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Local Heroes Great & Small
Tours come in all shapes and sizes. This driving tour of Washtenaw County was developed for both residents and visitors to introduce some of our towns and attractions, through the heroes who have lived in the county and perhaps are still with us.
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Ann Arbor |
There is only one Ann Arbor in the world, and Ann Arbor is one city that has something for everyone. Founded in 1824, it offers the comfort and familiarity of a small town with the social and intellectual opportunities of a metropolis. Young people, of course, are the life blood of this university town and account for much of its excitement and vitality. But Ann Arbor is increasingly becoming a magnet for retirees as well, drawn by the intellectual resources of the University of Michigan and the world-class cultural events that are easily accessible year-round.
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| 1. Anns' Arbor Marker |
Outside an office building on West Huron, just west of First Street, a commemorative stone marker not only celebrates the founding of Ann Arbor, but also honors two pioneer women-the unsung heroes of the American frontier. The marker was erected in 1924, the 100th anniversary of the city's founding, and depicts two women, in almost Grecian draperies, sitting beneath a grapevine-covered trellis. The plaque reads, "Near this spot stood a rustic arbor covered with wild grape vines. Here Ann Allen and Ann Rumsey, the wives of John Allen and Elisha Walker Rumsey, met frequently for rest and recreation. The arbor was called Anns' Arbor, and from it, in honor of these pioneer women, the city received its name."
Unfortunately, according to local historian Grace Shackman, this pretty story is almost certainly not true. Allen and Rumsey did mean to honor their wives when they gave "Annarbour" its name, but the two women may not even have arrived when the town was named. "Arbour" in the name refers to the many trees in the area, not to any wild grape vines.
315 West Huron, Ann Arbor
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| 2. Margaret Dow Towsley Sports Museum-
CLOSED INDEFINITELY |
Athletic heroes have long held an honored place in the hearts of University of Michigan students, alumni, and Ann Arbor residents as well. Nowhere are they more honored than in the Margaret Dow Towsley Sports Museum, in imposing Schembechler Hall.
A plaque inside the door quotes Towsley: "My hope is that this museum will inspire all Michigan students to achieve their maximum athletic potential, and in particular encourage women to expand their role in intercollegiate athletics."
Inside the museum the major emphasis is on Michigan's long, illustrious football tradition, with whole display cases devoted to the sport under great coaches from the past, like Fielding Yost, Fritz Crisler, Bennie Oosterbahn-and of course, the inimitable Bo Schembechler! But the other sports for both men and women are also well represented, from hockey and basketball to golf, swimming, and field hockey. There's even a stuffed wolverine and Michigan sheet music, in celebration of the Michigan tradition.
1200 South State Street, Ann Arbor 734-763-4422 M-F 11 am - 4 pm; Sat 10 am - 2 pm; Fri 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm before home football games Closed Sunday, all holidays, and December 21 through January 9
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| 3. Gerald R. Ford Library
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Gerald R. Ford became the 38th President of the United States on August 9, 1974. A quiet hero, his term of office restored calm and confidence in our democratic process and a sense of goodwill among the American people.
The library, on the University of Michigan's North Campus, contains Ford's papers and other collections relating to his public life, with some artifacts on display in the front lobby. Nature-lovers should be sure to visit the exquisite little garden next door at the Bentley Historical Library- one of Ann Arbor's hidden treasures.
1000 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, 205-0555 M-F, 8:40 am - 4:45 pm
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| 4. Holocaust Memorial |
The University of Michigan has many illustrious alumni but few as heroic as Raoul Wallenberg, a 1935 graduate of the School of Architecture. Wallenberg, who became a diplomat in his native Sweden, saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews in 1944. He was captured by Soviet forces at the end of the war and disappeared without trace.
