Structure of 1837 Torn Down

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Wednesday, November 27, 1912. The “Ark”, which has furnished refuge for many a business and trade in its long existence on the streets of Ypsilanti, has been demolished by order of the state fire commission. It has been in existence as long as Michigan has been in the Union as a state, having been built in 1837. It was erected in that year by A. H. Ballard on the east side of the river in the vicinity of the Huron Milling company on Water Street. It was designed for a tannery but was not finished. Later it was taken down and re-erected at the corner of Pearl and Washington Streets, where it has since stood. The Ark is the only building which survived the fire of 1851. It is said by an old Ypsilanti resident that the rest of the business section was totally wiped out at the time. A contemporary of the Ark is the old building now back of Cleary College (then on what is now Michigan Ave.), built for a Presbyterian church and now used as a monument shop.

Caught by Shaft, J. R. Trufant is Badly Injured

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press of Tuesday, November 26, 1912. Caught in a shaft, J. R. Trufant, manager of the Ypsilanti Milling Co., was this morning battered into unconsciousness while no one chanced to be near to render assistance. Fortunately his clothing gave way so that he was dropped to the floor before his injuries were fatal. After some time he recovered consciousness and dragged himself far enough to call for aid from his engineer. Medical attendance was immediately summoned and his wounds dressed. Bones were found broken in his left arm and left leg and his head was badly cut over one eye. Mr. Trufant is resting comparatively well this afternoon and physicians believe that he will recover, although there is possible danger from internal injuries that may not have yet been discovered.

Kidnapper Fails in Attempt to get Doris Arnet

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press on Saturday, November 18, 1922. A bold attempt at kidnapping was made at 7:00 o’clock Friday evening when Miss Doris Arnet, 11 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Arnet of Washtenaw avenue was accosted by a man in an auto. The little girl had been sent to a Cross street store on an errand and when west of Brower street on the return trip home a man in an auto stopped and asked her to ride. She refused the offer but the man kept a short distance ahead of her until Summit street was reached when he started to alight from the car. Little Doris ran down Summit street and up Sheridan, thinking to avoid him. The man followed in his auto to Sheridan street where the road is blocked and then gave chase on foot. Doris ran into the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Shaefer on Sheridan and the man went back. Mr. Shaefer accompanied her home while the would be kidnapper made good his escape in the auto. Police were not notified, and Doris was not able to give a very adequate description of the man.

D. U. R. Cars Pile Up When Machine Blocks Tracks

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press on Saturday, November 18, 1922. Three interurban cars banged into each other last night at 11:40 when a Reo sedan going east on the car line just this side of the country club skidded on to the tracks in front of the east bound local. Only one man, Clyde Moore, a conductor on a special car which was following, was hurt. The Reo, belonging to a Detroit man named Saddleman, was badly damaged in the collision, but the driver was not hurt, as he had time to get out of the machine before the local car hit it. Following the local was a freight. This car stopped just as it came up to the local which had already put out her lights, but the freight crew did not have time to get lights to the back of their cars and a special car which was just behind the freight, was unable to stop and crashed into it, the conductor on this car sustaining a badly injured back in the wreck. He was taken to an Ann Arbor hospital where x-rays will be taken to day to determine the extent of his injuries. The driver of the Reo could not explain to D. U. R. officials how this machine happened to run up onto the D. U. R. tracks. It was badly damaged in the collision with the interurban which followed as was the D. U. R. car. The accident happened on the side of the hill just west of Ypsilanti. The special car which struck the freight train had just come down a hill and could not stop in time to prevent an accident, after the motorman discovered that the freight ahead had stopped. The entire front of this car was caved in in the collision. Quite a crowd of people, some of whom had been attending a party at the country club gathered and helped get the auto from the tracks before the interurbans could go on. The machine was taken to an Ypsilanti garage D. U. R. officials were told.

