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Ann Arbor 200

The Road Not Built: Ann Arbor’s Packard-Beakes Bypass

During the 1950s and 60s, construction of new roads and highways throughout the United States was booming. Suburbs were growing faster than cities, and new traffic patterns were needed. But in many cases these new building projects divided or demolished Black neighborhoods. Detroit’s Black Bottom and Paradise Valley were vibrant cultural and musical centers where most of the city’s Black residents lived. City planners demolished these neighborhoods in the 1950s to make way for the Chrysler Freeway and Lafayette Park. 

The Old Neighborhood

Ann Arbor has its own story of a neighborhood that was almost divided. In 1966, voters approved a $1 million roads bond issue for the Packard-Beakes Bypass. The proposed new route would keep commuter traffic off Main Street. Instead, that traffic would go through the predominantly Black neighborhood north of downtown. Dozens of family homes would be razed. Longtime residents know this area as the Old Neighborhood or North-Central Ann Arbor. Many now call it Kerrytown.

Street map of downtown Ann Arbor showing bypass route
Ann Arbor News, April 1, 1972

Ann Arbor’s neighborhoods were mostly racially segregated until the 1960s. Redlining prevented non-white residents from buying homes outside of certain areas. Most Black residents lived north of downtown and south of the railroad tracks. A junkyard and slaughterhouse operated next to the neighborhood park. Despite these conditions, Black families created a tight-knit community there. They built homes, churches, and a community center.

The Packard-Beakes Bypass was not the first attempt by the city of Ann Arbor to clear out this Black residential area. By the mid-20th century, city leaders were looking for ways to revitalize downtown. They wanted to remove Black-owned businesses on Ann Street and make the area more attractive for white consumers. They latched onto Urban Renewal as a way to do so.  

Urban Renewal

Urban Renewal was a federally funded effort to clear large tracts of land in U.S. cities for new construction. Neighborhoods with older or deteriorating buildings, often in Black or immigrant communities, were targeted for renewal. “Slum clearance” was a common phrase used by city planners. Black author James Baldwin famously called Urban Renewal “Negro removal,” and the name rung true for many families who lost their homes.

In 1955, Ann Arbor City Council president A. D. Moore identified the North-Central neighborhood as a prime candidate for Urban Renewal. “Our largest area touched by blight is bounded by Main, Ann, Detroit and Depot St. It is an old area, with many old buildings.” He also argued the Black business district on East Ann Street was ripe for removal. He said, “these [structures] have outlived their day, but no one can afford to buy them, raze them and replace them.”

Street map with North-Central neighborhood highlighted
A 1956 Urban Renewal Plan

The Council brought in federal commissioner James W. Follin for advice. By 1956, a formal proposal for Urban Renewal surfaced in Ann Arbor. Mayor Samuel J. Eldersveld and planning director Ray C. Eastman outlined a 75-acre area of the city for revitalization. But residents of the Old Neighborhood were cautious after seeing the devastating effects on Black communities across the nation.

Reverend C. W. Carpenter of Second Baptist Church warned that Black residents wanted renewal, but not relocation. Some homeowners would be pressured to take on high mortgages for renovations they could not afford. At least 249 families would be displaced and 172 residential structures demolished. Residents attended special City Council meetings in March and July of 1958. Most agreed with Rev. Carpenter, who stated, “We will fight this thing from the lowest court to the Supreme Court of the United States.”

A year later, City Council passed the Urban Renewal plan by a 6-to-5 vote. But Mayor Cecil O. Creal vetoed the plan. Creal had been on a special committee studying the effects of proposed Urban Renewal in Ann Arbor. He was concerned that the City Council was implementing a plan without voter approval.

Packard-Beakes Bypass

The Packard-Beakes Bypass project ushered in another decade of debate over the Old Neighborhood’s future. Soon after Creal vetoed Urban Renewal, city planners proposed a new traffic plan to create a protected shopping area downtown. The proposal rerouted heavy traffic from Main Street to surrounding neighborhoods.

Southbound traffic coming towards downtown on Beakes Street would be routed to First Street and then Packard. Heading north, another one-way connector would use Ashley, Kingsley, and Division Streets. Main Street would be closed to traffic between William and Huron. The estimated cost was $1 million, including purchasing property in the impacted areas and building the connectors.

Voters approved the Packard-Beakes Bypass in a 1966 roads bond issue that included several other road improvements. The city hired realtor Wendell Hobbes to acquire right-of-way for the project. As of Spring 1969, seventeen homes were slated for demolition. City Administrator Guy C. Larcom noted that several parcels would need condemnation proceedings. 

