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Ypsilanti Architectural History
Come back again and again!
BTW, all of our downtown and our blocks and blocks of stately homes and churches are contained within the second largest contiguous Historic District in Michigan, second only to Grand Rapids. And all of the homes you showed and more belonged to the many business people, bankers and educators who founded and developed Ypsilanti. The twin tower church you featured is thee First Presbyterian. Our beautiful Victorian farm homes are along Forest Avenue to the north of the city and around the outskirts of town.
If I may contribute somethng I wrote for the Preserve America program ...
Less than two generations after mid-eighteenth century French explorer de LaSalle navigated the Huron River, one of the larger tributaries that feeds the Great Lakes, three large tracts of land known as the French Claims, including the site of a key pre-1780 trading post at the intersect of the Sauk and Potawatomi trails and the Huron River, are combined (1823) by three eastern settlers, Woodward, Stewart and Harwood, to plat a city. Woodward names it (1825) for Greek patriot, Demetrius Ypsilantis. Ypsilanti soon becomes Michigan's second city, after Detroit.
Settlement and economic development are Ypsilanti's initial drives. The Huron River quickly transitions from bateau byway to hydro resource for Ypsilanti mills and factories. Settlers build schools (1824) and apprentice teachers (1835). New roads from Detroit to Ypsilanti and westbound carry adventurous settlers, as many as 2000 per week at time, while Ypsilanti's burgeoning milled and finished goods flow east in great abundance. Following on the heels of Michigan statehood (1837), the railroad reaches Ypsilanti and dramatically expands commerce (1838).
Building upon its solid commercial base, Frontier America's cultural needs and teacher shortage are answered in Ypsilanti by the founding of Michigan Normal (1849), now Eastern Michigan University, which broadens Ypsilanti's social, civic and workforce skills. Opening the frontier also demands new farming implements answered by A. O. Thompson, the call for construction equipment answered by Michigan Ladder, and railroad engineering genius fulfilled by Elijah McCoy, father of "The Real McCoy." Following the many inventive geniuses in Ypsilanti, Henry Ford's unique manufacturing drive helps raise the conomic bar less than a century later (1930s) with automobile production in Ypsilanti. Ford takes us to even greater heights with his WWII effort, as his Willow Run auto plant rapidly converts to B-24 bomber assembly, building one an hour, 8000 total, setting the stage for Ypsilanti's post-war economic boom. New economic initiatives continue to today as Ypsilanti reinvents itself from heavy manufacturing to technology, health care, and other new industries through the SPARK business incubator, B2B youth entrepreneur programs, and other civic/business/university partnerships.
As for our 19th century architecture ...
Ypsilanti's formal embrace of preservation is its rejection of Urban Renewal (1960s) and its commitment to preservation by ordinance. Ypsilanti can boast of our intact 19th Century center city, our multi-cultural community heritage, and our vibrant mercantile, arts and entertainment-focused downtown ringed by elegant homes, walkable neighborhood streets, inviting landscaped parks, our riverfront, and the Depot Town district. All are protected within our Historic District. Our Historic Commission guides continued restorations. And activities of our Historic Museum and Archive, Historic Foundation, Automobile History Museum, Fire Museum, the oldest continuous 4th of July Parade in the United States, and numerous other cultural and entertainment festivals support Ypsilanti Preservation.
It's our geography ...
The confluence of the Indian trails made it highly desireable for commerce. The river gave us power. And the railroad (Michigan Central) made Ypsilanti one of its largest rail yards, building not just a lovely depot, but a 6500 square foot brick Italianate Freighthouse. Only Jackson's yard became larger in time, due to the intersect of north-south and east-west rail lines. Ann Arbor's lovely depot was never paired with a large freight yard and freighthouse.
And there you have it.
Please do come back ... often. In October 2010, ride the train to Ypsilanti and stay a while.
Thanks.
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