A plaque honoring his courageous efforts stands near the Holocaust Memorial, a bronze statue by Leonard Baskin, erected in 1994 in a tiny park on the southwest corner of Fletcher and East Washington, across from the Power Center. E. Washington at Fletcher
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| 5. Power Center for the Performing Arts |
| Eugene Power, founder of University Microfilms, is an Ann Arbor hero for his philanthropy and his many years of strong community support. But since the U.S. Constitution forbids using the titular prefix, it is not as well known that Power was knighted in 1977 by the British Crown. The honor recognized his work during World War II, transferring archives and documents to the United States for safekeeping, and also his assistance in the campaign to save the site of the Battle of Hastings, along with the abbey that stands on the battlefield.
The Power Center for the Performing Arts, made possible by a leadership gift from Eugene and Sadye Power and their son Philip, is the most technically sophisticated performance space in Ann Arbor. The lobby, which opens an hour before each performance, is spacious and soaring, and features tapestries by Roy Lichtenstein and Pablo Picasso. The audience seating area is modeled after the Greek theater at Epidarus, while the stage is an experimental combination of proscenium arch and thrust.
121 Fletcher, Ann Arbor, 734-763-3333 (box office)
Heroes don't have to slay dragons or save maidens; they can also create nationally known businesses that bring recognition and visitors to their communities. Here are some of Ann Arbor's business heroes.
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| 6. Zingerman's |
| In 1982 Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig founded a delicatessen. But they didn't want just any old deli! They wanted to sell the kind of food your grandmother used, whether she was Italian, Jewish, or Swedish. Their great selection of cheeses, teas, olive oils, and thousands of other fine foods has made them famous from coast to coast-some even call them the best deli in the Midwest. Zingerman's also founded and strongly supports Food Gatherers, a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting unsold food from restaurants and stores, and delivering it for distribution to the needy. Stop by and discover some of the best corned beef this side of New York City. But be careful when you order-one sandwich is usually plenty for two hungry people!
422 Detroit Street, Ann Arbor, 663-3354 Daily, 7 am - 10 pm
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| 7. Border's |
| When Tom and Louis Borders opened their first store in the heart of Ann Arbor they were just one of many book stores in this academic community. But the Borders brothers had something more than most. In addition to an advanced inventory control system that streamlined their operation, they specialized in hiring highly knowledgeable staff. The combination of a "serious" bookstore that was also welcoming and friendly proved to be a winner, and today there are over 200 Border's superstores in the U.S. alone. Visit the flagship store in downtown Ann Arbor, just a block away from the original location, browse as long as you like, have a coffee in the café, and discover the real Ann Arbor ambiance!
612 East Liberty, Ann Arbor, 734-668-7100 M-Sat, 9 am - 11 pm, Sun, 9 am - 9 pm
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| 8. Domino's Farms |
Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza, is the living embodiment of the American dream. Born in poverty, he built a international multi-million-dollar empire out of $500 and many years of hard work. More than that, he made sure that his company headquarters, Domino's Farms, gives something back to the community as well.
From April through October, the Petting Farm offers youngsters and the young at heart a chance to get acquainted with more than 100 friendly animals, including bison and some even more rare species, like reindeer. There's even a show by the farm's 4-legged performers.
24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, north of Plymouth Road just east of US 23, 930-4450
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Ypsilanti |
Drive east from Ann Arbor, through the ribbon development along Washtenaw Avenue, until you come to a large stone water tower. Completed in 1890, the tower marks the entrance to Ypsilanti, named after the Greek general Demetrius Ypsilanti, a hero in the Greek war for independence from the Turks.
Ypsilanti was founded in 1825 and has a long and illustrious history. It is home to Eastern Michigan University, established as the Michigan Normal School in 1849-the first teacher's college west of the Allegheny Mountains. The nation's oldest manufacturer of wood ladders was founded in 1901 in Ypsilanti, and still makes ladders today. Other, more colorful manufactured products included steel bustles for ladies' dresses and "Ypsilanti Health Underwear." These long johns were once known throughout the nation with their marketing slogan, "When love grows cold do not despair, there's always Ypsilanti Underwear."
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| 9. Elijah McCoy Marker |
| A marker on the east side of the Ypsilanti Area Public Library honors Elijah McCoy, the African-American inventor whose industrial lubrication devices were so famous and so widely imitated that customers are believed to have asked, "Is this the real McCoy?"