Article headline "Street Work Razing Set"
Ann Arbor News, March 18, 1969

Families who owned homes in the path of the proposed route were served notices and offered compensation for their property. Some property owners recall being intimidated into selling. Shirley Beckley lived at 115 West Kingsley. Her house and two next to it were in the direct path of the proposed connector between Beakes and First Street.

“The city came,” she remembers. “My mother had since died so I was living there with my stepfather and my kids. They said he had to sell the house to them because they were going to do the Beakes-Packard Bypass. Now, we didn't have a choice, they said. If he didn't sell, they would condemn it and take it.”

Model Cities

After the demolition of many family homes, the Packard-Beakes Bypass project hit a roadblock. In September 1969, Model Cities asked the city to temporarily halt the project. The new city program had conducted a survey of neighborhood residents that indicated widespread resistance to the Packard-Beakes Bypass.

Ann Arbor's Model Cities was a program funded by the federal government to rehabilitate the Old Neighborhood area. The purpose of the program was for residents to become involved in decisions affecting their welfare, including housing and development. But the announcement of $112,000 in federal funding came late in 1968, when planning was already underway for the Packard-Beakes Bypass.

Street map showing two possible routes of Packard-Beakes Bypass
Map of Proposed Packard-Beakes Bypass, February 1972

The Model Cities Policy Board asked the city to suspend work until it had completed its own plan for the neighborhood. Ann Arbor’s Planning Commission granted the request, and demolition work stopped. The project stalled for nearly two years as multiple groups argued over the best way forward. 

Model Cities proposed an alternate route for the bypass that followed the Ann Arbor Railroad tracks rather than cutting across the Old Neighborhood. They suggested routing traffic along First and Ashley and building a connector to Main Street near Depot Street. This long-range plan would have solved traffic flow issues more effectively than the proposed Packard-Beakes Bypass. However, city officials balked at the estimated $30 million price tag. Other suggested alternatives such as the closure of Beakes Street met resistance from property owners.

Voters To Decide

Eventually, several organizations banded together to urge City Council to back the original Packard-Beakes Bypass route. A motivating factor was the construction of Briarwood Mall, which threatened to draw business away from downtown. On January 31, 1972, after over two hours of debate, City Council voted 7-4 to approve the original route. First Ward councilman Nerris Thomas voiced his opposition, saying, “We’re about to reject the plea of Model Cities to have a right to determine their own destiny.”

article headline with picture of car crossing bridge
Ann Arbor Sun, February 18, 1972

Despite the green light from City Council, the completion of the Packard-Beakes Bypass required additional funding. The $1 million bond from 1966 had already been spent on property acquisition. The city added a $935,000 roads bond issue to the April 1972 ballot. The future of the project rested in the hands of voters. On April 3, the people of Ann Arbor rejected the measure by a nearly 2-1 margin. 

Residents of the Old Neighborhood whose homes were demolished for the bypass project never saw it completed. Although the neighborhood was not divided by busy roadways, their own homes were gone. The city retained the parcels and sold them at a profit. Many of the lots, including Shirley Beckley’s former home, now feature high-rise condominiums and other evidence of gentrification.

Additional Resources by AADL

There Went The Neighborhood: The Closing of Jones School

AACHM Living Oral History Project Walking Tour

 

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Media

AADL Talks To: Steve Bergman

Steve Bergman resting his chin on his right hand. Shelves of CDs and two men are browsing in the background.
Steve Bergman at Schoolkids' Records, January 1995

In this episode, Steve Bergman talks about founding Schoolkids’ Records in Ann Arbor. Steve tells us about the origins of his passion for music, visits from artists, and the eventual record label that helped capture Ann Arbor’s local talent. 

Find more about Schoolkids’ Records in our archival collections.

Mentioned in this episode: “Local price war hits albums costs” from the September 25, 1976 edition of the Michigan Daily.

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Let's Go Skating: Ann Arbor's Ivory Palace Rollerdrome, 1938-1951

sticker
Ivory Palace Rollerdrome Sticker, Circa 1945

The 1930s saw a surge in the popularity of roller skating across the United States. Many Ann Arbor business owners saw opportunities for profit in this 'Golden Age of Roller Skating', which lasted until the 1950s. One response was a tiny brief in the October 21, 1938 edition of the Ann Arbor News stating "Roller skating. Ivory Palace roller drome under construction. Opening date will be announced soon."

Theodore 'Ted' Wolff, Ann Arbor builder, was in his late 40s when he decided to construct a roller skating rink. He lived a busy life downtown on Huron Street with his wife, children, step-children, son-in-law, mother-in-law, sister, and a tenant who rented a room. The Washtenaw County Fairgrounds on Jackson Road, which is currently the site of Veterans Park, had a space that suited his plan. He hired William J. Moules, local electrical contractor, to wire the building, and Ann Arbor's Fingerle Lumber Company provided the new maple flooring for a smooth skating experience. Advertising for the rink's grand opening, which happened December 6, 1938, encouraged guests to "Bring the Ladies".

