Ypsi Project: Duane Grimes (via jami.carlson)
Duane was born in October of 1988 and has lived in Ypsi for about 8 years.
Ypsi Project: John F Dawson (via jami.carlson)
John was born in December of 1922 and has lived in Ypsi his entire life except for 10 years in South Lyon.
The space that SPARK now inhabits on Michigan Ave. was once the location of his families business, Martin Dawson Co. His father was a postman and when the post office moved from what is now the library on Michigan Ave he insisted that his office stay in that building….and it did :) A plaque with his name is on the wall where his office use to be :)
Ypsi Project: Ray Quiel & Laurie Walker (via jami.carlson)
Ray has called Ypsi home for 36 years. The director of EMU’s nationally renowned forensic team and registered domestic partner of the lovely and talented Laurie Lee Walker.
Ray also loves horses (because horses are awesome..my thoughts not his ;))
Laurie has lived in Ypsi since 1977 when she arrived here as a freshman at EMU. She raised both of her daughters here, Emily (now 31) and Amanda (now almost 30). She teaches for both EMU and Ypsilanti Public Schools. She loves the honest, hardworking and unpretentious people of Ypsi.
Ypsi Project: Van Gibbons (via jami.carlson)
Van, Mark (not pictured) Kelsey, Khai and Emily moved to Ypsi from California one year ago. They enjoy the green trees, cold weather and the friendly people.
Ypsi Project: Melissa Rich (via jami.carlson)
Melissa has lived in Ypsi since 2007. She is a German/Spanish major at EMU.
Ypsi Project: Anne (via jami.carlson)
Anne Hogart with Kasey Gillman (3 years old) and Cassidy Gillman (2 years old).
Ypsi Project: Sally Lunn (via jami.carlson)
Sally Lunn has been a resident of Ypsilanti since 1985. She is a supporter of the Farmer’s Market, Co-op, Cruise Night, recycling, land conservation, and a member of the 1st Methodist Church.
Ypsi Project : Michelle Birawer (via ericarhiannon)
Michelle was lovely enough to come down and have her photo taken for the Ypsi Project. I was so distracted by her dog, Mr. Longfellow, that I forgot to ask her the tough questions, like what’s your favorite color? Turns out it’s teal. Good color.
Aside from having awesome taste in favorite colors, Michelle is also a musician, a seamstress, and a collaborator of ideas. Moving here in 2000 then briefly living in Ann Arbor, she finds herself back in Ypsi-
“I have been fortunate enough to make some amazingly creative and talented friends. They put up with my crackpot ideas for musical projects and help me out as fit models for sewing projects. In return, I help them with their projects and ideas and we keep the weirdness going. Ypsi is perpetual weirdness. While there may be other places I long to be, as long as I am in Michigan, I will be in Ypsi(at least I am pretty sure about that).”
Her band, Better Late than Pregnant, is playing at the Elbow Room on October 7th and on September 10th she’ll be playing at Dreamland.
Ypsi Project : Mr. Longfellow (via ericarhiannon)
Mr. Longfellow is Michelle Birawer’s adorable little friend.
Ypsi Project: Carol McEachron (via jami.carlson)
Jami and Mike ventured down the street during the YP event at Bombadill’s to Salt City Antiques. Carol McEachron has owned Salt City for 10 years, from it’s beginnings in Saline through it’s time in Depot Town and now it’s current home on Michigan Ave. in downtown Ypsi. The store is charming and full of some great finds.
Mike and Jami were also able to learn that, in the 1960’s, Carol was the owner of the first Dunkin Donuts in Michigan. She was required to attend school in Boston, MA before she could open the Dunkin Donuts in Lincoln Park.
I love this photo. This was one of the rare times during the YP event that the photographer was able to spend a little time with the subject. I think this image tells you all you need to know about Carol McEachron.