City Buried Under Record Snow Fall

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Wednesday, November 16, 1932. A snowfall that has no parallel at this time of the year in this vicinity, as far as old-timers in the city can recall, has disrupted traffic over a wide area and has been responsible for minor accidents and delays among motorists. At noon today, the fall had reached a depth of approximately one foot. The street department crew and trucks were engaged in removing the blanket from the main streets of the city and in applying cinders to the hills on important thoroughfares. According to Herbert Renton, street commissioner, no men were taken on for the task of removing snow besides those already employed by the department. Mr. Renton started that a crew wa engaged during the night with putting cinders on the hills, and that he had been out all night trying to keep the streets as clear as possible. Seven plows were out early this morning clearing walks. Warmer weather during the day started to melt the snow, but plans were being made to continue the work of clearing streets and walks. It is possible, Mr. Renton stated, that it will be necessary to put a grader to work on Michigan Ave. to throw the snow away from the curb. He added that a crew will be put on tonight to continue removal of snow from the streets. It is planned to have the work go on during the night after the bulk of the traffic has abated. A report from the Michigan Central station revealed that most of the trains coming into Ypsilanti were behind schedule. Trans were delayed from five to 20 minutes in their runs. Railroad traffic is held up so that no predictions could be made as to the time at which trains would arrive. Although the buses on the local runs were slightly behind time, those on the Chicago-Detroit runs were far off schedule. Trucks going through here frequently had difficulty in negotiating the hills at either end of the city. The larger tucks were inconvenienced most, while some of those with trailers attached found it necessary to leave the trailers behind. Police were called to guard a live wire at the corner of Congress and Normal Sts. Early Tuesday evening when one of two cars involved to an accident at that intersection struck a Detroit Edison Co. pole and snapped the wire loose. The accident occurred during the storm when F. J. Holleron, 1109 Grant St. driving east on Congress St. collided with the machine of Roger Cline, Packard Road. According to police report Mr. Cline failed to stop for the stop street and his car was struck from the side and badly damaged. The front bumper, headlight, radiator and frame of Mr. Holleron’s machine were damaged. The county road commissioner’s office put 10 men and 12 trucks at work at 6:30 this morning. Trucks had not been attached to snow plows, as the early arrival of winter had not been anticipated, and it was necessary to summon the men at about 3 o’clock, to get equipment ready for use. Truck line roads were given immediate attention, and less traveled thoroughfares will be cleared later in the day. Reports to the county office stated that large trucks and buses were encountering difficulty west of Ann Arbor, with delays and stalled machines general.

Citizen Contribute to Woman Owner of Flat

This story was published in The Ypsilanti Record of Thursday, November 16, 1922. Many kindly disposed citizens of Ypsilanti have recently been contributing money to an old woman shoe sat at the intersection of two of the city’s most traveled streets with a little hand organ. The old woman was poorly clad, wore large dark goggles and had a most pathetic appearance. To look at her one would naturally be led to believe she was only one jump ahead of the poor house. The police department here made an investigation and learned upon reliable authority that the ‘beggar woman’ owned at least three flats in Detroit. The last time she came here the police told her to take the next car back to Detroit. She did.

