Biggest Fish Story of Year—Fisherman Takes Alligator from Huron

The Ypsilanti Daily Press published this story on Tuesday, July 28, 1936

     Batting his line for fish and catching a Georgia alligator is the experience a fisherman had Monday night on the Huron River in the Vicinity of the gas plant. (Where the DPW yard is now at Forest and Huron.) It is 18 inches long and young.

     It was taken to the Ypsilanti Tourist Park (now Water Works Park) where it has found asylum. Jack Flagg, custodian, thinks it may have been somebody’s pet and escaped or was turned loose, or it may have been left behind by some show. One of its feet is a little injured, and it carries also the hook mark in the roof of its mouth.

Fire at the Central Specialty Plant

The Ypsilanti Daily Press published this story on Monday, July 11, 1938

     Extensive damage occurred at the Central Specialty Company (located on north west corner of Forest and Norris Streets) this morning, when a destructive fire swept the foundry, main unit of the plant, and leveled it to a mass of twisted sheet iron and charred framework.

     The blaze started at the height of a severe electrical storm, and was attributed to lightning. No estimate of the damage was available today, but the loss is fully covered by insurance.

        The fire was discovered by two men who were just reporting for work, after it had already gained considerable headway. Firemen, summoned immediately, were handicapped from the start, as gates in the iron fence surrounding the grounds were locked and time was lost in scaling them and running the hose underneath while employees were trying to break the fastenings with sledgehammers.

     The task of fighting the fire was made more difficult by the type of construction of the building, and the fact that flames had consumed a considerable portion of the molding room before the fire department was summoned. A stiff breeze from the east was an added hazarded.

     The fire apparently stated in the heart of the plant, a frame building covered with corrugated iron. It burned very rapidly and made a spectacular picture with flames leaping in te air against a background of smoke. Heavy showers failed to curb the conflagration, which spread westward, eventually damaging a large core room to a considerable extent. An eighty foot tower-like section on the bank of the Huron River was the last to be ignited. Flames outlined the ridge at the top and leapt around a ventilator. The fire was so high that water from the hose did not touch it and it was necessary to attach the pumper to obtain sufficient pressure. In all, five lines of hose were used and the fire was under control within two hours of the call.

      Flying embers were carried westward and did little damage, most of them falling into the river.

     Ypsilanti police officers stayed at the scene to keep spectators back from the walls of the building, most of which fell.

     Despite the handicaps under which they worked, firemen were able to save the new sections of the buildings.

     Although a great deal of water was used this morning for the fire, there was little drop in city water pressure as he tower tank is kept full for just such an emergence, according to water department officials.

     The most serious loss sustained in addition to the buildings was damage to the overhead cranes. The cupolas are still intact and the cupola used for work from mail order houses is situated in another building.

     Operations halted by destruction of the building will be resumed in about a week, plant officials estimated. About 250 men were to have returned to work today after a 10-day layoff.

     As soon as insurance adjustments have been made, it is planned to erect a new, more modern building to replace the burned one.

     (By the end of the year, the damage was repaired, and the men called back to work.)

Pool of Blood Drips from Car

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, may 27, 1940. A pool of blood, estimated at about one pint, which leaked from the trunk of a car which stopped for gasoline at Ecorse and Michigan Ave. Sunday night started state police investigation. Hartwell E. Russ, operator of the station, said he noticed the pool after the car had started away and he did not get the license number. The driver, a man, alone, he said. State police took the blood to Dr. S. M. Goldhamer, blood expert of University Hospital, who ran several tests Sunday night. The blood appears to be that of a human in some tests, but fails to react properly in others, he stated, and admits he is frankly puzzled. He is continuing the tests today.