McCoy, the son of former slaves, was born in Canada in 1843 and trained as a mechanical engineer in Scotland. In the U.S. he made his living as a fireman before patenting his first automatic lubricator in 1872. By the time of his death in 1929 he had patented more than 40 lubrication devices and a number of other inventions, including a folding ironing table.
You can discover more about Elijah McCoy and what life was like in Ypsilanti during his his lifetime at the Ypsilanti Historical Museum.
Elijah McCoy Marker: 229 West Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti Ypsilanti Historical Museum: 220 North Huron St., 734-482-4990
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| 10. Automotive Heritage Collection |
Ypsilanti was the location for several of the pioneering heroes of the early auto industry-Kaiser, Frazer, and most notably Preston Tucker, developer of the Tucker automobile and subject of the Francis Ford Coppola movie "Tucker-A Man and His Dream," starring Jeff Bridges. Tucker's former home, which unfortunately is not open to the public, is a big white house at 110 North Park, just north of Michigan Avenue.
To learn about the city's unusual role in automotive history and see actual vehicles of bygone years, visit the nearby Heritage Collection and Miller Motors, the last surviving Hudson dealership. There you can check out old promotional posters and other antique artifacts along with about 30 old cars and many other exhibits. Friendly Jack Miller is always on hand to answer questions and chat about "car stuff."
100 East Cross, Ypsilanti. 734-482-5200 M-F, 1:30-5:30 pm, Sat 9 am - 5 pm, Sun noon - 5 pm
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| 11. Yankee Air Museum- CLOSED
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Just outside Ypsilanti, in a vintage hangar on the east side of Willow Run Airport, the Yankee Air Museum honors America's aviation heroes and the planes they flew. Outside the hangar a giant B-52 bomber stands guard. Both inside and out are dozens of historic aircraft, many flyable classics, others on static display. In the museum, special display rooms cover topics like aviation in WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, Women in Aviation, and the B-24 Liberator Bomber. The gift shop is a treasure trove of unique aviation related books, posters, patches, and souveniers. Take Michigan Avenue east out of Ypsilanti, turn left (east) onto Ecorse Road, right (south) onto Beck Road, and take the first right at "A" Street to get to the museum.
Tu-Sat, 10 am - 4 pm, Sun, noon - 4 pm, closed Sundays and holidays
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Saline |
From Ypsilanti, drive west on Michigan Avenue (US12) about 10 miles to Saline, an important stop on the Great Saulk Trail, which opened the way to the Northwest Territories. The city was settled in 1825; its name was derived from the natural salt well in the area.
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| 12. Bixby Marionettes |
| Meredith Bixby, who describes himself as "one of the few people who ever made a living at puppetry," is certainly a hero to the children (up to a quarter-million each year) who saw the puppet shows he took around the country from the 1930s to the 1980s. Bixby, whose family has lived in the area for more than 100 years, wrote the scripts, made the puppets, designed and built the sets, and trained crews of puppeteers while his wife, Thyra, made the costumes.
Today Bixby's wonderful creations-incredible, handcrafted puppets like cossack dancers who lift their feet in unison, or a juggler that really juggles-are housed in the front part of the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce office, which has been transformed into the Meredith Bixby Marionette Exhibit. In addition to marveling at the puppets, you can see tapes of some of the actual shows, and watch these entrancing creatures in action.
141 East Michigan Avenue, Saline, 734-429-4494, www.Salinechamber.com/bixby.htm M-F, 9 am - 5 pm, Sat. noon - 3 pm (call ahead to confirm Saturday hours)
NOTE: Great Photos on web!
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| 13. Rentschler Farm Museum |
 This 10-building farm complex celebrates the small farmers who are the real heroes who settled the American west. In 1904, Emanuel Rentschler bought a 216-acre farm at auction and gradually made improvements. Over the years, four generations of Rentschlers lived on the farm between 1904 and 1998, when the buildings and land were purchased by the City of Saline. Today, the farm is operated by the Saline Area Historical Society and features a blacksmith, live animals, traditional crafts, and a 1906 Queen Anne farmhouse, among other facilities. At Rentschler Farm, the young and the young-at-heart can gain a sense of what life was like years ago, when electricity was a novelty and harvesting crops and milking cows were a regular part of ordinary life.
