Published In:
Ypsilanti Gleanings, Fall 2011,
Fall 2011

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Original Images:

The Friendly Feud
Many think the friendly feud between the cities of Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor is a recent trend. However, the following poem appeared in the Ann Arbor Courier on January 14, 1891:

YPSI & ANNIE
(A Romance of Two Cities)

Sweet Annie and Ypsi
For Years have been famed,
As possessing for each
Green envy, untamed.

Whenever old Ypsi
Would boast with a zest
Of the Greek in his name,
And the Gaul ‘neath his vest,

Fair Annie with scorn
From her Arbored repose,
Has on every occasion
Presented her nose.

And Ypsi so stung
By the maiden’s keen wit,
Has often retorted
In language that hit.

He’s called her red-headed,
And hinted that she
Was not always pure
As a maiden should be.

This thing has gone on,
With increasing hate
To the utter disgust
Of all neighbors of late.

But all ways have a turn;
There’s an end to their scorn;
And the incense of orange
On zephyrs is borne.

The two now are wed,
And Ypsi and Annie
Are billing and cooing
And spooning as any.

Date: 07/30/1885

Real Estate Transfers

Frank J. Inward to Chas S. Smith, Ypsilanti, $1,865.
Hiram Fairchild to Chas. S. Smith, Ypsilanti, $500.
John Blakeslee, Adm., to Burt Lawnsburg, York, $735.67.
Anneth M. Lazell to Mary E. Stoner, Bridgewater, $2,000.
Nelson P. Hill to Jerry W. Walsh, Ann Arbor, $850.
C.H. Kempf to Adam Bohnett, Chelsea, $110.
Sarah M. Joslyn to A.L. Parker, Ypsilanti, $350.
Racheal Ring to Miriam Gallagher, Ypsilanti, $500.
Delos Townsend to Phebe Townsend, York, $1,500.
Dorothy Frey to Herman Hardinghouse, Ann Arbor, $1,382.
John Frey, by ex. to Herman Hardinger, Ann Arbor, $6,000.
John Frey, by guardian of heirs, to H. Hardinghouse, Ann Arbor, $620.
Jonathan S. Gould to Abraham Maybee, Augusta, $2,000.

Published In:
Ypsilanti Gleanings, Summer 2010,
Summer 2010

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Original Images:

Author: Maureen Kerwin

Have you seen the Ypsilanti Historical Society's Digital Photo Archives? It is an online collection of approximately 400 digitized photographs documenting a wide range of subjects and time periods in Ypsilanti history. If you have browsed it before, the collection was nearly doubled this spring so there is more to see! You can access the collection through the YHS's website on the "Publications" page. Each image has a description, subject terms, and additional information attached to it. The collection can be searched or browsed by key words.

The Digital Photo Archives project started in 2000 and is a collaboration between the Ypsilanti Historical Society and the Digital Library Production Service at the University of Michigan. The photographs are selected from the archives, researched, scanned, and entered into a database by the YHS; the DLPS provides the web infrastructure that makes the collection accessible online.

The collection is very diverse. There are photographs from as early as the 1870s and as late as the 1990s; they are of cemeteries, churches, cars, people, parades, buildings, sports teams, and more. There is even a photograph of a Japanese opera production from circa 1900! Many of the photographs are related to the automobile industry such as the picture showing the first Henry J automobile sold in Ypsilanti to Mellencamp’s Clothing Store.

Other photographs are related to the many civic organizations that have existed in Ypsilanti over the years. According to one photograph the Ypsilanti Knights of Pythias civic organization were “Michigan State Champions” in 1923. We are not certain what the competition involved but it may have involved costumes.
Whatever interests you about Ypsilanti history, there is certain to be something for you in this collection. If you have questions about the Digital Photo Archives project you may contact me (mkkerwin (at) gmail.com) or Al Rudisill (al (at) rudisill.ws).
(Maureen Kerwin is a student at the University of Michigan and served as an Intern in the YHS Archives working on the Photo Archive project.)
Photo Captions:

Photo 1: A photo from 1951 showing the first Henry J automobile sold in Ypsilanti. The vehicle was sold to Mellencamp's Clothing Store (located at 122 West Michigan Avenue from 1907 to 1984) by the Norris Motors Kaiser-Frazer dealership (334 East Michigan Avenue). Pictured are William D. Stevens and Collin F. Bonner, owners of Mellencamp's.

Photo 2: According to this photograph, the members of the Knights of Pythias civic organization were the Michigan State Champions in 1923. Pictured are Hart, Hand, McGraw, van DeWalker, Tripp, Shaibly, Elsworth, Warner, Smith, Geer, Millage, Tenny, Boutell, Burrell, Pierce, Hamond, and Williams.