Monday, October 31, 2011

Another mysterious fire

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Tuesday, October 31, 1911.

Fire broke out in the residence of Peter Stetson at 413 Monroe avenue Monday night about 8:45. The fire department was called and by their prompt action the flames were confined to the rear of the house where the fire started. There was no one in the house at the time and the origin is unknown. The house was owned by Charles Thompson.

Someone threw a match on Western Union awning

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, October 30, 1911.

A small blaze in front of the Western Union Telegraph office caused considerable excitement in the business section Saturday evening about 7:30. The quick work on the part of the fire department, however, prevented any serious consequences.

Just how the fire originated is not definitely known but it is thought that some one passing by tossed a lighted match or a cigarette stub in the awning which immediately set fire to the front of the store. The chemicals used by the fire department together with the prompt assistance of those near by prevented the flames from spreading beyond the awning and scorching the paint on the front of the woodwork of the store.

Charles Richards killed in freak wind accident

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Friday, October 30, 1936.

Charles Richards, 48, Platt, employee of the Washtenaw County Road Commission, was fatally injured about 5 o’clock Thursday night, when he was blown or dragged from one of the county trucks as the men were returning form work. The accident occurred on Ellsworth Road just off US-23.

The strong wind apparently tore the canvas covering from the back of the truck in which Richards was riding alone at the time, said Kenneth L. Hallenbeck, county commissioner, and the covering either caught Richards, or he tried to hold it from blowing off and was dragged from the truck.

Mr. Richards was rushed to Beyer Hospital in Ypsilanti but was dead upon admittance, Charles St. Clair, 436 Second St., Ann Arbor, driver of the truck, said he saw the covering being whipped from the truck and stopped, but not soon enough to prevent the accident. The body was removed to the Muehllig Funeral Chapel in Ann Arbor.

Mr. Richards is survived by his wife, and three children, all grown up. He was not a member of the company local benefit insurance plan, but the members are meeting today to consider his case.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Fire destroys Johnson barn

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, October 19, 1931.

Three fires in Ypsilanti over the week end caused damage amounting to more than $1,300 with the largest loss being the burning of the barn owned by Mrs. Adele Johnson, 507 Holmes Rd., Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock.

Ypsilanti fire department in answering the call was delayed by a freight train and when they reached the address it was too late to save the old building, which had stood for more than 50 years. The entire framework except the north and east sides burned to the ground and tools and stored articles in the barn were also burned.

Origin of the fire is not known to Fire Chief Alonzo Miller.

Fire department was also called to the rooming house above 201 West Michigan Ave., Sunday morning at 11 o’clock when an over-stuffed chair caught fire. The blaze was restricted to the chair and damage was slight. It is believed a cigarette was the cause.

The third fire came this morning at 9 o’clock when a defective chimney started a blaze in the home of R. R. Edmonds, 520 Harriet Street. Damage was confined to near the chimney.

Baby opossum on Downtown street defies populace

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Saturday, October 17, 1936.

Some hunters may have to use a gun and tramp miles through field and wood for their game, but Gordon Teal, 922 Davis Street, merely walks on to East Michigan Ave., downtown and picks up a live baby opossum from the sidewalk.

The ‘possum crouched on the walk at 6 East Michigan Ave., and glared at storeowners this morning when they came to open for the day. No one knew quite what to do with the stubborn little beastie. It has been so long since wild animals’ roamed Ypsilanti streets tha the courageous pioneering spirit of the local natives had died away.

Then along came Mr. Teal, who is practically an authority on what to do with Ypsilanti opossum, for he picked one up a year ago near his home and kept it for several months as a pet. He grabbed Brer ‘Possum by the tail and popped him into a big sugar pail gotten from a nearby restaurant.

Now the opossum is being cared for in the Normal College science building, where he was taken by John Grinage, Jr., 550 Harriet Street.

Wife alarmed as husband leaves, plans unknown

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Friday, October 16, 1931.

The family of A. F. McDougall, 121 North Normal Street, are concerned to day for his safety, but expect his safe return soon, following his strange disappearance about 2 o’clock this morning.

Mr. McDougall had been worried financially, it is understood. He was heard leaving the house about 2 o’clock by one of the student roomers who thought little of it, and did not disturb Mrs. McDougall. About an hour later when their small son wakened her, she discovered that he was gone.

Mr. McDougall left only one note; it was a message of instructions to his broker.

Alarmed when she found the note and realized that Mr. McDougall had left with no word to her, Mrs. McDougall called the police. Search was immediately started. Officers even included the river bank and all trains and busses leaving the city, but found no trace of him.

Mr. McDougall took no clothing and left the family car. So far as his wife knows, he had very little money.

Officers doubt that he took his own life, or intends not to return. It is believed his worries made him feel it would be better to leave the city quietly for a short time, and be alone until he could settle upon the best course of action.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

17 year old son gets drunk

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Record on Wednesday, October 12, 1921.