Ivory Palace - Outside
Unidentified Couple Outside The Ivory Palace Rollerdrome, Circa 1945
Grand Opening
Ann Arbor News, December 6, 1938

The Ivory Palace Rollerdrome, as the new roller rink was known, became a popular recreation venue in Ann Arbor. Admission was 15 cents for children under 12. In Wolff's continuing effort to "bring the ladies", admission for women was only 20 cents, while men paid 30. It was not the only skating establishment in the area, Ypsilanti's Imperial Roller Rink being a larger competitor, but it had a steady business. 

In July and August, the rink paused roller skating for the summer, and the building became a dance hall on Wednesday and Saturday nights. For the first summer season, 1939, Wally Maynard and his orchestra were hired. Wally, a saxophone player and recent Ann Arbor High graduate, was an admired local musician, and likely to draw a crowd. Ladies were admitted free on Wednesday evenings, while men paid 40 cents. In late August 1939, when the Washtenaw County Fair was in session, the Ivory Palace offered nightly dancing with music provided by Harvey Judson and his Aristocrats. In September, the Ivory Palace celebrated the end of summer by resuming business as a roller skating rink.

Business held steady through 1940, with another brief summer break from skating. The most notable event of the year happened on November 19th, when Casper Grammatico and Phyllis Kinney were married at the Ivory Palace Rollerdrome. Their wedding service, which started at 10:30 p.m., had the entire wedding party wearing roller skates. Harold P. Marley, local Unitarian minister, officiated the ceremony. Whether or not Reverend Marley was on skates is a mystery. Through the years, many local residents pointed to the Ivory Palace Rollerdrome as where they met their future spouse.

Ivory Palace Wedding

Ivory Palace Wedding 2

The Wedding Of Phyllis Kinney & Casper Grammatico, November 19, 1940, Ivory Palace Rollerdrome, Courtesy Of The Kinney/Grammatico Family. Look closely to see Theodore Wolff's building advertisement on the wall.

The Rollerdrome made the newspapers in April 1941 when an 18 year old named Carl Lee entered the building through a window and stole money from the vending machines. When police arrested him, he was carrying three woolen skating socks filled with coins - $12.75 in pennies and $9 in nickels and dimes. He was bound to circuit court and given probation. It is assumed that $21.75, and three misshapen socks, were returned to Theodore Wolff.

Vim Victory Vigor

World War II changed the climate of Ann Arbor, including the roller skating industry. Like so many roller rinks across the country, the Ivory Palace Rollerdrome adopted the pro-troops slogan of Vim Vigor Victory, and locals flocked to the rink for a brief respite from the conflict. Countless young men and women left the city and entered the service. This list included local band leader Wally Maynard, along with Ted Wolff Jr., son of Ivory Palace's proprietor Theodore Wolff. Despite the war, the Ivory Palace remained open. In 1944, several employees united as a team and joined the Ann Arbor Duck Pin Bowling League. Games were played at the Duck Pin Bowling Alley on Washington Street, and the Ivory Palace team was highly ranked. In 1945, a WWII victory party was held at the roller rink and a photo of the event was mailed to President Harry Truman. To the relief of many connected with the Ivory Palace, Wally Maynard and Ted Wolff Jr. both made it home safely from the war.

Victory Party
1945 Victory Party, Ivory Palace Rollerdrome, Courtesy of Harry S. Truman Library & Museum, Accession Number 60-160.

A fairgrounds bus ran from downtown Ann Arbor to the skating rink, making it easily accessible for University of Michigan students. In November 1947, charges of racial discrimination were raised against the Ivory Palace Rollerdrome, and accessibility for black students was publicly questioned. The incident was never mentioned in the Ann Arbor News. A letter was written to the editor of the Michigan Daily stating "Saturday evening a group of four - two Negroes and two whites - went to the Rollerdrome Skating Rink in Ann Arbor. The two Negroes were refused admission. A "private party" was in progress. The others could have gotten in had they wanted to. Since when are private skating parties held on a Saturday night? Is this rink really so prosperous that it can afford to limit its attendance on a date night? As members of a university in which discrimination is condemned, situated in a country where discrimination is SUPPOSEDLY condemned, it is our duty to protest such behavior. It is our duty - if need be - to boycott this rink until its policies are altered. Only then can a supposition be turned into a reality." It was later reported that the Inter-Racial Association would investigate, but no follow-up articles were ever published. If business at the Ivory Palace was affected, it is not known.

