Volunteers prepare for Ypsi PRIDE Day
May. 13, 2010 · 7:09 a.m.
Each year, residents in and around the city of Ypsilanti carry on a tradition started by a group of community members enrolled in a city leadership program, a sort...read more
Bicycles zoom as flowers bloom
Apr. 30, 2010 · 2:11 p.m.
The weather has turned, the trees are budding and the flowers are popping out of the ground; time for a cruise through town. But don’t be so quick to hop in the...read more
Sheriff Clayton visits Ypsilanti Township
Apr. 29, 2010 · 12:59 p.m.
About 50 Ypsilanti Township residents gave the Washtenaw County Sheriff Office their input about law enforcement in the community Tuesday evening.
The information...read more
Local photographer raising funds for Ypsi Project exhibit
Apr. 20, 2010 · 2:20 a.m.
Ypsilanti has many faces, and Erica Hampton wants to share a few of them with you.
Over the past year, Hampton created the The Ypsi Project, a series of portraits...read more
Savoy taking shape as live music venue
Apr. 17, 2010 · 2:38 p.m.
Ypsilanti's newest concert venue is preparing for its grand opening weekend April 23, more than a month after its soft opening March 13.
Formerly Club Divine,...read more
Home, garden, walking tours throughout weekend
Aug. 17, 2009 · 10:03 a.m.
Putting the “heritage” in Heritage Festival weekend, several tours are scheduled throughout the city, highlighting the city’s history, architecture and flora.
Historic Home Tour
Now in its 32nd year, the Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation will be running the Historic Home Tour 12 – 5 p.m. Sunday. There will be seven stops on the tour, which highlights Ypsilanti’s historic and unique architecture.
“We have great examples of historic architecture in this city,” said Jan Arps-Prundeanu, a member of the Heritage Foundation organizing the tour.
One of the stops on the tour is the Ladies Literary Club, a Victorian structure on North Washington Street. Prundeanu said the building is a fine example of Greek revival-style architecture.
Penny Schreiber, a member of both the Heritage Foundation and the Ladies Literary Club, said the Grant family built the house 170 years ago. The club, which was founded in 1878, purchased the house in 1913 and in 1965, the building became the first home in Ypsilanti to receive a historic home marker from the state.
Aside from the Ladies Literary Club, there are six more stops on the tour. Though stops on the tour are different every year, Prundeanu said the foundation likes to keep to certain themes on the tour. She said there are homes to serve as an example of a “work in progress” and some that combine historic preservation while adapting to modern amenities.
Tickets for the home tour are $10 in advance and $12 at the event. For ticket information, visit the Heritage Foundation’s Website. Prundeanu said the money goes to the foundation, which helps fund historic preservation around the city.
Historic Walking Tour
The Guiding Waking Tour Company, an offshoot of the Riverside Neighborhood Association, will be conducting guided walking tours of Ypsilanti’s history during the festival.
Ed Penet, who conducts the tours with local historians James Mann and Kurt Anscheutz, said there will be three different tours for people to join. The tours run on the hour ,every hour , 12 – 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Penet said guides would talk about the history of buildings, stories from the city’s past and involve historical anecdotes. He said guides would also be available to answer participants’ questions.
“Very few cities are as beautiful and historic as Ypsilanti,” Penet said. “Lots of fun, and lots of very interesting people have lived here, and still do.”
The three guides have two established tours they have been conducting. The first moves down Huron Street to Forrest Street. The second goes up and down streets downtown.
Penet said the group will be introducing a third tour for Heritage Festival. This new tour will feature Ypsilanti’s south side, moving down Huron Street to Buffalo Street and back up Washington Street.
Tours cost $10 and are available downtown during the festival. Proceeds go to benefit the Riverside Neighborhood Association.
Garden Tour
The Ypsilanti Garden Club has been running a garden tour during Heritage Festival for 11 years. This year’s tour is scheduled from 12 – 5 p.m. Saturday.
The tour will feature seven gardens from around the city. The gardens vary from front-yard displays to community vegetable gardens.
One of the stops on the tour is the Growing Hope Center, an area non-profit organization that educates people about urban agriculture and sustainability.
Marie Urick, co-president of the club, said the group has not repeated a garden on the tour yet. She said gardens are chosen by neighbors recommending a stop, or by the members of the club wandering around the community in search of a worthy stop.
“They’re all special,” Urick said of the gardens.
Tickets for the Garden Tour are $10 and available at various locations in the area, including Salt City Antiques, the Towner House and Bombadil’s
On the Web:
Heritage Festival museums and tours page
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