~ NOVEMBER 2010 MUSEUMON • MAINSIREET...... • =-.!Iiiii. •_ •• ~ •• •• •!Iiiii. , m.... III iii dll 'III !III DD ; 111 !I! 'c=J :!I! E- 1:-- L DD I::u , . A Museum Of GXUlt)' Life WASHTENAW COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The View from The Big House

On Sunday, October 17th, about twenty­ five members of the Washtenaw County Historical Society met at the Junge Family Champions Center in Ann ArborforThe Big House Talk and Tour of Stadium. Dr. Robert Soderstrom, author of The Big House, Fielding H. Yost and the Building of Michigan Stadium, gave us an enlightening, in-depth narrative and visual presentation. He described just how innovative Yost was in building the stadium and the significance ofthe Ohio State games. We learned the story behind college football's first trophy "The Little Brown Jug" (see page 6), how UM became "Champions ofthe West" Members of the Washtenaw County Historical Society Group talk about the tour and where the idea for the stadium near the 50 yard line. (L-R) Board president, Les Loomans, WCHS member Ann Edwards, tunnel came from. (Cont. on page 3) WCHS board member Ralph Beebe and WCHS member Lois Foyle. BIG

ACCORDING TO MICHIGAN LEGEND, Yost was impatient HOUSE}o'II·;I.!JIl':"4 It. y~ q ..,,­ I'"'' /I" Ht rr.flrO'.'I., 'J,I WHAT'S INSIDE with slow players, he would say: "Hurry up! ... If you can't :'11(' l[ I (~Al': hurry, make way for someone who can!" Fielding "Hurry Up" !-i T '\ J) I -Y 1\1 President's Letter ...... 2 Yost was a successful businessman, author, lawyer, coach and The book written by WCHS Updates ...... 2 visionary leader in molding college football into a national Robert Soderstrom The Big House Tour ...... 3 sports phenomenon. He won six national championships, begins with the season Fielding Yost: Hurry Up ...... 4-S 10 conference titles, the first Rose Bowl and invented the of1922 that laid the linebacker position in the early 1900s. As Athletic Director he cornerstone and concludes November Events ...... 6 with the stadium dedica­ built Yost Ice Arena, UM golf course and Michigan Stadium, Liberty Awakes ...... 7 tiongamein 7927that then the country's largest college stadium. Today, his pillar­ pit Michigan against its Women's Suffrage Program ...... 7 less, 109,901 seat stadium is the WORLD'S largest college infamous rival, Ohio State. stadium and 3rd largest in the world overall. (Cont. on page 4) It is a fascinating story. Our mission is to The President's Letter: The View from Our House educate and inspire our community to t's really quite easy to remember the years our house, the Museum on engage in the preservation Main Street, was constructed: the rear portion in 1835 and the front in 1839. and presentation of I Michigan, of course, became a state in 1837. In fact, President Andrew Jackson area history signed a bill making Michigan the twenty-sixth state on January 26, 1837. Actually, the citizens were ready for statehood as early as 1835, but the dispute over the BOARD OF DIRECTORS Toledo Strip delayed Congressional action. No less than two conventions were held right here in Ann Arbor, the second on December 14, 1836. President Leslie l. Loomans So our house (the original portion) was here as statehood was decided on. Vice President One wonders if the Kellogg family was aware of the happenings downtown at Karen l. Jania the County Courthouse. Treasurer Do stop in to see the current exhibit, but even Patricia W. Creal when there isn't an exhibit, stop to take a Recording Secretary close look at our house. Generally, someone Judith M. Chrisman is there most weekdays. Sections of the walls have been kept open to show split lath and Corresponding Secretary brick nogging construction. As a member you Pauline V. Walters may be able to peek. upstairs and be shown Ralph P. Beebe ceiling lath and names and heights of children Tom Freeman written on the inside of the attic door. It's a Dale Leslie Michelle Lee McClellan, PhD neat piece of history. Susan l. Nenadic . LESLIE LOOMANS M. Joanne Nesbit Jay Snyder Jan E. Tripp Susan Cee Wineberg Cynthia Yao Robert Yuhasz

DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE Hon. Julie Creal Mary Florida Wayne Florida Richard l. Galant, PhD November Updates (Immediate past President) Dean Greb Would you like to get your issues of Susan Kosky Impressions digitally? The Washtenaw Donald Cameron Smith, MD County Historical Society prints and ADMINISTRATOR mails our newsletter in black and white Bev Willis, Impressions Editor to be cost effective. If you would like to Washtenaw County Historical Society see your Impressions delivered to your P.O. Box 3336, Ann Arbor, MI481 06-3336 ADVISORS email address as a full color PDF, let us Phone: 734-662-9092 Ina Hanel Gerdenich know! You can email Pauline Walters at email: [email protected] David LaMoreaux [email protected]. Thomas F. Mich, PhD Museum on Main Street Louisa Pieper We want to hear your ideas and (at the corner of E. Kingsley & Beakes) opinion about Impressions. If you 500 N. Main St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1027 Impressions is published seven have ideas for articles, stories you Museum Hours times a year September through have written or would like to write, Saturday & Sunday, 12 noon - 4:00 p.m. May by the Washtcnaw County contact Beverly Willis at the Museum Historical Society, a non profit and by appointment on Main Street: 734- 662-9092 501(c)(3) organization. e-mail: [email protected].

PAGE 2 NOVEMBER 2010 • WASHTENAW COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER The Big House Talk and Tour, continued They traveled by train, the largest percentage of Michigan students to Champions of the West this day that ever attended an away game. In 1923, the Wolverines were On January 11, 1895, the presidents undefeated National champions. of University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Construction on the Big House began University of Minnesota, University in 1926. Fashioned after the Yale Bowl of Wisconsin-Madison, Northwestern the stadium's original capacity was University, Purdue University and 72,000, but Yost made certain to install Lake Forest College met in Chicago footings that could allow for up to to discuss the regulation and rev­ 200,000 seats. The new stadium, with enue of intercollegiate athletics. a capacity of 84,401, was dedicated in 1927 when Michigan played Ohio In 1896, at the meeting that estab­ State. Michigan emerged from the lished the conference, Lake Forest tunnel to play and win 21-0. was not there and was replaced by Michigan. The organization was then The Coliseum in Ann Arbor called the Western Conference: Pur­ When planning Michigan Stadium, due, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Yost spent a lot of time visiting and . After the talk, we went to the locker Illinois, Chicago, and Northwestern. studying stadiums. He compiled a room, tried on helmets and pads and That's where the line "Champions of scrapbook of the stadiums he was took lots of pictures by favorite play­ the West" comes from in Michigan's inspired by and it is available for ers lockers. A trip through the treat­ song "Hail to the Victors" public viewing at Bentley Historical ment room led us back outside into Library on North Campus. In the the lobby of the Jack Roth Stadium The Big House and Ohio State middle of the scrapbook are 3-4 Club. We then took the elevators up to tour the club level and skybox Yost became Michigan's athletic pages of ancient Roman stadiums suites and see the Heisman Trophies. director in 1921 after a successful they have a tunnel from the outside The view of the field from the inside coaching career from 1901-1920. that goes onto the floor of the arena. is as impressive as the view of Ann In 1921 UM boasted the largest Yosts' idea for the UM tunnel came Arbor on the outside. college stadium in the country, but from the ancient Roman coliseums. lost the game to Ohio State that year. There's only one way to enter the playing field at In 1922, OSU built their new stadium. the Big House, and that's Skeptics thought the huge stadium through the tunnel at the would never be filled, but on Octo­ 50-yard line. Walking ber 21, 1922 over 70,000 fans came through, one cannot help out for the dedication game against butthinking of all of the Michigan. Michigan won 19-0 and great players and coaches won their first Big 10 title since 1904. over the past 83 years, Over 6,000 of those fans were from who have come down Ann Arbor, and UM only had 10,000 that tunnel and stepped students. onto the field.

It was inspiring to learn about one of the greatest eras of college football history and experience the Big House In Ann Arbor for ourselves . •:.

WASHTENAW COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER· NOVEMBER 2010 PAGE 3 53 Years Ago: Memories of Fielding H. Yost November 1957

This excerpt is from an article written in 1957 by Ernest J. Allmendinger ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Anative of Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the November Impressions. After seeing Michigan Stadium in October Ernest Allmendinger played right guard and right 2010, it seems appropriate to look back to October-November 1957 and find tackle at Ann Arbor High School for teams that lost one game in three seasons. Allmendinger played the guard stories written even then, 53 years ago, about Fielding Yost. You can find this position at the from 1911-1913 artcle and one by Fred Lawson (also about Yost) in their entirety on our web­ under Fielding Yost. He worked for 34 years as an engi­ site at www.WashtenawHistory.org.Onthehomepage.click on Washtenaw neer for the Washtenaw County Road Commission from Impressions archives for of all issues printed from 1943-2009. They are 1921-1954, and after that for the Huron-Clinton Met­ available to view and download as PDFs. ropolitan Authority.

