116 West Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti

116 is the 2nd building from the right.

This three story Italianate Commercial building is currently used as Ypsi Cycle with storage upstairs.

• ~1892 F.K. Rexford & Sons (Francis K, Charles E. Edgar and Frank H.) Dry Goods
• ~1960s covered in a steel facade since removed.

Vist the YHF for more photos.

112 West Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti

Built in the Italianate Commercial Style
Current Use Avenue Jewelers with Apartments above.

• ~1892 Central Drug Store (Fed S. Davis Proprietor)
• ~1892 Lawrence W. Duggan Boots and Shoes
• ~1960s covered in a steel facade since removed

Look at the Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation for more pictures through the years.

110 West Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti

Built in the Italianate commercial style
Current Use is ‘Look in the Attic.’

• S.H. Dodge (Stephen H. Dodge Jeweler) Watches, clocks, and jewelry
• 1950s,60s Moray’s Jewelers
• 1960s covered with a steel facade since removed

Look at the Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation for more pictures through the years.

108 West Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti

108 West Michigan was built in 1851 in the Italianate Commercial style.

• ~1892 Shaefer & Harding (Bruce N. Harding) Hardware, Stoves, and Tinware. (Arthur B. Casler tinner).
• ~1920s ‘Candyland’ as seen in photo above.
• ~1940/50s – Brien Stephen’s Hoes, Hats, Big & Tall

Look at the Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation for more pictures through the years.

104 and 106 West Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti

The Brick building on the left of the picture is #104,#106 West Michigan Avenue.

Built in 1851 in the Italianate Commercial style. This building is one of the least changed buildings from the date it was built.

• ~1892 #102, 104 – James W. Sweeting second hand store – also James W. Sweeting roomed in building
• ~1892 #102 Lamb, Davis & Kishlar (Fred W. Lamb, Guy E. Davis, and WIll L. Kishlar) Dry Goods, Potions and Cloaks.
• ~1892 #106 Goodspeed & Sons (Herschel, Delbert C., John W., and Theron H.) Boots and Shoes;
• ~1892 #106 Frank Smith Druggist and Wall Paper, ~1897,1898 Frank Smith Spirits — Sample found not to conform to U.S.P. requirements because the sample contained added water
• 1940s Radio Shop
• 1940s Challis Jewelry – owned by the father of John Challis
• 1940s Challis Harpsichord maker John Challis changed the way the world viewed harpsichords and built some of the greatest examples on the upper two floors of this building in his workshop.
• 1950s Sports Shop

100 and 102 West Michigan (nw corner Huron), Ypsilanti

2008 View of buildings

View From Huron Street North C1912

View from Huron st. North C1950

Built in 1851 the building has been used primarily as retail outlets.

• ~1892 #100 was a rooming house; Charles Sigmund barber, PC Sherwood Boots and Shoes; Meeting place for St. Andrews lodge No. 9 (once a month)
• 1930s – Beef Company / Groceries
• 1950s – Landry’s Funiture
• 1950s / 60s Modern Appliances
• ~1980 Pear’s  clothing

17 West Michigan (1 South Huron), Ypsilanti

Original look of the building.

You can see the building on the far left side from 1966 with steel facade attached.

Current View of building

The long lost Starkweather Fountain stood in front of the Ypsilanti Savings bank on S. Huron from 1889 till 1932.

Built in 1877 this building is a Richardsonian Romanesque styled structure designed by the architects: Mason and Rice of Detroit.

• 1877 Ypsilanti Savings Bank incorporated moved into 1 South Huron July 1888
• ~1892 The building still houses the Ypsilanti savings bank but known as ‘The Bank Block’ the building was also the offices of many lawyers and insurance agents.
• ~1892 building used as GH Gilmore & Sons Artistic Painters and Paper Hangers. They probably occupied the annex at #17 West Michigan when the rest entered 1 south Huron.
• 1940s Fire destorys teh tall gabled roof and attic
• 1966 A steel exterior facade is attached to the building (commonly referred to as Cheese Graters.
• 1977 Building becomes the Ypsilanti City Hall
• 1994 Steel facade removed and exterior stone repair/restoration/and renovation begun.
• 2000 restoration completed

7,9,11 West Michigan Avenue

Visit the Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation for more photos.

Built in 1888

Style: Built by Mason & Rice, Detroit; (renovation architect Gary Cooper) Mason & Rice also designed the Ypsilanti Savings Bank (now City Hall), the Watling Dentistry Clinic on N. Huron, The Starkwather Chapel in Highland Cemetery, and Starkweather Hall on the EMU Campus all in the Richardsonian Romanesque (H.H. Richardson) style with arches and prominent roofline

Current use #7 Ypsilanti / Ann Arbor Bank, #11 Eleven West Spa with apartments above.

• 1886 Oliver A. Ainsowrth started a mill on the property
• 1887 December 3rd building destroyed by fire
• 1888 New building up and running 50’x100′, 3 stories with 50hp engine and a steam boiler. NOTE: This mill was run by steam not water.
• ~1892 #9 & #11 O.A. Ainsworth & Co. (Oliver A. Ainsworth and William S. Whittelsey) Dealers in Grain, Seeds, Apples, Wool, Beans, etc. also custom feed mill.
• ~1892 offices of the Ypsilanti Electric Co. Note: Ypsilanti electric Co. incorporated sept 17th 1891. Alexander C. Rorison, President and manager; Frank H. Tooker V.P.
• pre-1906 buildings #9 & #11 became teh Moorman (Burton G.)-Huston Company, of which C.R. Huston is Secretary. They are extensive dealers in all farm products and make a specialty of shipping by the carload. They handle hay, grain, straw, flour, feed, wool, apples, hand picked beans and other farm products and have a large mill and warehouse at Nos 9 and 11 Congress st. west. source past present Washtenaw county pg110
• Since 1910 the building has had numerous uses; feed and grain store, a general store, lumber business, and several restaurants. Last renovation was in 2000 by Phoenix construction.
• 1966 Moormon’s closes
• Falsetta Family buys building and opens Casa Nova Restaurant — Apparently they had a great antipasto dressing
• 1978 Casa Nova closes and the Grainery Restaurant opened.
• 1982 The Grainery closes and opened as Mainstreet Restaurant on Jan 20, 1982.
• 1997 January fire closes the Mainstreet Restaurant
• 2000 Phoenix construction completely renovates and reoccupies building in 2001.

James M. Chidister

• Born Oct. 10. 1821
• Learned the trade of a carpenter
• Arrived in Ypsilanti June 1, 1840
• worked with David Edwards as Carpenter in Ypsilanti
• 1846 opened a grocery store on Congress but after 2 years changed to dry goods.
• 1849 accepted role as under-sheriff held for 6yrs
• 1855 built a sawmill with Showerman and Moore in Augusta.
• 1858 sold out of sawmill purchased house on ne corner of Huron and Race St 219 S. Huron.  Married to Ella J.
• One of the first alderman after incorporation Feb 4, 1858
• 1858 Started another dry-goods store on Congress st, worked for several years but sold due to ill-health.  Managed the Old Farmer’s Store fir 4 years.
• Largely interested in Real Estates and set up estates.  Has a farm 5 miles from city and 1847acres in North Dakota.

Large Source Portrait and Biographical Album 1891 pg286

3 West Michigan Ave.

There is no longer a building at this address but it would have been right on the west bank of the river and might have been included as an address in the Ainsworth Flour Mill Building.

• ~1892 JH Martin Veterinary Surgeons
• ~1892 JC Demosh, G.B. Demosh “DeMosh & Son” Hack,Livery, and Feed Stable – Livery Sales Boarding & Stables