Babcock Store and Oil Station Robbed

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press on Monday, November 13, 1922. Two weekend robberies, neither furnishing any tangible clues to work on, are occupying the attention of local police today following a holdup at the Standard Oil station, corner of Ellis (now Washtenaw) and Washington streets last night, and a robbery at the Babcock store on River street during the preceding night, besides the robbery of Parkview Pharmacy and tool houses next door. Police were not notified of these occurrences. The robbery at the oil station, which netted the thugs a little over $49, occurred last evening at about nine o’clock. Two armed men entered the station and while one covered the attendant, Earl Smith, with his revolver, the other rifled the cash drawer and then turned attention to the safe. Before the men were able to gain access to the safe, however, Frank Price, of Pontiac, chanced to entered the station. The two men coolly walked out of the station carrying their guns and went east on Ellis to where their car was parked near Huron street. Mr. Price, who was driving a Cadillac, followed the men saw them get into their car and drive north on Huron. Realizing they were being followed they stopped just beyond the city hall and one man got out of the machine apparently waiting for Mr. Price to come up to him while the other drove around onto Cross street. Thinking they were intending to take his car away Mr. Price turned on Emmet street and drove back to Cross, but was unable to pick up their trail as the car had disappeared in the rain and fog. Neither Mr. Price nor Mr. Smith both of whom immediately went to the police station, where able tell what make of car the thugs were driving. Mr. Smith was of the opinion that it was a Buick roadster, but Mr. Price thought it was a Ford. Chief Connors states that it was practically impossible to see any distance because of the rain and for that reason neither man was able to get the license number. Mr. Smith was unable to give even an adequate description of the men. Neither were masked, and he told Chief Connors he had never seen them before, but could give no details as to their clothing or appearance. He stated that one wore an overcoat. Chief Connors at once telephoned to Detroit, Ann Arbor and Jackson police, but due to lack of information, states that he has little hope of apprehending the robbers. This morning Mr. McLane, general manager of the Standard Oil station, located in Ann Arbor, went over the situation with Chief Connors and checked up on the money lost. In the safe there was over $100. Attendants do not have a key to these safes, however, so it was necessary for the thugs to open it without the key. It was while they were working at the combination that Mr. Price drove up and frightened them away. Sunday morning when Fred Babcock went to his store on River street, he found that the front window had been carefully taken out by digging away the putty and that about $40 worth of tobacco and cigars taken. The thief had removed the glass without breaking it and left it beside the door. Nothing was taken except the tobacco. Police have no clues to work on in this case as it is not even known what time during the night the robbery was committed. Chief Connors does not think that it was done by any Ypsilanti person and is also of the opinion that the oil station was robbed by members of a well organized gang which are robbing oil stations all over the country. The same night that the Babcock store was entered thieves attempted to break into the Parkview Pharmacy on East Michigan. First the tool house next door belonging to Scott & Scott, architects, who are erecting the three new stores for Mrs. Mary Campbell, was broken into and a chisel, hammer and crowbar taken. These tools were left beside the back door of the drug store after the thieves had apparently been frightened away. The Parkview Pharmacy has been robbed three times before and some time ago an iron clad door was procured, which has an iron bar across the top and a pad lock. The bar had been knocked down, and the door pried open about half an inch but the thieves did not gain access. Police were not notified of this attempted robbery George Binder, one of the proprietors, is of the opinion that the same person or persons who robbed the Babcock store tried to enter his store but were frightened away.

Prowlers Take Coat and Money At Miller Home

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press of November 11, 1922. Prowlers last night entered the home of John Miller, 128 College Place, and carried away his overcoat and about $10 in change that Mrs. Miller had left in a dish on her sideboard. The Miller house is always left unlocked as students room there, and consequently the thief had no difficulty in gaining entrance. The robbery was not discovered until about nine this morning. When Miller went to his store this morning he was unable to find his overcoat, but thought his son might have worn it away by mistake as they have coats similar in appearance. Some time later when Mrs. Miller left for the store she discovered that the money was gone and asked Mr. Miller about it, when she went to the store, thinking he might have taken it. Inquiry in the family developed the fact that both the money and coat were entirely missing and Chief Connors was called. In looking over the Miller house, Mr. Connors found burnt matches on the floor in the room where the money and overcoat had been left. Mr. Connors does not think that any but prowlers committed the theft. He states nearly every night such men are picked up or voluntarily come to police headquarters for lodgings and that many of them are in need of overcoats and funds this time of year.

Planned Bold Escape But Didn’t Balance Well

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press of November 11, 1912. Ed Rowe, who was arrested on the street Thursday and lodged in the city bastile, sometime in the night planned to escape through a long narrow window, at the top of the room. He proceeded to pile up chairs to reach the opening but he overlooked the acrobatic requirements that his plan demanded. He gathered all the chairs and tables accessible, piled them carefully high up the wall and with hopes running high, commenced the bold ascent. But the glory period was brief. Creak, smash went the chairs and Rowe found himself not outside a free man, but in the selfsame cell, on the floor and nursing a dislocated shoulder, a severely bruised face and an injured leg. He has been under the city physician’s care since.

Places Rail In Road, Farmer Is Hauled To Court

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press of November 10, 1922. William Clawson, Ypsilanti Township farmer, arrested on a charge of ‘assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than the crime of murder’ following his attack upon George Shock, waived examination when arraigned before Justice Thomas in Ann Arbor yesterday and was bound over to the December term of the circuit court. Clawson was arrested by deputy sheriff Dick Elliott Wednesday. According to the story told Justice Thomas, Clawson had placed rail along the side of the road to prevent men who were working on the road from driving on his lawn. The men, George and Fred Shock, and C. M. Bissell had been plowing up the road to get it in shape for the winter, and in order to do this they must drive upon the Clawson land. Finding the rails there, one of the men started to take them away when Clawson came out with a shot gun which he pointed at George Shock. The two Shock man took the gun away and at once went to Ann Arbor where the complaint was made. Clawson was arrested the following day and taken to Ann Arbor. Following his release deputy sheriff Elliott told him the rails must be taken away immediately or he would be arrested again. According to neighbors the rails have not been removed. Dwight Crittenden, highway commissioner, had previously complained of Clawson’s placing the rail in the road, but he had failed to remove them.