Ivory Palace Advertisement
Ann Arbor News, October 21, 1949
Ivory Palace Anniversary
Saline Observer, December 6, 1945

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business at the Ivory Palace remained steady into 1951, with the rink turning into a dance facility for the summer months. But in October 1951, the story of the Ivory Palace Rollerdrome came to an end. The final mention of the rink was published in the Ann Arbor News on October 26, 1951. "Halloween skating party, Ivory Palace Roller Drome, Sat., Oct. 27. Door prizes. - adv." Just a few days later, on October 30, 1951, the front page headline of the Ann Arbor News declared "Ann Arbor Offered Fairgrounds Property for $127,500". The Washtenaw County Fair Society was willing to sell the fairgrounds land to the city, which had long been hoped for by city officials. Ann Arbor dreamed of converting the space into a fire station, and a variety of recreational facilities. All existing buildings, including the skating rink, would be removed from the property. There was no official announcement of the closing of the Ivory Palace in the newspaper, so it is unclear when business actually ceased. What IS known is how it took several years for the sale of the Washtenaw County Fairgrounds to be finalized.

Theodore Wolff died in July 1953. Curiously, his obituary included no mention of the Ivory Palace Rollerdrome. His retirement in 1947, the same year of the racism allegations, was noted. If those two events were related is unknown. It may be assumed that the final years of the Ivory Palace were managed by someone other than Wolff.

In January 1954, when city officials were still dealing with red tape around the sale of the fairgrounds property, an advertisement appeared in the Ann Arbor News announcing the opening of Broadway Furniture. "We have made the former roller skating rink into a FURNITURE SUPER MARKET - over 9,000 square feet of floor space full of new furniture and appliances." Eventually this business, too, would close and the building was torn down. Residents of our city now know the Washtenaw County Fairgrounds property as Veterans Memorial Park. On the site of the Veterans Memorial Park Pool & Ice Arena once stood the Ivory Palace Rollerdrome. It seems fitting that skaters fall on ice, where skaters once fell on maple flooring, continuing a long legacy of recreation and bruised knees.

Aerial View Of Fairgrounds
Washtenaw County Fairgrounds From The Air, October 1951. The arrow indicates the location of the Ivory Palace Rollerdrome, later the location of Veterans Memorial Pool and Ice Arena on Jackson Road.

 

 

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AADL Talks To: Susan Wineberg

Susan Wineberg
Susan Wineberg, October 1995

Susan is a local history institution in Ann Arbor. She’s been president of the Washtenaw County Historical Society, served on the Historic District Commission, and worked with several groups on prominent local history projects and exhibits. She's accumulated a vast collection of local history, including a slide collection documenting local buildings; and she co-authored the book on Historical Buildings in Ann Arbor. Susan talks with us about how she happened upon her love of local history and local architecture in particular. She shares several stories detailing the politics involved in historic preservation efforts and the many friends and colleagues she worked with over the years.

Historical articles and photos about Susan Wineberg

Susan Wineberg Collection

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AADL Talks To: John Metzger

John Metzger, Heidi Metzger, Ryan Dunkelberger
John Metzger, Heidi Metzger, and Ryan Dunkelberger, December 2023

In this episode, AADL Talks To John Metzger, third-generation owner of Metzger's Restaurant at 305 N Zeeb Rd. John walks us through the history of his family's restaurant, from its origin 90 years ago on Washington Street in Ann Arbor, and discusses what's changed - and what's remained the same - over the years as the business passed from his grandfather to his father to John. He also shares his memories of growing up in the restaurant; his efforts, along with his sister Heidi, to reopen at a new location on the west side of town after closing the downtown location; and he talks about the employees and customers that have kept the business a thriving enterprise for nearly a century.

Read historical articles about Metzger's.

Browse our Metzger Family Collection featuring many of the historical photos that line the walls of Metzger's Restaurant.

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Ann Arbor's Own Mermaid: Marty Sinn

Seven hours and 39 minutes. Just shy of a standard work day. That’s how long 19-year-old Marty Sinn spent in 54 degree water in 1963. Of the initial 37 swimmers all but 10 dropped out, unable or unwilling to complete the 15 mile marathon swim in Lake Ontario. Marty’s endurance earned her international attention and a $4,000 prize as the only woman to finish and second overall.