Last Friday before Justice Stadtmiller a father brought his 17 year old son, stating that his son had left home the previous night sober and came home under the influence of liquor; that his son refused to tell where he got the liquor. Before Justice Stadtmiller the boy admitted the truth of the charge and said he got the whisky, a quart, in Belleville. He said that he could point out the house but did not know the party’s name that sold him the whisky.

The father took the boy to Belleville with the intention of getting out a search warrant and also arresting the offender. Belleville being in Wayne County, the arrest and warrant would have to be made in that county.

Thieves rob restaurant of Charles Pullen

This story was published by the Daily Ypsilanti Press on Tuesday, October 11, 1921.

Charles R. Pullen’s restaurant was robbed early this morning of $20, the theft occurring between 2:30 and 4 o’clock. The thieves gained entrance by breaking the glass in the front door just below the lock, reaching in and unlocking the door and then opening the cash drawer.

When the night watchman left at 2:30 he noticed two men in a car who followed him several blocks, and he thought they going to ask him to ride. However, they soon turned in another direction. At 4 o’clock in the morning the police found the broken glass and called Mr. Pullen up and telling him to come down and see if any thing was missing.

The glass was broken by a pop bottle, which ws discarded in the street. Pieces of glass were found at the other side of the lunch room when Mr. Pullen arrived. The drawer had been opened by someone who knew the combination, as the register was not broken.

The robbery is blamed to two strangers who appeared around town yesterday, apparently taking a look at things on North Washington Street. They went into Gilmore’s once, and into Hughes plumbing establishment three times, in both cases going to the rear of the store before anyone had a chance to ask what they wanted. They were also seen at the back of the stores, trying the doors once or twice. Practically everyone along the west side of that block noticed them, and it is thought that they were undoubtedly the ones who robbed Mr. Pullen. One of the men was tall, and wore a oravanet overcoat, the other was a shorter man without an overcoat.

This is the second time in two months that Mr. Pullen’s restaurant has been entered. The first time entrance was gained through the rear.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Antiques taken from Panek shop

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Friday, October 9, 1931.

The fifth robbery of outlaying business places in Ypsilanti since Sept. 6 occurred between midnight and 8 o’clock this morning when articles valued at $100 were stolen from the Frank Panek Upholstering Shop, 128 Towner St.

The loss was discovered this morning when Mr. Panek went to open the shop which is situated on the rear of his lot on Towner ST. Neighbors on Arnett St.., down which the robbers evidently carried the stolen articles to a waiting automobile stated to Chief of Police Ralph L. Southard this morning that they had remained up until midnight and heard no noise.

Among articles taken were a roll of imitation leather upholstering, approximately four yards of mohair upholstering, an antique small center table and another antique chest, both of which were being refinished and several tools, including saws, hammers, bits and braces.

The robbers entered through an unlocked window and shoe tracks make it evident that they carried the goods across another lot to an automobile on Arnet St.

The only clue left by the robbers were the tracks, evidently of large men, an investigation by Chief Southard revealed.

The two pieces of furniture were antiques brought from Scotland.

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, October 8, 1911.

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Thursday, October 8, 1936.

A $19,248 WPA project for cleaning and beautifying the Huron River through Ypsilanti is one step nearer, it was announced today.

The project had been signed by the President and passed through the comptroller general’s office in Washington, but before reaching Ypsilanti, must be sent through the state office in Lansing and the county office at Ann Arbor. The process will require approximately six weeks.

Work will consist of cleaning the river bottom, constructing rip rap walls along the bank, finishing the stone dams already started near the Michigan Ave. bridge, planting trees and shrubs along the banks, and grading the banks through Ypsilanti.

T. Fred Older, the city engineer, says that work on the project will be started as soon as he has been officially notified.

Elm and maple will be the chief trees planted and they will be placed near the water works.

Sixty eight men will be employed for a period of six months and work will be started on the stretch of land along the banks of the river, from Cross ST., to Michigan Ave.

Farmer sleeps while horses go for stroll

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, October 8, 1911.

Sunday afternoon, as Mr. and Mrs. William Alexander were driving in their car along the Ann Arbor road, they passed a team of horses, one a black and one a gray, coming by themselves hitched to a farmer’s wagon. Later, about a quarter before eight in the evening, as they came into Ypsilanti, they found the same team standing by the standtower. They came down town after Marshal Gage and took him back to the spot. Closer examination revealed that the horses had been hitched there and that huddled in the bottom of the wagon was a man asleep. Efforts to rouse him failed, and Marshal Gage got in the wagon and drove the team to one of the livery stables. On the way, however, the man woke up and gave an account of himself.

He was a Polish farmer from Sumpter and had driven to Ann Arbor he said, with a load of potatoes to sell. What he had done in Ann Arbor which had so long delayed his starting for his Sumpter home he did not state, but, after feeding the team he started home with horses.