Monday, October 8, 2007

Depot Town Ghost Tour

I will be hosting a Ghost Tour of Depot Town on the weekend before Halloween, October, Friday, October 26, Saturday October 27 and Sunday October 28, 2007. Each tour beginning at 7:00 PM in the parking lot off River Street, across the railroad tracks from the Freighthouse. There will also be a tour on the afternoon of Sunday, October 27, 2007, beginning at 2:00 PM. The tour will include stories of ghosts, murders, mysteries and more. Stories will include the murder of Henry Minor and the mystery of the Tunnels of Depot Town Admission for each tour is $5.00 per person. I am looking forward to seeing you there.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Accidents Galore

This story was carried by The Ypsilantian on October 3, 1907.

Last week was prolific of accidents, but not serious results. Thursday afternoon while Mr. M. O. Straight of Detroit was giving several of his friends an automobile ride, they took the steep Tuttle hills. They went down the north hill safely but when nearly at the top of the south hill the machinery went wrong and the chauffeur was unable to stop it. The auto backed down the hill and was making for the bridge, where it would have gone off and dropped some distance into the river. As the ladies in the tonneau were closed in by the curtains, which were down, the gentleman realized the danger and pulled the car off the road by a great effort, landing it against the fence with such force as to break the back of the car badly, but without harming the occupants. A traction engine that came along just then towed the car out of its bad plight. (The sight of this accident is now under Ford Lake, as Tuttle Hill road once ran through there before the damming of the river. The bridge in the story is still there under the lake.)

Friday afternoon the brewery team ran away down River street, being frightened by the cars at the depot, and on turning into Congress street (now Michigan Ave.) caught the hind wheels into the buggy wheel of the rig in which Street Commissioner Lewis was sitting and whirled the horse and buggy completely around. The buggy wheel was smashed and Mr. Lewis wrenched his ankle in springing out, but none of the horses were hurt.

Saturday night the arc light wire in front of Davis & Co.’s store at the depot burned off and dropped to the pavement while the street was filled with people, making a fine display of fireworks and scaring everybody around. A telephone to the waterworks led to the turning off the current and the break was soon repaired. The same evening a tree limb fell across the Washtenaw electric Co.’s wires near Geddes and for two hours during the busy shopping hours, the stores had to resort to gas lamps and candles.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Family are Destitute

This story is from The Ypsilanti Daily Press of Wednesday, October 2, 1907.

A more pitiable condition could not be found in Ypsilanti than that of the family of Oscar Lawrence, who were burned out, on Railroad street, Monday night.

Almost destitute before the fire, they are now left penniless and with no household goods, and no clothes except what they had with them.

Mrs. Lawrence has been sick with a low fever for the past two months, and is just able to be up now.

Their four little boys, aged ten, five and three years, have poor prospects for food and warm clothing this winter.

Mr. Lawrence, who engages is horse trading and cistern cleaning, ahs no steady work.

Mrs. Lawrence, in her weak and nervous condition is almost frantic with worry.

“If it were only in the spring it wouldn’t be so bad,” she said, “for I don’t know how we will ever get through the winter.”

The family is now staying with his father and mother, at 53 East Forest avenue.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Depot Town Ghost Tour

I will be hosting a Ghost Tour of Depot Town on the weekend before Halloween. The tours will be on Friday, October 26, 2007 and Saturday, October 27, 2007, beginning at 7:00 PM in the parking lot on River Street, across the railroad tracks from the Freighthouse. I am also thinking about holding a tour on the afternoon of Sunday, October 28, 2007, for those who prefer not to go out at night. The tour should take about an hour, and will include tales of ghosts, murder, and more. Cost $5.00 per person Looking forward to seeing you there.