1265 E. Michigan Avenue, Saline, 734-429-9621 or 734-769-2219 Sat 11 am - 3 pm, open mid-May through mid-October
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| 14. Depot Museum |
| After the farmers, the railroads, and the men who built and ran them, were key to settling the frontier-especially in areas not near a navigable river.
The Depot Museum, in Saline's old railroad station, presents many fascinating railroad artifacts, along with items recalling the town's early history. Behind the station is a livery stable, built to house animals being shipped by rail, and a completely restored caboose.
402 North Ann Arbor Street., Saline, 734-429-9621 or 734-769-2219 Sat 11 am - 3 pm, open year-round
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Chelsea |
For a charming country drive from Saline, go north on Ann Arbor-Saline Road, turn left (west) on Scio Church Road), and right (north) on the Dexter-Manchester Road (M-52) to Chelsea. This bustling little town dates from 1834, and its tree-lined streets and unpretentious old homes still have a period charm. The most conspicuous landmark downtown is a European-style clock tower. The elegant building next to it was built by local hero (before he went bankrupt and was indicted for fraud) Frank Glazier, as a recreation hall for his employees; today it houses the Chelsea and Dexter newspapers.
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| 15. Chelsea Milling Company (Jiffy Mixes) |
Howdy Holmes, president and CEO of the Chelsea Milling Company was once a hero to millions of Indy car racing fans. Today he's a hero of a different sort. At a time when ninety percent of American businesses are family owned, but only five percent make it to the third generation, the Holmes family has been milling flour in Chelsea since 1887. Jiffy mixes were developed by Mabel Holmes and launched in the 1930s. "The mix is so simple," said Mabel, "even a man can do it."
Today, Jiffy sells more than half of the nation's muffin mixes, almost four time more units then General Mills and over 23 times more than Duncan Hines. The secret to their success is keeping the quality high and the costs low-the company does absolutely no advertising! The company runs tours of its wonderfully clean and great-smelling packaging facility; if you're travelling as a small party, call ahead and see if you can join a group.
201 West North Street, Chelsea, 734-475-1361, www.jiffymix.com M-F, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm.. Advance reservations required
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| 16. Purple Rose Theater |
| He's played many a hero in the movies, but Jeff Daniels is a real-life hero in Chelsea. Since its opening in 1991, his nationally acclaimed Purple Rose Theater has entertained nearly 160,000 people, attracting visitors who have never heard of Chelsea before. Daniels, who long dreamed of starting a professional, non-profit theater that would allow Michigan residents to see live theater at affordable prices, purchased an old downtown building, renovated it at his own expense, and covered most of the early start-up costs. The theater is committed to developing plays by Midwestern playwrights and theater professionals from the Midwest.
It's worth going to a Purple Rose production just to experience the theater's ambiance. With seats on three sides of the stage and a total capacity of just 168, audiences-especially those in the front rows-often feel they are part of the action.
137 Park Street, Chelsea, 734-475-7902
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Dexter |
Drive west from Chelsea on the Dexter-Chelsea Road to the last stop on our tour, the village of Dexter, and celebrate the grass-roots heroes of America, its farmers and small businessmen, in this quintessential Midwestern town.
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| 17. Dexter Cider Mill |
A little bit of Americana, the Dexter Cider Mill is located on the northern edge of Dexter, where the Huron River flows into town. It's the oldest cider mill in continuous use in Michigan, and one of the few still using wooden presses. A mill has stood on the site since 1836. The first cider mill was built in 1886.
The mill is open from mid-August to mid-November. In addition to wonderful cider and delicious fry-cakes, there's an upscale produce market and the chance to buy a fabulous pie, or even a copy of the Dexter Cider Mill Apple Cookbook.
3685 Central, Dexter, 734-426-8531 W-Sun, 9 am-5:30 pm
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