camera on me or I would have taken a pic.

I didn't make this, but it's pretty funny :)

 

 

I love the bar that's in the far left building.  I was just there tonight :)

 

Most of Depot Town is well maintained.  And the one building that's not is currently undergoing renovations.  I didn't have my camera on me or I would have taken a pic.

 

Thompson Block