SWIMMING TO SUCCESS

Marty’s time as a professional swimmer was short-lived, but highly acclaimed. Prior to her icy finish in Lake Ontario she had placed fifth overall and first in the women’s field at the same race the previous year. She finished sixth in the Atlantic City Around-the-Island Swim in 1963, which looped 26 miles around Absecon Island, New Jersey. Then in 1964 she set a course record there after coming in seventh overall and first for the women. In 1963 she traveled abroad to compete in Egypt, where she finished the 25-mile Suez Canal marathon

Photo of two men in a wooden row boat in choppy waters. A second photo of a man in a wooden rowboat handing a paper cup to Marty in the water wearing a swim cap and goggles.
Marty at the Atlantic City Around-the-Island Swim, from Sports Illustrated August 24, 1964

Until Marty's arrival, the leading female long-distance swimmer was Greta Anderson. Anderson set multiple world records in marathon swimming and earned a gold medal for the 100m freestyle and silver for the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 1948 London olympics. By 1964 Marty had bested her three of the four races they competed in.

It is worth taking a moment to imagine what it means to be an open-water marathon swimmer. Contests are upwards of 15 miles in length and usually require spending at least 6 hours in the water. Swimmers’ skin turns pruny, their eyes and mouth and nose fill with water, sometimes salty, they battle currents, wake, waves, seaweed, and sea creatures. Most people would struggle just to stay afloat, let alone keep swimming in one direction while being knocked about by current. It’s easy to see why Marty was called a mermaid

ANN ARBOR SWIM CLUB

Marty was raised in Ann Arbor and stayed in town to study art at the University of Michigan. Her swimming strength was cultivated during her youth spent in the all-girls Ann Arbor Swim Club and summers at Camp Ak-O-Mak. Both were run by local couple and University of Michigan graduates Rose Mary and Buck Dawson. The club was formed in 1956 after some of the camp's attendees who were taught to swim by Rose Mary expressed interest in a competitive outlet to further hone and test their skills. Its founding came 16 years before Title IX codified girl's right to participate in sports, but the demand was clear. In its first year the club consisted of around 60 girls from local middle and high schools.

Rose Mary stands between two tween girls who are holding a silver cup trophy reading "The Hardy Trophy Mich AAU"
Ann Arbor Swim Club Coach Rose Mary Dawson With Star Athletes, March 1958

Rose Mary was a champion for female athletics. In the swimming off-season she led water polo training, eventually coordinating tournaments, and revived American Athletic Union (AAU) women’s water polo. AAU was the predecessor to USA Swimming. Two years after founding the Ann Arbor Swim Club she established a women’s competitive swimming program at the University of Michigan. Then, she helped create the first women’s National Collegiate Swimming and Diving Championship held in 1962. 

In the Ann Arbor Swim Club’s first eight years, under the direction of the Dawsons, the group won six Michigan AAU team championships, placed second in the AAU nationals in 1961, and won two water polo titles. On the individual level, the Dawsons coached 17 All-Americans and 23 National Junior Champions in Ann Arbor. 

Buck and Rose Mary Dawson smiling at each other behind a table of trophies. Rose Mary is wearing a stopwatch around her neck, which Buck is holding.
Buck and Rose Mary Dawson of the Ann Arbor Elks Swim Club stand behind a few of the trophies which the local team has won.

Apart from all of its accolades, the club provided structure and opportunities for girls to understand, increase, and showcase their strength. The Dawsons left Ann Arbor in 1963 after accepting positions to coach and manage a city swim team in London, Ontario. Two of their former students continued their legacy by taking over the club after their departure. 

The Dawsons’ abundant coaching victories followed the legacy of Rose Mary’s father, Matt Mann, who founded Camp Ak-O-Mak and who was responsible for the national prominence of the University of Michigan men’s swimming team. Beginning in 1925, his nearly 30 years as coach brought the team 16 Big Ten championships and 13 national championships. Amid these wins he also coached the U.S. men’s Olympic swim team in 1952, which netted the country 9 medals. Before it was called the the Cliff Keen Arena, the University of Michigan's athletic building at 616 E Hoover Ave housed a pool from 1956 to 1988 that was named for Matt Mann. 

PUBLICITY

Marathon swimming is not a well-known sport or full of household names. Marty earned national media attention, including features in Life Magazine and Sports IllustratedBased on the coverage she received, Marty’s prominence in the media was predicated not only on her tremendous stamina, but her novelty as a female athlete. 

"Marty Sinn Swims and Swims: Sunny Mermaid of the marathon" article from Life magazine. Includes a photo of Marty leaning on a dock and a second photo of her being carried after a race.
Life Magazine feature on Marty Sinn, 1964

Nearly every article emphasized her appearance in almost equal standing with her fortitude. Sports Illustrated’s 1964 profile began, “Professional long-distance swimmers come in many shapes, but Mary Martha Sinn's is the best.” The author then tells the “legend” of her dating life – an almost certainly apocryphal tale of her 56 dates with 56 different boys in her first 56 days at college. She tried her best to deflect attention, saying, “I don't want to make my private life a spectator sport, too."

