• OCTOBER 2010 WASHTENAW COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Who Built My House? The Spotlight's on Chelseal The Fall colors were just beginning to show in time for the start of our monthly program series on Sunday, September 19th. As the afternoon sunlight streamed through the exquisite stained glasss windows of Bethel United Church of Christ in Manchester, Brian Williams presented a fascinating program on post World War II kit houses. We learned about the history and construction of prefabricated houses, including his own 1947 Peaseway home, and a unique architectural detail that identifies them. Many of these houses were built on concrete slabs, with the longer ends facing the street. This made them appear larger, added a front porch and increased the size of the back­ yard, a selling point for families. When the housing inspector pointed out the stenciled joists on the home they were about to purchase, Brian he Museum on Main Street has a new exhibit and his wife Heidi were unsure about showcasing Chelsea's industrial and cultural "'We are honored to what that meant. (Continued on page 4) T contributions to the region throughout the years. The exhibit is from The Chelsea Area Historical have the opportunity WHAT'S INSIDE Society (CAHS) and runs through November 28. to uplift Chelsea's "Our theme came from the idea that the city itself history and reveal its President's Letter ............................... 2 is transitioning from a once dominating industry WCHS Updates ................................... 2 community to one of the arts and other cultural prominent industries Chelsea on Main Street ................... 3 pursuits" stated Janet Ogle-Mater, CAHS President. and arts to others Pease Kit Homes ........................... .4-5 Chelsea entertainment and arts are shown through outside ofChelsea/' Membership ........................................ 6 the presentation of the Chelsea Comet Band, E. E. Walking Tour MP3 .............................. 6 Shaver's photography, Joe Hale's Disney artistry, Janet Ogle-Mater, past theatre houses, and the Purple Rose Theatre CAHS President Consortium Events ............................ 7 Company. (Continued on page 3) Our mission is to educate and inspire our community to engage in the preservation all brings the beginning of school, cooler weather, changing of the leaves and presentation of and a general speeding up from summer's pace. The Society began our area history Fmonthly Sunday lecture programs in September and have a newly opened exhibit at the Museum on Main Street. BOARD OF DIRECTORS But like other corporations, businesses and non-profits such as ourselves we also President Leslie L. Loomans must turn to planning for the next calendar year. While the Strategic Plan guides us over a longer five year period, specific plans for the coming year are necessary. Vice President Karen L. Jania While almost no one wants to spend time creating a budget, it really is the Treasurer driving force for what can be accomplished in the coming year. As with ever¥ Patricia W. Creal organization, financial resources set limits on what can be achieved. Additionally, Recording Secretary a budget keeps an organization from borrowing resources from future periods Judith M. Chrisman for the current period. ; Corresponding Secretary Pauline V. Walters Most importantly, as we continuously seek funding, the board of directors must Ralph P. Beebe assure our members and donors that their membership dues and contributions Tom Freeman are carefully preserved and wisely utilized. Having a plan, including an annual Dale Leslie budget, goes a long way to provide that assurance. Our process is underway. Michelle Lee McClellan, PhD Susan L. Nenadic LESLIE LOOMANS M. Joanne Nesbit Jay Snyder Jan E. Tripp Susan Cee Wineberg October Updates Cynthia Yao Robert Yuhasz Beverly Willis is the new Washtenaw County Historical Society administrator DIRECTORS-AT -LARGE and newsletter editor. She is a University Hon. Julie Creal of Michigan graduate and long-time Mary Florida Ann Arbor resident, working in graphic Wayne Florida design and history related projects. Richard L. Galant, PhD (Immediate past President) Dean Greb We want to hear your ideas and Susan Kosky opinion about Imressions. If you . Donald Cameron Smith, MD have ideas for articles, stories you have written or would like to write, ADMINISTRATOR contact Beverly at the Museum on Bev Willis,lmpressions Editor Main Street: 734- 662-9092 e-mail: Washtenaw County Historical Society [email protected]. P.O. Box 3336, Ann Arbor, MI481 06-3336 ADVISORS Phone: 734-662-9092 Ina Hanel Gerdenich email: [email protected] David LaMoreaux Check out the WCHS website Thomas F. Mich, PhD If you are interested in local history, Louisa Pieper begin your search with our website. Museum on Main Street Thanks to the updates, uploads and (at the corner of Beakes & E. Kingsley) Impressions is published seven design of board member Jan Tripp, 500 N. Main St., Ann Arbor, MI481 04-1027 you can view 1943-2009 issues of times a year September through Museum Hours Impressions