met the Coach in 1911, my first year on the Michigan Squad, I during our preliminary practice at Whitmore Lake. We put up at the old Stevens House. My first instruc­ tions were how to catch a football. Here is a snapshot of the Coach tell­ ing me some thing like this:

'The hands and arms are extended to receive the ball on a punt or pass. The ball is led into a pocket formed by one hand on the bottom, one on the top, so the ball can't bounce out and the body forms the inside of the basket. Don't fight the ball, y'know."

The Coach was full of lively, pithy sayings. About Sportsmanship he would tell us, "We don't have time to think of dirty football; you can't do NMost Cordially, Fielding H. Yost - Hurry Up' The car is an eight-cylinder Packard, a gift to Yost from "several hundred alumni· on the day before the new stadium was dedicated in Odober 1927. Yost personally wrote a thank you to each of the donors. your best when you are thinking of getting even. But there is nothing in To the quarterback he would say, He constantly reminded his players the rule book that says you can't hit so 'That's an awkward way of passing that they represented their friends, hard that his slats rattle. This is not a the ball- be a ballet dancer, - have the University and the thousands of game of tiddlywinks, Y'know." rhythm, with a lot ofZing - y'knowf" alumni. He referred to the players as "His Boys" and was proud of them. To deflate one's ego, the Coach To quiz the engineering students he "Bottles" Thompson was captain in would say, "1 don't care what you have would tell them they were playing 1912, and a few days before our big done, or what you can do, it's what with a prolate spheroid. I can see game, our captain received word you do do that counts with me." him demonstrate to the line men. of a death in his family. We were How to line up properly, to get the at Dave Willets' training table. The To the young center candidates, on proper stance, head and eyes up, Coach got up, spoke a few consol­ passing the ball to the quarterback, feet well apart like you were lifting a ing words and then mentioned Mr. Yost would demonstrate and run heavy weight, hips down, cleats dug Saturday's Pennsylvania game. We off this rhyme: into the ground, twisted in so you wondered how he would meet the can't be pushed or pulled around. In situation. The Coach looked up and "Not too high, this way you get the initial "charge, ' down the dining table and said, Not too fast the Zip, the Zing, the smash-bang that "Tex, you've got to fill in for Bottles Not too low gives you the impetus to get in the tomorrow." (Cont. on page 5) Not too slow" other backfielder" .

PAGE 4 NOVEMBER 2010 • WASHTENAW COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Memories of Fielding H. Yost (Cont.)

Tex Meek, a big gangling boy who was no fullback, was thunderstruck. So were we. Tex was a great kicker and punted Michigan out of trouble that Saturday afternoon.