Professional sports are largely funded through sponsorships and advertising. The greater the audience, the more money the sport can earn. In 2021, NCAA rule changes allowed collegiate athletes to sign name, image, and likeness deals. For the first time collegiate athletes were qualified to earn income from endorsement deals. This change laid bare that for young, female athletes, the easiest way to attract advertisers may still be through emphasizing their appearance.

Buck Dawson seems to have recognized this. As the Executive Director of the International Swimming Hall of Fame he wrote to a fellow board member in 1971, “We are training a marathon swimmer to re-inject some glamour into the races this summer. She is a Greek girl (Greek father, American mother), beautiful, determined, and I think we finally have ourselves another Marty Sinn” [emphasis added]. This “Greek girl” was Diana Nyad, the swimmer who was the focus of the 2023 feature film Nyad.

Comparing the newest up and comer’s beauty and glamor to Marty acknowledges that, planned or not, the attention to Marty’s looks ultimately helped bring greater awareness to the sport. It was a tactic worth replicating.

THE ULTIMATE PRIZE

Portrait of Marty Sinn, sitting, wearing a blouse and pleated skirt. With a silver trophy and a framed work of art of a nude woman sitting in a chair behind her.
Marty with a swimming trophy and her artwork

Throughout the hoopla around her success, Marty repeatedly told reporters that professional swimming was a means to an end. She told Sports Illustrated, "Swimming is just part of my life. A fifth. I have other interests." The money she earned was put toward studying abroad. By the end of 1963 she had won almost $10,000, which helped fund her art studies in Mexico City and Rome.

An article from the Ann Arbor News describes her two shared passions, “Tagging along with her swimming ambitions is a long standing and strong attraction for art which started when she was five years old. Each time she returns from a swimming meet, she brings home exquisitely rendered watercolors, oils or charcoals depicting impressions along the way.” 

When asked in 2006 about taking part in sports before the advent of Title IX the now Marty Sinn Catalano said, “being involved in the beginning stages of the larger women’s sports movement was a unique privilege… We were breaking new ground as female athletes and it was a grand adventure." Her wins helped her travel the world and expand her education.

Determined and focused despite it all, Marty stuck to her word and her career in swimming ended soon after it began. Back in 1964 she said, "I'm a little critical of people who train so intensely—they become machines instead of people, they become masochists. I just don't believe in it. It's detrimental to your character later, naturally, and to the sport, too. Obsessions can become vicious. You get so wrapped up, you lose perspective." She never let swimming define her, allowing her to continue to enjoy it as a hobby. In a 2020 podcast interview Marty said, “I love swimming. To this day I’m a lap swimmer.”

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Media

AADL Talks To: Margaret Parker

Margaret Parker
Margaret Parker

In this episode, AADL Talks to Margaret Parker. Margaret has been working as an artist for seven decades. She talks about her parents’ influence on her desire to become an artist and the evolution of her artistic development, from working in different mediums to confronting social justice issues in her work. Margaret talks about her time with the Michigan chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art and her commitment to bring public to Ann Arbor through her work on the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission.

For more information, see our digital collections related to Margaret Parker, or visit the artist's website.

 

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AADL Talks To: Paul Kahlenberg & Zac Johnson

Escalator leading to a sign for Tower Records
Tower Records on the second floor of the Galleria Mall. 

In this episode, Paul Kahlenberg and Zac Johnson talk about managing Tower Records in Ann Arbor. They reminisce about the store's tight-knit staff, visits from bands both globally and locally famous, and selling concert tickets before the internet.

Find more about Tower Records in our archival collections.

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A Full Dance Card: Ann Arbor's Chequamegon Band & Orchestra

It was a crisp Tuesday evening, the last week of April 1884. Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Ann Arbor. Outside a new brick building, near the corner of Ashley & Huron Streets, they waited for the city's first roller rink to open its doors. By the end of the night, roughly 700 people had enjoyed roller skating to the marvelous music performed by the Chequamegons. During intermissions, starstruck women approached the handsomely suited musicians, hoping to find a skating partner. The Chequamegons were in constant demand. Their performances always guaranteed a crowd. The Rink, as it was known, would eventually disappear into Ann Arbor's past. The Chequamegons may not sound familiar to you either, but this talented group of students laid the groundwork for University of Michigan bands and orchestras, and were shining stars in Ann Arbor's music history.