on-line and much more. MdY by the Wd~htellclW (uullty Saturday & Sunday, 12 noon - 4:00 p.m. Historical Society, a non profit www.WashtenawHistory.org and by appointment 501 (c)(3) organization. Page 2 October 2010 • Washtenaw County Historical Society Newsletter Chelsea Area Historical Society at the Museum on Main Street, continued "Sharing the Recipe that is Chelsea" The First Prepared Baking Mix was invented in Chelsea Mabel Holmes wasn 't even thinking about business models or marketplaces on the day in 1930 when she noticed that one of the neighborhood children, a boy being raised by a single father, was eating a sorry-looking homemade The Mabel Holmes col/age, behind the desk of Howard Sumner Holmes, has her original handwritten recipes and more biscuit for lunch. Realizing that finding the time to make biscuits from scratch The historic industries of Glazier Stove Works, Federal Screw Works, Portland and was a challenge for a single parent, Four Mile Cement Plant, and Chelsea Milling Company (makers of Jiffy Mixes) are especially forfathers, who rarely cooked highlighted through individual displays. in those days - Mabel decided to come up with a ready-to-make mix that Moving at Howdy Holmes was born December 14, 1949 in Ann Arbor. After would be "so simple, even aman can do successfully competing in the world of motor sports for 20 years, if' The result was Jiffy, America'sfirst 200 MPH! he returned to "Jiffy" the family business in 1987. As a racecar prepared baking mix. driver, Howdy won championships, was the Formula Atlantic Source: wwwjiffymix.com champion in 1978 and "Rookie of the Year" at the Indy 500 in 1979. Tom Diab, a former Chelsea Area Historical Society president, had acquired an old helmet Share your favorite and driving suit from Howdy Holmes. Diab marveled at the pock marks from tiny JIFFY experience pebbles that bounced up from asphalt surfaces and struck the helmet, which was moving at 200 miles per hour. You can see it for yourself. That helmet and an If you have stories, pictures or memories authentic racing uniform he wore in competition, are part of this exhibit. of corn muffins, pancakes, biscuits, cakes and frosting, sugar cookies, brownies, Holmes is currently the President of Chelsea Milling Company, the eighth­ pizza or pie crust... we'd love to hear generation Holmes in the business of flour milling, the fourth generation in from you! So would the family of Mabel Chelsea, Michigan, and the third generation to market the company's Jiffy mixes, Holmes. You can mail them to the the first of which was created by his grandmother, Mabel White Holmes, in 1930. Museum on Main Street Today, "Jiffy" is the market-share leader in retail prepared baking mixes. PO Box 3336 CAHS Museum Committee members served as special docents during the Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-3336 Opening offering their exceptional knowledge and insights into each display. or email your Jiffy story to There is much to discover about Chelsea in this exhibit, that will be on display [email protected] through November 28, 2010. See page 2 for the museum's hours .•:. Washtenaw County Historical Society Newsletter· October 2010 Page 3 Thai'S Mv House! By Brian Williams, Associate Archivist Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan t first it was easier to find A phone call to Mr. Heininger out who did NOT make the provided the vital clue. His recall Brian Williams had fascinating details about Pease Kit Homes A house. Research determined and knowledge was amazing. A small rectangular tag affixed to When I mentioned that the walls Pease gradually expanded their line the rear of the house possibly held and ceilings were wood panels, of products and advertised them the answer, but weather, time, and he immediately concluded that the more broadly. The Pease catalogs many coats of paint had left it all but house was manufactured by either of the 1940s began to advertise unreadable. Gunnison or Pease. Both firms were "Pease-Fabricated Homes:' The pioneering a new form of prefabri­ trademarked phrase touted the Armed with the knowledge that our cation known as "stressed skin factory production and preciSion house at 402 W. Hoover, was built in panels" using plywood. assembly that enabled a Pease 1947, Sears was quickly eliminated House to "go up in a hurry:' as one of the potential manufactur­ Each company offered a variety ers. Sears quit selling kit houses in of basic house plans ranging from The early Pease floor plans were 1940. Two pre-cut home manufac­ $6,000 to $10,000 for fully built and flexible and were primarily Cape turers in nearby Bay City, Michigan: equipped houses. Pre-fabs on Parade, Cod and ranch styles based on a the Aladdin Company and Lewis published by the Housing Institute footprint of 30' by 24: Homes ranged Manufacturing; seemed like good in 1948 for prospective buyers, from four rooms with a bath to a possibilities, but a review of their contained floor plans and illustrations two-story house with seven rooms catalogs and available floor plans from 57 manufacturers of prefab­ and two baths.