Official publication of the Ypsilanti Historical Society, featuring historical articles and reminisces SUMMER 2008 of the people and places in the Ypsilanti area. In This Issue... Highland Highland Cemetery – The Gates ___1 One of a series of articles relating to the many outstanding features of Highland Cemetery. Cemetery – The Ypsilanti Water Tower ________4 The stone water tower located at the highest The Gates point of elevation on Summit Street has long By Margaret Freeman been a controversial symbol of our city. Cruising Down River Street _______6 Joe Butcko, born and raised in Ypsilanti, takes a In 1880, the original Highland Cemetery cruise down River Street and relates some of his entrance gates were flanked on either side by memories of the area. a large and a small house, each in the Swiss “Let’s Play Two!” Patrick Dignan’s Chalet style, built at a cost of $2500. The Twenty Years as Ypsi’s Baseball larger house was occupied by the caretaker, Coach _______________________10 Patrick Dignan’s string of successes as the Head while the smaller one served as a tool house Baseball Coach at Ypsilanti High School is and office. unparalleled in Washtenaw County. An Ypsi Kid was the Catalyst The Starkweather Chapel was completed in for the National Mall in 1889 and the Quirk vault was dedicated in Washington, D.C. ______________12 1896. With these remarkable buildings in The article describes the significant influence that Ypsilantian Charles Moore Jr. had on the place, the need for a definite plan of landscape development and construction of the National architecture was felt. Mr. Simmonds of Chi- Mall. cago was employed to design the grounds. It The Daniel Quirk Jr. House was decided to remove the buildings at the Lois Leetch donated funds for construction and Gardens ___________________14 of the Highland Cemetery entrance gates The house at 206 North Huron Street, now the entrance and they were moved to the north home of Manchester and Associates law firm, where they now stand (Ypsilanti Press, June that were “…to be built and dedicated to was once owned by Julia and Daniel Quirk, Jr. 30, 1936). the memory of her husband, the Honorable Andrew J. Leetch.” Base Lake, Uncle Spen and “The City of Ypsilanti” Tugboat ____________16 Shrubs and plants were started and the Margaret Porter provides a follow-up to the tugboat story that appeared in the Spring 2008 entrance was much beautified. The new An agreement was written up and signed by Issue of the Gleanings. entrance gates were the gift of Lois Voorhees the Highland Cemetery Association officers Leetch, whose pioneer parents, James N. in May 1910, to accept a $1,000 donation How I Was Found in the YHS Archives __________________18 and Martha (Patty) Swarthout Voorhees had from Lois V. Leetch for the erection of the George Ridenour provides some historical come to Panama Township (now Superior) entrance gates. They were to be built and information about the “Alfred E. Neuman” in 1827. dedicated to the memory of her husband, the caricature. Honorable Andrew J. Leetch. This agreement Gabriel Godfrey Wasn’t the First ___19 The obituary of Mrs. Leetch from the Ypsi- was recorded in the Highland Cemetery Re- Karl Williams provides information about the Ypsilanti area prior to the arrival of Gabriel lantian-Press on November 13, 1916 stated cords Book and may be viewed at the Bentley Godfrey. that her generosity and public spiritedness Historical Library in Ann Arbor (Highland Society Briefs: had made several things possible in Ypsilanti. Cemetery Association records, 1863-1963 From the President’s Desk _________2 These things included generous donations – Bentley Historical Library, University of Society Board Members ___________2 to the building funds of the G.A R. hall on Michigan). Fletcher White Archives __________21 Pearl Street and to the Masonic temple. As a Museum Board Report ___________22 lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal These Highland Cemetery Association re- Membership Application __Back Cover Church, she also donated their impressive cords show that in the December of 1912 Gleaning’s Sponsors ______Back Cover baptismal font. continued on page 3 Gleaning’s Advertisers _____Back Cover Board of Trustees: From the President’s Desk Maria Davis, Virginia Davis-Brown, By Alvin E. Rudisill Kathryn Howard, Gerald Jennings, Jackson Livisay, Karen Nickels, The supervision of renovation and mainte- Margaret “Peg” Porter has accepted the Maxe Obermeyer, John Pappas, nance projects continue to keep our board position of Chair of the YHS Membership Alvin Rudisill, Diane Schick, members busy. Projects currently underway Committee. I’m sure we will all be hearing Robert Southgate include the installation of a “wheel chair from her as she plans and implements a lift” in the new entrance on the north side campaign to attract new members. of the Museum, the addition of trees in the Museum Advisory Board: front lawn and shrubs along the north side We have two new