He was a keen observer. I once sat with him at a basketball game in Yost points Yost Field House, Michigan playing inside the box seats portion Cornell. Cornell was exceptional ;:~~;:;~~ ofa sparkling that night, very hot,seldom missed new Michigan the basket. Shooting fouls they stadium in 7927 put them right in the middle of the hoop. Michigan's time: every­ thing wrong, missed the free throw completely. Next time Cornell tried it was perfect again. I said, "coach, they never even hit the basket!" Coach Mrs. Yost a check for a million dollars replied, "We don't either!" A lawyer in one of the big office buildings dropped his wal­ for him to use in development ofthe area. And this at a time when stock Along came World War I, and I let. The Coach called to him, picked markets were unstable. Many busi­ remember how proud Mr. Yost was it up - and friendship and business ness opportunities followed; some when in 1917 at Soldier's Field in started right there. This lawyer was were accepted, but Ann Arbor was Chicago, he refereed the game in charge of property in Tennessee - never left out of the picture. between the Great Lakes Jackies they had a lot of information about and Fort Sheridan Army team. this area. They talked of develop­ I have taken a few notes from ment, water power, coal and oil. "Football for Player and Spectator" There were rivers and 10 creeks He had eight Michigan players on 3 written by Yost in 1905. the Army and the Jackie team. Al­ feeding into the large streams. The bert Benbrook, Jimmy Craig, Stub Coach suggested Dan Macgugin, "Hurry up and be the first man Millard and myself were on the Army who was Mrs. Yost's brother-in law. to line up." team. Aggie Hildner, Loucks, Phil "Hurry up - Football is a game of They all worked together for six Raymond and another Michigan Hurry, hurry, hurry!" years, meeting utilities people, player were on the Jackie (Sailor) "Hurry up - and block your man team. The Jackies averaged about hydro-electric developers, builders hard when you should block." five years younger and had plenty of of dams and power plants. "Hurry up - and learn to control time to practice; we practiced after 9 P.M. in the tan bark riding The Coach made many of the your temper; ifyou cannot do hall. Score Army 7, Jackies 27. negotiations with the people on the this you'd better quit the game." Yost smiled! watershed because he knew them "Hurry up and help your own runner. and they knew him. This started Never let him go it alone ." in 1910. Mr. Yost at this time was Last Monday I had a pleasant visit "Hurry up and do as your coach and spending only 2 months in Ann with Mrs. Yost. The Coach married trainer advise you. Ifyou know Miss Eunice Fite of Nashville in 1906. Arbor coaching the Michigan teams. more about the game than they In 1910 Fielding Jr. was born and The rest of the year he studied do, it's time for you to quit." three grandchildren now range in land contracts, easements, contour age from 9 to 16 years. I wanted to high water lines, land clearing "Hurry up! " learn of an incident about the Coach methods and hiring lawyers. The which isn't usually written in biog­ developers depended on Mr. Yost On August 21st, 1946, Fielding died, raphies. Mrs. Yost related how her and he was pleased in their confi­ a great friend, a fine leader, a true husband got started in business. dence in him when he showed sportsman was the Coach . •:.

WASHTENAW COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER· NOVEMBER 2010 PAGES The Little Brown Jug College Football's Oldest Trophy WASHTENAW COUNTY HISTORICAL CONSORTIUM

October 31,1903, NOVEMBER-DECEMBER EVENTS Michigan The Washtenaw County Historical Consortium is a volunteer organization repre­ traveled senting 27 museums, libraries, and historical attractions in and around Washtenaw to Minne­ County, Michigan. Member organizations can post their events directly to the online apolis with calendar and we will list as many as we can in our newsletter. For the most recentlist­ a 28-game ings check out www.hvcn.org/info/wchs/consortium winning streak. Keene Fitzpatrick (Michigan trainer) did not trust Minnesota to Celebrate! The Bentley at 75 Years provide the Wolverines with clean Now through December 22, 2010 drinking water. He sent student­ manager, Tommy Roberts, to buy Visit the Bentley Historical Library to learn how Dr. Lewis G. Vander a five-gallon jug for 30 cents for Velde's dream of creating an internationally-renowned collection of Michigan to store its own water. archives documenting the University of Michigan and Michigan and her people came to fruition. The exhibit is open Monday-Friday, In the greatest upset of that season, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM-12:30 PM. Bentley Historical Minnesota tied Michigan 6-6, the only Library, 1150 Beal Ave, Ann Arbor. www.Bentley.umich.edu points Michigan allowed that season. The tie ended the Wolverines' winning The Kempf House streak. After the game, 20,000 Minne­ Saturdays and Sundays, December 4 & 5, and 11 & 12. sota fans stormed the field in celebra­ tion, and during the chaos, Minnesota A German Family Christmas will be celebrated on Saturdays and custodian Oscar Munson stole the Sundays, December 4 & 5, and 11 & 12, with house tours, 1-4 pm. jug from the Michigan sideline and This restored 19th century Greek Revival home will be decked out with brought it to Minnesota Director of a traditional tree and decorations reflecting a German-American fam­ Athletics, LJ. Cooke, to commemorate ily's celebration of the holidays in the early 1900's. Christmas cookies the upset. will be served. Admission free. Donations appreciated. , 312 S. Division St., 994-4898. Later that season, UM Coach Fielding Yost sent a note to Cooke asking for the jug back. Cooke wrote back, "Ifyou Genealogy Lecture want it, you'll have to win it:' Michi­ Sunday, December 5,2010, 1:30pm-4:30pm gan did that when the teams met up "Electric Interurbans in Washtenaw County and Milan" with Milan at­ again in 1909, and 1910. Minnesota torney, historian, and author Martha Churchill. The class will be"Reli­ and Michigan met up again in 1919 gious Affiliations: Quaker and Baptist"with GSWC panel. Genealogical after Michigan rejoined the Big Ten Society ofWashtenaw County. St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Conference, marking the first year that Center Auditorium, 5305 Elliott Dr. (off E. Huron River Dr. at Clark Rd.). Minnesota won the jug outright .:. Use parking lot P and look for the club's signs. Free. 483-2799. Image from www.mgoblue.com Detroit Observatory Open House Give Ihe Gift of Hislorv! Sunday, December 5,2010,1-4 p.m. Newsletters· Programs. Networks The Detroit Observatory is the oldest extant observatory in America Ifyou would like to give a to retain its original telescopes from the 1850s in working condition W(HS membership as a birthday or in their original mounts. Take the free half-hour guided tours of this restored 19th-century observatory museum. Pull the rope and rotate holiday gift to someone the telescope dome! 1398 E. Ann Street (at Ann and Observatory), call Pauline at 734-662-9092. Ann Arbor, www.Bentley.umich.edu/observatory/ www.WashtenawHistory.org

