6F - The Michigan Daily - New Student Edition - September 8, 1998
MEMORY LANE
A2 history colored by
wars, presidential visits
By katie Plona
DilyStaff Reporter
What's in a name'?
For two early settlers, the answer was
clear. In fact, the hometown of the
University of Michigan is named after
the wives of the trendsetters, both of
whom went by the name Ann. And after
observing the plentiful population of
trees, the name Ann Arbor seemed nat-
ural to two of the city's early settlers,
John Allen and Elisha Walker Rumsey.
The city was founded in 1824 when
Allen and Rumsey thought the spot
could be an excellent trading settle-
ment. It was 13 years later, in 1837,
when the University relocated to Ann
Arbor from Detroit.
Since 1841, when the first University
class was offered, the history of Ann
Arbor and the University have been
intertwined.
Unbeknownst to many students,
numerous streets and buildings on cam-
pus have been named after people who
were integral parts of Ann Arbor's
development and growth.
Tappan Street was named after for-
mer University President Henry
Tappan, who came to Ann Arbor in
1852, determined to turn the University
into a leading power 'in the world of
higher education. Packard Street was
named after Dr. Benjamin Packard, an
1825 settler.
During the Civil War, Ann Arbor, like
many other cities around the country,
prepared the homefront in case the war
stretched as far north as Michigan.
Several infantries mobilized in Ann
Arbor, and then left for battle else-
where.
Tiroughout the 1860s and '70s, the
city's religious life flourished, as did
some forms of cultural recreation. Even
during that time period, Ann Arbor was
considered a diverse establishment, pro-
viding its citizens with many outlets of
expression.
As early as the 1870s, Ann Arbor was
noted for its medical facilities, mostly
because of the growing University
Medical Center.
By the beginning of the 20th century,
Ann Arbor's population totaled 14,500
residents. Not only had the city grown,
but so had the University, erecting 11
new buildings between 1901-1920,
including the Michigan Union and Hill
Auditorium.
The fight for women's suffrage was
powerful in Ann Arbor as well.
"I have been working for suffrage for
39 years and I shall keepon working for
it just as long as I live" said one local
woman to her co-workers, as quoted in
"The Pictorial History of Ann Arbor."
Men in Ann Arbor narrowly passed a
state constitutional amendment in 1912
giving women the right to vote - men
elsewhere in the state did not agree until
1918, however.
The nation's involvement in World
War I changed Ann Arbor's healthy
atmosphere, but not completely.
"Reform agitation and mobilization
for all-out war had strained but not bro-
ken Ann Arbor's sense of community,"
reported an editor of "The Pictorial
History of Ann Arbor."
After the Great War, the 1920s saw
the golden age of fraternities and soror-
ities on campus - by the fall of 1922,
20 percent of the student body was
housed by the Greek system. By 1925,
membership was double the pre-war
total.
The ensuing Great Depression did lit-
tle to change Ann Arbor's continuous
growth.
"Zoning laws, residential patterns,
University expansions and the automo-
bile had made their mark on the city and
were here to stay," reported "The
Pictorial History of Ann Arbor." During
the depression, Ann Arborites reached
out to each other to curb unemployment
in the city, and prosperity slowly but
surely returned.
By the 1960s, Ann Arbor was a dif-
ferent city. When political turmoil
struck campuses nationwide, the
University was a major player. Earlier
in the decade, it hosted appearances by
such national figures as Presidents
ADRIANA YUGOVICMaily
Located in Ann Arbor, the Historical Society of Michigan is just one of many landmarks in the area. But the city is not oJ*W
known for its age, but its importance, having played host to a number of U.S. presidents and legislators. . F
Kennedy and Johnson, as well as then-
presidential candidate Richard Nixon.
The Oct. 14, 1960 edition of The
Michigan Daily covered Kennedy's
appearance in Ann Arbor: "The future
of this country and 'all those who look
to the United States with any degree of
hope' depends not only upon the presi-
dent but also 'depends heavily on the
people.'
"The Union crowd yelled and asked
for more from the Democratic presiden-
tial hopeful, but the senator asked to be
excused from speaking any longer.
"'I came here to sleep,' he admitted.'
John F. Kennedy announced in this
speech at the Michigan Union that, if
elected, he would form the Peace Corps.
lwvo weeks later, Nixon spoke to
roughly 15,000f
the Michigan Ce
houses the Gand
In 1964, Pres:
a watershed sp
goals of his Gre
"Ile was here
political missi
University's C
but his appeara
political overto
mystique which
President of th
Michigan Daily
1964 edition.