Tradition Ended by Death

Mrs. Martha J. Shankland was 80 years of age on July 29, 1913, when she went to bed that night. All seemed well at the house at 517 Cross Street, where she lived with her daughter Harriet. At about 2:30 in the morning Harriet looked into the room where her mother slept. She saw her was asleep and all was quiet. There was reason for concern, although there had been no signs of despair or grief that day. “Mrs. Shankland had been in feeble health for some time. Recently occurred the death of her brother, and since that time she has been moody and despondent. She has never been able to become accustomed to his absence,” noted The Daily Ypsilanti Press of Wednesday, July 30, 1913. The next morning Harriet missed her mother when she arose. There was no trace of her in the house, and none of her cloths were missing. It was thought she had wondered away, dressed only in her night gown. “A search was at once instituted, neighbors and friends with automobiles volunteering their services, and scouring the country and environs of Ypsilanti, while persons on foot attempted to find some trace of her in nearer spots,” reported the account. Oscar Snyder, employed by an ice company, was driving his wagon across the bridge near the Peninsular Paper mill, where peninsular Place Apartments are now, when he saw the body in the Huron River. He at once informed officials at the paper mill. John J. Haviland, an employee of the paper mill oversaw the recovery of the body from the river. Mrs. Shankland was dressed only in her heavy bath robe, shoes and night cloths. Ypsilanti Mayor Frank Norton identified the body as that of Mrs. Martha Shankland. “The body was taken to the undertaking establishment of Clark Brothers,” reported the account. The coroner decided that a post mortem would not be necessary. “She had brought a rope with her, and crossing the bridge, had tied one end around a little tree at the top of the great concrete abutment, and the other around her waist. Then it would seem she had leaped into the darkness toward the river. The rope broke, and she struck her head on a jagged rock, a blow that doubtless produced unconsciousness at once,” reported The Daily Ypsilanti Press. The funeral was set for the Friday of that week, with interment in the cemetery at Dixbore. The death of Mrs. Shankland turned a tradition into a living memory, noted The Daily Ypsilanti Press of Thursday, July 31, 1913. All her life at Ypsilanti, Mrs. Shankland conducted a boarding and rooming house for students at the Normal College, now Eastern Michigan University. The college had no dormitories then, so students rented rooms in houses in the city. “Innumerable men and women who came here for their few years—members of classes that graduated 30 and more years ago—have memories of the days they spent within her homelike dwelling, and it has been their custom when they returned to the city for reunions or at any other time, to call upon her, and revive old memories. Mrs. Shankland was a figure of college life years before many of the splendid modern buildings of the campus were more than dreams, or even conceived.”

Pugilist Lands in Court after Winning Fight

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press on Wednesday, June 13, 1923. Seeking satisfaction through pugilistic methods in not always satisfactory; at any rate, it landed Freemont Peterson in jail. This is the way it happened. Harry Hixon has a cleaning establishment on Huron Street and Freemont Peterson was one of his costumers, his name is no longer on the books. According to the story told the judge, Peterson left a suit there to be cleaned, and in the cleaning process it was burned, or in some manner other way ruined. Several times Peterson declares, he endeavored to have the loss adjusted but without success, and last evening when he went to the hixon place, he intended to get satisfaction if possible. Peterson declares that what he really received at the hands of Hixon was not at all satisfactory. In act, he charges that Hixon hit him in the jaw. In the fight that followed, it seems that Peterson proved to be the best man. Hixon’s father was summoned before the fight ended, and when he endeavored to interfere Peterson’s son objected and a second round, by two different members of the same two families was staged, in which the Petersons were again triumphant. But here the law stepped in. Freemont Peterson was escorted to the city jail where he spent the night, and this morning Harry Hixon signed a complaint against him charging assault and battery. The law acted quickly, Peterson being arraigned during the forenoon. He pleaded not guilty, on the grounds that Hixon struck the first blow and trail will take place tomorrow morning. So far no suit has resulted from the second bout. (The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.)

River Banks Not To Be Used AS City’s Dumping Grounds

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press on Tuesday, June 5, 1923. Dumping of rubbish in vacant lots in the city is not to be conuntenanced by the city any longer. With the Centennial nearing, it is felt the more imperative that the city be cleaned up and at the meeting of the city council last evening it was voted that the dumping of rubbish along the river banks should be prohibited henceforth. Not only are the river banks barred as a dumping ground, but all city property is included in the general order, and the street commissioner is authorized to post notices to this effect. The using of vacant property, especially the river banks, as a dumping grounds, was felt to be disgraceful to the city. As Alderman Ableson expressed it, “If the old Indians who used to live here could see what we’ve done to the river banks, they’d scalp the whole bunch of us.” In addition to the action on the part of the city, a communication from residents of North River and Norris Streets, protesting the dumping of rubbish on vacant lots in that vicinity, was favorably considered. The communication was referred to the aldermen of the ward, with instructions to investigate and report back to the council. The city is not without a dumping grounds. The Norris Street pit can be used for the dumping of all rubbish, as the pit should be filled up anyway, Alderman Beck announced.

Arrest Burglar Entering Davis Store at Depot

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press on Monday, June 4, 1923. Steve Michaels is in the city jail today facing a charge of attempted burglary following his arrest Sunday night by Officers Lawrence, Vay and Morey. Two companions escaped. About 10:30 Sunday night residents in the vicinity of Cross and River Streets saw three men prowling around back of the D. L. Davis store and notified police. The officers were dispatched and caught Michaels in the garage back of the store. The two men who were with him made good their escape when they saw the officers coming. Michaels had with him a revolver, two sledge hammers, the heads of which were covered with tape to prevent any sound, a jimmy, gloves and a flash light. Police confiscated his tools. Michaels had entered the garage through a window. The garage is connected with the store, and he was about to force entry into the store when captured. Michaels and his two companions, one of whom is known to police, have been in town only a short time. Saturday they worked for the Scovill Lumber Company at odd jobs about the yards, and were seen about town Sunday. They did not have a car. Michaels, who is about 25 years old, and a Pole, has so far refused to give any information as to where he comes from or who his companions were. He will be arraigned before Justice Stadtmiller some time this afternoon.