PAGE 6 NOVEMBER 2010 • WASHTENAW COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETIER MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR WCHS MONTHLY PROGRAM: NOVEMBER "Liberty Awakes" Exhibit January 8-February 27, 2011 "WhV did Washtenaw Countv vote The Museum on Main Street, 500 N. Main Street in Ann Arbor. against sunrage, not once, but twiceil" View original and replica artifacts and memorabilia-everything from broadsides, banners and voiceless You are invited to get the answer to that speech scripts to a tea set, parade question, and learn more about a movement dresses and cookbook recipes for the that led to the passage and ratification of the cause. Presented byThe league of Nineteenth Amendment. Jeanine Delay and Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area. Zoe Behnke from the league of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area, will bring a unique Have you seen this button? insight into the women's suffrage movement in Washtenaw County. Do you have any Washtenaw County Join us and discover the events, Women's Suffrage supporters and detractors that items or memorabilia? impacted the movement The league of Women in southeast Michigan. Voters of the Ann Arbor Area is still looking for some items for Mrs. Daniell. Quirk, Jr. of Ypsilanti, founder, next year's exhibit: Liberty Awakes in { Ypsilanti Equal Suffrage Association in 1912 Washtenaw County.

Sunday, November 21,2010 • 2-4 PM Exhibit Wish List Glacier Hills Retirement Community, Hanson Room If you, or someone you know, has any , 200 Earhart Road • Ann Arbor of these items to loan for this exhibit, please call the Museum on Main Street, 734-662-9092 or email For more information call [email protected]. The Museum on Main Street 1. Candlestick Telephone 734-662-9092 or email 2. Kardes brand carbon paper box [email protected] 3. Kellogg's cereal boxes, vintage 191 Os This is a free program and 4. Typewriter, vintage 191 Os open to the public, 5. Votes for Women Buttons bring a friend! 6. Washtenaw County/Michigan ballot for 1912 election 7. Voting Machine used in 1912 8. Michigan Grange, WCTU, National Association of Colored Women, Maccabees literature 9. Michigan anti-suffrage literature 10. Suffrage song sheet 11. ERA document from 1920s IN WASHTENAW COUNTY ~NWO-MEN WON THE VOTE- ~ ------~ ---

WASHTEN AW COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER. NOVEMBER 2010 PAGE 7 NON -P RO FIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID ANN ARBOR, MI PERM IT #96

PO BOX 3336 ANN ARBOR, MI 48106-3336

Electric Trolleys of Washtenaw County

Sunday, February 20 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Chelsea Retirement Community 805 West Middle Street

The Washtenaw County Historical Society • www.WashtenawHistory.org Save these 2011 dates! Upcoming WCHS Programs

Electric Trolleys of Women in the Civil War 1 50th Anniversary of the Civil War Jane Schultz presents a lecture Washtenaw County on Women in the Civil War H. Mark Hildebrandt, Sunday, March 20 retired pediatrician and Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM life-long student of history, Ann Arbor District Library w ill t alk about the long­ 343 S Fifth Ave, Ann Arbor gone street cars that travelled between The Civil War Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Tom Collier on the Civil War, environs. The book is a jOint meeting with the available in our Gift Shop. Genealogical Society of Sunday, February 20 Washtenaw County 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Sunday, April 17 Chelsea Retirement 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM Community St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, 805 West Middle Street Education Center Auditorium Chelsea 5305 Elliott Drive, Ypsilanti Use Parking Lot "P" Sergeants of the 3rd Michigan Infantry. Photograph. C. 7861.