BIut when A,
television four y
not seek re-elec
ed students ec]
Ann Arbor residents at The Vietnam War was leaving itsW$k.
ntral Depot, which today Student anger at the war hit a tn.in
y Dancer restaurant. point. Radical anti-war group-
ident Johnson delivered Students for a Democratic Sociely an
peech announcing the the Weather Underground had'strong
at Society constituencies in the city.
on a supposedly non- Meanwhile, the Black Action
on -- to deliver the Movement and its heirs brought issues of
ommencement address race to the forefront of campus debrte.
nce was never free of All of this has left a strong niOpn
ines and the peculiar Ann Arbor's sense of itself. Tlay,
always surrounds the much of Ann Arbor's heritage is evident
e United States," he in the city's personality.
wrote in its June 23, "We have cultural otferings that co
knock your socks oIl" said histo*
ohnson announced on preservation coordinator L.ouisa Piepcr.
ears later that he would "I don't like cities that don't Iva t
tion, the cheers of elat- strong sense of'place. We have ;s .rong
hoed through campus. sense of place"
i entertain
personalities
Shakey Jake, Superfai
students with unique
By Jacob Wheeler
Daily Staff ReporteTr
Many call Ann Arbor a window-watching town,
with all sorts of colorful mannequin waving to the
passersby.
But it's on the other side of the glass that many
contend is the best place to be in Ann Arbor. Little
rivals sitting in a cale inside the glass window, watch-
ing the people pass by.
Students may hear the Michigan marching
band preparing for a marshmallow-filled Saturday
at the Big house or the soft, gentle voice of
University President Lee Bollinger a man who
often seems too suave to be a University adminis-
trator.
But if students know the right places to be at the
right times they can meet two of Ann Arbor's most
unique characters, Shakey .ake and Supertin.
These local icons have about as much in conimon
as grape jelly and cottage cheese - they wouldn't
blend very well together, but they each add plenty of
flavor to the city of Ann Arbor.
While most students are still sound asleep,
Shakey Jake walks down South University Avenue
at 7 in the morning and steals the color pink from
the rising sun, which he wears proudly on his
straw hat all day long. On any particular day he
also sports a bow-tie, suit and a pair of wide eyed,
pink glasses.
He checks in at his office, the Bagel Factory,
where adoring fans wait to greet the New Orleans-
raised blues musician. But Jake won't play a single
tune inside for he contends he has an audience of
30,000 students to educate out on the street.
"I know every student who ever went to this col-
lege in the last 50 years," he claims. "I meet two or
three thousand a day, and I play songs for them"
In fact, Shakey Jake juggles a handful of different
jobs. le's literally the poster boy for the Bagel
Factory, which sells bumper stickers and postcards
with slogans like "We Bake for Jake" or "I Brake for
Jake." And he carries them around in his goody bag
along with his album "On the Move" for any potential
customers.
"I got 75 jobs," Jake said. "I'm always on the
move. I play my guitar; I dance and sing; I wash
windows; I work the ladies and I'm a traveling
salesman."
Shakey Jake may be constantly on the move, but
he's not leaving his Ann Arbor blues scene anytime
soon -- not even when he turns 100, which he claims
will occur in just three years.
"I'm from New Orleans and this is the best city
I've ever been in," he said. "Ann Arbor's got every-
thing New Orleans has, you just play the guitar and
have a good time."
But if Shakey Jake is Ann Arbor's premier street-
blues guitar player, then his equal, Superfan wins the
Grammy for leading a percussion ensemble 'with, a
mere cowbell.
The Superfan - School of Public Health '98 alum
Jeff I lolzhausen is a household name to many stu-
dents who have little sense of Ann Arbor cultur&'aid
would rather go to Michigan football games instead|
II olzhausen has been the loudest voice 'in't
nation's biggest house the past four years, dawningl
blue cape and 'M' goggles every Saturday whan- the
Wolverines do battle on the gridiron. -
"The cheerleaders gave (the nickname) to me, I've
had it ever since I was a kid," Holzhausen said. "I con-
stantly meet other people who go to most Mic1pgan
games. I'm just the gaudiest of us all."
Superfan is most famous fir cheering his
school to the national championship in fotball
last season, but he also dresses up for the brisket-
ball games. Unfortunately for Michigan, 0
never had the same crowd.-provoking audacity i
Crisler Arena.
Like Shakey Jake, Supertin has become an impor-
tant figure in the community. In fact, no one could
stand the thought of Michigan football without a super
fan, so people have encouraged Ilolzhausen, nmw an
alum, all semester to find a replacement for neat sea-
son.