 

Chequamegon Orchestra
Chequamegon Orchestra, 1888. Back row, left to right: William D. Ball, Rollin E. Drake, Meade Vestal, Eli Moore, William W. Tidd, Ernest B. Perry, Carl Warden, Frank G. Plain. Front row, left to right: Henry M. Young, A. Ward Copley, Edward N. Bilbie, Lew H. Clement, Walter L. Moore. Courtesy Of The University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library

 

1880 - 1883: MUSICIANS WANTED

In the early, early days of the University of Michigan, music was not an educational offering. If a musical group was to form on campus, it was up to student musicians or vocalists to find each other, provide their own resources, and hatch a plan that everyone could agree on. Professional orchestras, like The City Band of Detroit, were hired from outside the university for major events like commencements. This is not to say that student musical groups didn't exist, but they came and went as frequently as the student population enrolled and graduated.

1883 mention
News of the band's appeal spread quickly in local newspapers. Ann Arbor Courier, July 20, 1883

In 1880, Fred Hamilton Weir was a University of Michigan student from Indiana. When he wasn't studying for his medical degree, he was trying to create a musical group on campus. He managed to arrange a small--yet talented and enthusiastic--orchestra of medical and dentistry students. Their first few years together were haphazard and inconsistent. Their lucky break came when Sarah Caswell Angell, wife of the University's president, invited them to perform at a commencement reception. The group called themselves the U of M Orchestra, despite having no formal support from the University. In June of 1883, the stars aligned for these young performers when they were offered a three month paid position at the Hotel Chequamegon in Ashland, Wisconsin. Five musicians from the group - Fred Hamilton Weir, Herman Frank, Stanley Holden, Will Park, and George A. Isbell - accepted the opportunity. They invested in uniforms, which were manufactured by Ann Arbor clothier A. L. Noble, and travelled to Lake Superior for a summer residency.

The name Chequamegon (prounounced “shi-wa-me-gone”) is of Ojibwe origin. It is derived from chagaouamigoung, a French transliteration of the Ojibwe Zhaagawaamikong or jagawamikiong, meaning a "a sand bar place" or "place of shallow water". In this case, it refers to Wisconsin's Chequamegon Bay on Lake Superior. Performing as summer musicians overlooking the bay, the U of M Orchestra began calling themselves the Chequamegon Band And Orchestra. When they returned to Ann Arbor, they brought their new name with them.

Chequamegon Hotel Letterhead
Chequamegon Hotel Letterhead, Courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society, Image 88673.

1884: ANN ARBOR'S CELEBRATED BAND

Looking back on the history of this musical group, 1884 is when the Chequamegon Band And Orchestra was fully formed. The number of musicians in the band grew. Homer Drake, a dental student, joined the band and assumed leadership with Fred Weir. During the years 1884-87, the Chequamegon group retained their original members although a percussionist and a clarinet player were eventually added. Soon it seemed that every notable city event (like the opening of the skating rink mentioned earlier) was accompanied by a Chequamegon performance, and the band was tightly woven into the fabric of Ann Arbor. Usually around nine or ten musicians, they were able to "double" on both string and wind instruments. This versatility meant they could function as a brass band or string orchestra, whatever was appropriate for the situation.

One important factor in their popularity was that the University of Michigan did not have dormitories in the 1800s. Ann Arbor's population in the 1880s was roughly 8,500 people, and U of M students were living in boarding houses and rented rooms around the small city. The line between "town and gown" was nothing like it is today. The Chequamegons, as they were locally known, became popular not only with students, but with Ann Arbor residents as well. Many fans referred to them as "Ann Arbor's Celebrated Band", disregarding their student status altogether.

WHEN DID THEY HAVE TIME TO STUDY?

Led by Homer Drake, and later by his brother, Rollin E. Drake, the ensemble often performed at Ann Arbor’s St. James Hotel and played many, many evenings at The Rink. If a parade happened in Ann Arbor, the Chequamegons would be there. Dedication of a new building? Major city event? The Chequamegons would be there. In June of 1884, 10 members of the band headed back to Ashland, Wisconsin for another summer residency at the Chequamegon Hotel. This happened after the group played at numerous commencement ceremonies around the greater Washtenaw County area. Knowing how popular the band was, the town of Ashland went as far as to advertise tourism within the University of Michigan's 1884 commencement program - "Where the University of Michigan Band Plays!". 

Commencement Annual Advertisement
The Commencement Annual, Volume 4, University of Michigan, June 26, 1884

In 1885, Ann Arbor's Masonic Temple was dedicated and, of course, the Chequamegon orchestra played the event. They could also be seen performing in the 1884-1885 University Musical Society concert season. 1885 was the year that the University of Michigan first won a national collegiate championship. When fellow medical student Fred Bonine helped lead the track team to victory, the Chequamegon Band played at his welcome home celebration. Band members were making enough money from their frequent performances to pay their college expenses. In the summer of 1885, the group took a break from Wisconsin and spent two months in Marquette, Michigan. They split their time between performing at a popular roller skating rink and a residency at the Clifton House Hotel.