interns working in the Virginia Davis-Brown, Kathleen of the Museum, the installation of edging Museum and Archives. Pam German is the Campbell, Marjorie Fahndrich, Kathryn and mulch around the perimeter of the new intern in the Museum and Veronica Howard, Dorothy Humphrey, Jackson Museum, repair of soffits and the installa- Robinson is the new intern in the Archives. Livisay, Fofie Pappas, Joy Shulke, tion of new gutters on both the Museum They are both enrolled in the graduate pro- Robert Southgate, Rita Sprague, and Carriage House, and the renovation of gram in Historical Preservation at Eastern Nancy Wheeler the basement of the Carriage House which Michigan University. will become an extension of the first floor apartment. Elections for positions on the YHS Board of Archives Advisory Board: Trustees will be held at our Fall Membership Kim Clarke, Maria Davis, John Pappas, A new shed has been installed on the prop- Meeting. If you, or anyone you know, is in- Gerry Pety – ex officio, Hank Prebys, erty on the east side of the parking lot. This terested in serving on the Board please let me Diane Schick, Jane Schmiedeke, space will be used to store the lawn and know and I will make sure you are considered Kelly Simpson, Lisa Walters garden equipment necessary for the upkeep by our Nomination Committee. We have of the property. many other positions in the Society that are filled by appointment of the Board. Endowment Fund Our yard sale held on June 7th was a great Advisory Board success with just under $2,500 profit made Our Museum and Archive Advisory Boards Kenneth Butman, Peter Fletcher, on the venture. Thanks to all those who continue to make improvements in our Paul Kuwik, Ronald Miller, donated items and to the many members facilities and programs. We hope you will Jack Minzey, Karen Nickels, who worked during the event to mark items stop by regularly to visit and provide us with Maxe Obermeyer, Steve Pierce, and assist with sales. your input on how we can continually im- John Salcau, Susan Rink, Alvin Rudisill prove our services to the community. ■ Ypsilanti Historical Society 220 North Huron Street Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197 Tel: (734) 482-4990 www.ypsilantihistoricalsociety.org Gleanings Staff Editor _________________ Al Rudisill Assistant Editor _________ Peg Porter Design & Layout _____ Keith Bretzius Advertising Director ____Pam German Finance Director ______ Karen Nickels Distribution __________Pam German If you have suggestions for articles or if you have questions contact Al Rudisill at 734-476-6658 or [email protected]. Ypsilanti Gleanings is published 4 times a year by the Ypsilanti Historical Society, 220 N. Huron St., Ypsilanti, MI 48197 2 Ypsilanti Gleanings • Summer 2008 Cemetery Association records in the Bentley Historical Library show that in 1911, a fee of $600 was paid to William Wilson, an Ann Arbor brick and stonemason who may have constructed the stone pillars for the gates. Highland Cemetery – The Gates wide. Each gate is secured in place to 16’ high etery. The picture of Andrew J. and Lois continued from front page by 3 ½’ square fieldstone pillars. Immediately Voorhees Leetch comes from an old fam- adjacent on either side are similarly designed ily album of Frank and Margaret Freeman wrought iron pedestrian gates, each being 80” (author). Frank is a distant cousin of Lois summary of cemetery expenses, Lois V. high by 51” wide. These side gates are secured Leetch. Their common ancestor is from the Leetch actually donated $2,000 for the to a smaller pair of fieldstone pillars. Swarthout Family. ■ Highland Cemetery gates. An amount of $1,553.83 was deducted from this, which The gates still stand today as an imposing Margaret Freeman is a family historian probably indicates the cost of the gates. A memorial to the Honorable Andrew J. who belongs to the Genealogy Society of balance of $446.17 was listed. Leetch, husband of Lois Voorhees Leetch. Washtenaw County and enjoys researching A plaque is in place on the fieldstone pillar and sharing information about our The Cemetery records also show that in honoring this gift to the Highland Cem- ancestors. 1911, a fee of $600 was paid to William Wilson. A William B. Wilson can be found in the 1910 census of Ann Arbor. His occu- pation was listed as a brick and stonemason. Perhaps he was the stonemason who con- structed the fieldstone pillars of the cemetery gates. Fieldstone was readily available in the Ypsilanti area at this time according to Austin Norton. No identifying markings were found on the wrought iron gates. No information as to date has been found to establish who de- signed or constructed them. The gates were probably forged locally, perhaps by a local blacksmith or foundry. The impressive Highland Cemetery main carriage gates are constructed of decorative The plaque located on the left pillar of the gate indicating they were constructed in 1912 wrought iron, each being 10’ high by 81” through a gift from Lois Leetch.