"Ihe role has meant a lot to me," llolzhaus.nm said.
"People of all ages have come up to me and toud 'me
how much they appreciate me."
I J
STEVE GE RTZ/D ai N
Wlth a guitar at his side and his trademark straw hat on his head, Shakey Jake
continues to entertain students as he approaches his 100th birthday.
uooperation, communication between city
and 'U' key in 181-year relationship
of
a ml
GETORGANIZED!.
Choose from the largest
selection of CD cases,
holders and
racks in Ann Arbor
Don't forget to pick up
speaker wire and video
connectors too!
Oh, by the way we have
over 80,000 CDs,
5,000 movies, and.
3,000 music books
By Mike Spahn
Daily Staff Reporter
Since its founding in 1817, the
IUniversity has been an integral part of
Ann Arbor. Throughout the 181-year
relationship, both the University com-
munity and city administrators have
worked together to provide a place
where both students and residents can
enjoy living.
Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon
said she works with University stu-
dents, faculty and staff to support and
complement the function of the
University.
"I recognize that students are an
integral part of the community,"
Sheldon said. "We have to respect the
presence of the students."
There are some major issues the
University and city must tackle togeth-
er, Sheldon said, including parking,
physical infrastructure, and housing.
Director of Community Relations
Jim Kosteva works with many organiza-
tions, including the Ann Arbor City
Council, the Ann Arbor Visitors and
Conventions Bureau and the
Washtenaw Development Council in an
attempt to facilitate connections
between the University and the local
community.
Kosteva said involvement with these
University, as well as look for ways to
use University resources to aid area
businesses and improve Ann Arbor.
"The University is the biggest
employer in the county, with 28,000
employees," Kosteva said. "The dollars
from those employees ripple through
the entire Ann Arbor economy."
Former Associate Vice President for
University Relations Lisa Baker said
the University also recognizes the
importance of cooperation between the
school and the city. She said communi-
cation between the two is the most
important ingredient in the relationship,
which has greatly improved.
"There has to be communication on a
staff level and among the leadership,"
Baker said. "The city wants to know the
University is not doing business in isola-
tion:"
Current work on the Master Plan,
initiated by University President Lee
Bollinger is intended to bring greater
cohesion to the University campus. The
proposals have brought many issues of
University-Ann Arbor relations, to the
forefront.
Transportation has always been a
big contention, Sheldon said. The
Master Plan may combine the Ann
Arbor Transit System and the
University Bus Service for one route.
"There will always be practical realities
we have to face, but that doesn't mean
we cannot examine other possibilities."
Trent Thompson, the Michigan
Student Assembly president, said
Bollinger's work to revamp the campus
should melt the University and the city
into one. Thompson said this is already
happening in some areas of the city;
such as on Main Street and at the inter-
section of North University Avenue and
State Street - where both students and
residents can be found frequenting local
merchants.
"With President Bollinger's Master
Plan to revamp the entire campus, I see
the University and Ann Arbor establish-
ing more and more of these places,
Thompson said. "I see the city and the
University not co-existing, but existing
as one entity."
Thompson said Ann Arbor is unique
in its combination of urban life and col-
lege community.
"The University is intricately meld-
ed into the city of Ann Arbor, and,
unlike many other college towns, we are
a part of the city, and I believe the
University should and will become
more and more a part of Ann Arbor,
Thompson said.
MSA sends a liaison to each City
Council meeting to keep the student body
parking and a committee run by the Ann
Arbor Police Department on sajfty
Sheldon said she has tried to oact
tate a working relationship betweent
city and MSA.
"MSA and my office have ,hid a
good relationship," Sheldon said,
Thompson and MSA Vice President
Sarah Chopp have met with Sheldon to
discuss issues including possible..city
participation in the preparation of an
off-campus housing guidebook.
Many University students also play
a role in Ann Arbor politics. Though
student voter turnout has typically be
low in recent years, Sheldon said s
recognizes the importance of cam-
paigning to students and involving them
in the community any way she can. But
voting in Ann Arbor comes with
responsibility, she said.
"You need to be educated about
what Ann Arbor is all about," Sheldon
said. "You have to step up to the plate
and understand what the implications of
your participation are."
A recent voter registration drive by
the organization Voice Your Vote is
designed to help University students
participate in Ann Arbor politics, said
Voice Your Vote co-founder Ryan
Friedrichs. He said the campaign will
help educate students and make the city