Build Auction Sale Pavilion

This story appeared in the Ypsilanti Daily Press of Saturday, March 21, 1908

An auction sale pavilion, calling for an investment of more than $4,000, will be erected this spring by Warren Lewis, the international live stock auctioneer, on his property at Babbitt street and Lincoln avenue. It will stand unique in the state of Michigan, although similar institutions have proved successful in other American cities.

The sale pavilion will be built adjoining the Michigan Central sidetrack which passes over Mr. Lewis’ property. This insures the best of shipping facilities for those who will send stock here to dispose of at auction and to buyers who may wish to ship out heir purchases.

The pavilion will be built with glass sides and wholly enclosed. The seats will be amphitheater style with a ring as in a circus where the stock will be in plain view of everyone when it is under the hammer. There will be na auctioneer’s stand and cashier’s desk. The sales will be conduced summer and winter and in order to make it thoroughly comfortable in cold weather, the pavilion will be equipped with a steam heating plant. There won’t be anything small or cheap about the whole affair. It is designed to be one of the auction centers of the country and a leading attraction of the city.

“I propose to pul off some of the big farm auction sales here too,” said Mr. Lewis. “It will be central and farmers can bring in everything they have to offer. But it is principally designed for the sale of horses and cattle.”

Mr. Lewis owns the property from North to Babbitt street, lying along Lincoln avenue and the Michigan Central railroad. On North street he has fitted up one of the finest equipped had luxurious homes in the city.

Whole family has narrow escape

This story appeared in The Ypsilanti Daily Press of Tuesday, March 10, 1908

Roy Dickson, wife and two children, aged 20 months and six months old respectively, had a narrow escape from drowning on Friday. They were driving from the residence of Chas. McIntyre, to there home on the Marion Merritt farm, when the accident occurred.

A creek, which is dry in summer time, had owing to the thaw, became a raging stream of water so high that it covered the road. Mr. Dickerson had driven over this road only a few hours previous, and found the water just a few inches deep and did not anticipate any danger. He had crossed a small bridge on his way back, when the water struck his buggy, and he with his family were swept into the stream and carried nearly 30 yards in water over their heads. Mrs. Dickerson had the baby in her arms and pluckily hung to thee child. The water was over her head, and as she came to the top a second time she grasped a fence and hung on.

Mr. Dickerson in the meantime, with the older child had effected a landing on the side opposite his wife.

Palmer Gridley saw their predicament and with help took them to the Fullington farm, where they were cared for. The baby was only revived after it had been worked over for an hour and a half.

The horse when rescued had only its nose sticking about the water.