Man Disappears After Collision Leaving Machine

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press of November 6. 1922. William Button’s milk delivery wagon was practically demolished and thirty bottles of milk broken in a collision which occurred this morning at about four o’clock on West Michigan Ave. According to the drivers, Durand Gotts and James Causman, their wagon was struck by a Ford car driven by a colored man who hastily left following the accident without giving his name. The man was accompanied by Mrs. Byron Tanner, Mrs. Tanner was somewhat injured in the collision, and wa taken to a neighbor’s house until a physician could be summoned. She declared that she did not know who the man was with whom she was riding. Police were called following the accident, and Chief Connors is endeavoring to establish the identity of the driver. He left his car, which was badly damaged at the scene of the accident and has not yet returned. Aside from Mrs. Tanner, whose injuries are considered slight, no one was hurt in the accident.

Chief Connors Gets Merriman House Breaker

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press of November 3, 1922. Chief of Police John Connors returned today from St. Louis, Mo. where he went to get Thomas Burke, aged 52, who confessed there to having robbed the Marriman home here about a month ago. The prisoner still had in his possession a number of the war savings stamps he secured here and he told of having hidden liberty bonds in the vicinity of Wayne. Chief Connors took him to Wayne, this afternoon to afford him opportunity to verify the story and he was to be arraigned this evening in Judge Stadtmiller’s court. A wrist watch which was also stolen from the Merriman home was being worn by a maid in the hotel where Burke was staying. She declared that Burke was a gentleman and gave her the wrist watch for taking ice water to his room for him.

Burglar Terrorizes Southside District

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press of November 1, 1937. A midnight to dawn marauder terrorized residents on the south side of the city between one and four-thirty o’clock Sunday, molesting four homes, choking an aged woman, and obtaining 65 cents for his night’s work. Entering the home of Mrs. Anna R. Ewell, 115 Hawkins St. about 4:30 a.m. by removing the screen in a downstairs bedroom where she was sleeping, the thief demanded her money. When Mrs. Ewell, who is 74 years old, refused, he choked her and left her in a serious condition. She is resting fairly comfortably today, however, and her daughter, Mrs. James Bell, who lives with her, said that when her mother heard the man removing the screen she thought it was someone upstairs closing a window. Mrs. Ewell was alone in her room on the first floor, she said, the rest of the occupants of the house, Mr. and Mrs. Bell and their two children being asleep upstairs. The marauder did not make a very thorough search of the room, Mrs. Bell said, and left as suddenly as he had come. She said, that her mother reported he had talked a great deal, and although she could not see him, would remember the voice. He seemed to be of average height, talked with no trace of an accent and reeked of tobacco smoke although there was no indication that he had been drinking. The Ewell report was the fourth received by police, the first being at 1 a.m. when Douglas L. Cruickshank, 205 E. Ainsworth Blvd. reported a colored man had tried to crawl in through an open window on the second floor. Mrs. Cruickshank saw the man, he said, and when her husband started to get out of bed the marauder fled. The next report came from a home in the next block when Elmer L. Peters, 303 E. Ainsworth Blvd., said that about 2:30 a.m. he had seen a man prowling around their house as though trying to gain entrance, but he that he had fled on finding he couldn’t get in. The next attempt at entrance was successful, however, when at 4 o’clock a man broke into the home of Mrs. Lillian Acre, 520 Jefferson Ave. through a rear door, took a billfold containing 65 cents from an upstairs bedroom, and left through the front door. Later the billfold was found discarded on Hawkins St. and was returned to Mrs. Acre. The police are not certain the same person is responsible for all the crimes, but the similarity of technique used in entering, the proximity of the four places entered to each other, and the time element during which the offenses took place all point to the same origin. Finger prints have been secured and are being checked. Reports from the residents molested indicate that the man is colored, was wearing a grey cap and old blue coat.