Gogebic Iron Tribune
Gogebic Iron Tribune, July 3, 1886

In 1886, The Chequamegon Band and Orchestra incorporated, becoming an official business entity. The demand for their performances held steady, and they spent the summer back in Ashland at the Hotel Chequamegon. 1887 saw a change in the band's lineup as several original members graduated, but the group continued to be successful. It became standard practice for area schools (Saline High School, in particular) to fundraise annually in hopes of hiring the Chequamegons to play their commencement ceremonies. One of the groups most notable gigs came in the summer of 1889 when they spent three months playing at Plank's hotel on Mackinac Island--better known to us today as The Grand Hotel, Michigan's beloved home away from home. They even performed on the boat ride north.

For Charity's Sake
"No sweeter music can be rendered by any orchestra...", Ann Arbor Register, December 5, 1889
Yearbook Advertisement
Chequamegon Orchestra Advertisement, 1891 Omega, Ann Arbor High School Yearbook

In 1893, the Ann Arbor Argus published "A Successful Organization" about the group's unwavering presence around town. "The dull times does not seem to affect the Chequamegons. Last Thursday evening they furnished music for the Kennedy wedding; last Friday, for Foley Guild dance at Nichols'; Tuesday night, for the Hallowe'en party, at Nichol's, tonight they play for the Wolverine Cyclers; tomorrow evening for the freshman spread, at Granger's, and Saturday, for Hobart Hall social. They have also secured the contract for furnishing the music for the El Astro Club series of five parties, and the Thanksgiving party, at Ypsilanti." Maintaining a schedule like this, along with an education in medicine or dentistry, must have been a challenge.

CHEQUAMEGONS IN THE 20TH CENTURY

On June 20, 1900, the Ann Arbor Courier-Register reported "The Chequamegon orchestra is probably the busiest musical organization in the state these days. They have so many engagements that it is necessary to secure a few outside men for assistance. Dundee, Manchester and Pinckney are among the out of town places that will hear Ann Arbor musicians this week." Despite the great demand, popular music and dancing styles were changing, and band member numbers began to dwindle. The University of Michigan's School of Music had emerged, numerous local music groups had formed, and musically-inclined students had a much wider variety of opportunities to choose from around Ann Arbor. Student turnover at the university continued to be a factor as well. 1902 saw one of the final summer residencies of the Chequamegons, on Stag Island in the St. Clair River. In 1903, the Chequamegon Orchestra played at the wedding of their trombone soloist, Louis Otto. Otto was the leader of his own band, and was one of the most popular musicians in Ann Arbor. 1905 was the last instance of the Chequamegon Orchestra being listed in the Ann Arbor City Directory, and soon the pioneering group became part of the city's history.

Years later, in 1954, The Michigan Daily interviewed retired dentist Dr. Rollin E. Drake ('88D) about his time in the Chequamegon Orchestra and Band. "We had to buy our own music, hire halls and make contracts," Dr. Drake said. Speaking about a long-running position at Ann Arbor's Whitney Theatre, "The rottener the show, the more the music was needed. We would play in the pit, while the greats like Edwin Booth and Madame Modjeska were on stage. For those engagements each man was paid $1.37 per engagement, including rehearsal time." Drake, like many of his fellow bandmates, went on to a career in medicine. Others became bankers, judges, and businessmen. Some, like Edward N. Bilbie and George A. Isbell, continued on to professional careers in music.

MAY I PENCIL YOU IN?

Chequamegon Dance - Front
Dance Card - Front, The Chequamegon Dance, November 23, 1888. Courtesy Of The University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library.
Chequamegon Dance - Back
Dance Card - Back, The Chequamegon Dance, November 23, 1888. Courtesy Of The University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This dance card, from an 1888 Chequamegon Orchestra formal, was an important piece of social etiquette. Ladies would wear these on their wrists, to keep track of the music and who their dance partner would be for each song.

Thanks to the Library of Congress's collection of audio recordings, you can hear a few songs that were played at this event. To immerse yourself in the Chequamegon music scene of the late 1800s, give the following playlist a listen: 

 

Ann Arbor 200

Dance, Music, Art & Community: 50 Years of the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow

Dance, Music, Art & Community: 50 Years of the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow

corresponding physical exhibit is on display in the second-floor exhibit space at the Downtown Library from March 16 - June 14, 2024.