Friends of Ypsilanti Freighthouse

Welcome to the Ypsilanti Freighthouse! We’re glad you stopped by.

The Ypsilanti Freighthouse, as part of the Michigan Central Railroad complex, played a vital role in the growth and development of the City of Ypsilanti and all of southeastern Michigan. The Michigan Central Railroad (MCRR) completed its first major railroadline in the State from Detroit to Ypsilanti in January 1838, with the first train arriving on February 8. Ypsilanti was founded in 1823 on the Huron River, which provided an abundant source of waterpower. It was the second incorporated village in Michigan and was selected as the terminus of this first rail line because the MCRR, as it pushed therailroad west toward Chicago, viewed it as a location with great potential for growth.

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On Thursday evening, July 31, Ypsilanti author Derek Green  hosted a reading, book-signing/tour launch for his new book, New World Order, at the Corner Brewery.  Attendance was good, and Derek sold some books; life is good. Proceeds from the $20 admission charge ($801 total) were donated to the Historic Ypsilanti Freighthouse Project.  (Thank you, Derek.) The Corner Brewery, Sidetrack and Haab’s all donated munchies to make for a festive, delicious evening.

New World Order, is a timely collection of stories that takes readers on a tour of the world as America’s mili­tary-industrial complex reels into a new century.  The book was selected to launch the Autumn House Press fiction series.   According to the publisher, “these eleven stories turn our attention outward, to a world where our role as Americans is no longer as clear and se­cure as it once seemed. With exotic settings, sharply rendered characters and quick-moving plots, New World Order announces the arrival of a powerful literary voice, and places Derek Green firmly in the tradition of such worldly writers as Graham Greene, Paul Bowles and Robert Stone.”

Derek recently received a 4-star review of New World Order from the nationally-known Emerging Writers Network. 

The link to the online review is here: http://emergingwriters.typepad.com/emerging_writers_network/2008/07/book-review-200.html

How cool is it that our own co-chair, Nathalie Edmunds, is being honored at this year’s Festival!  Well deserved!!!

The theme of this year’s Freighthouse celebration is “Freighthouse Homecoming,” and we are seeking photos of the many happy events held at the Freighthouse over the years.  If you have photos you’d like to share, please email them to info@ypsilantifreighthouse.org or drop duplicates (photos will not be returned) at the Sidetrack (56 East Cross) or Haab’s Restaurant (18 West Michigan).  For additional information, you can also call Linda French at 734-358-6956.

Throughout the weekend, the Cafe will be the scene of good, old-fashioned fun and music.  On Sunday from 1-3 p.m., Mark & Carol Palms (of Raisin Pickers fame) will be peforming.  You don’t want to miss it.  More about the music later.

Parade - Saturday, August 16, 10 a.m.

Come and march with the other Freighthouse volunteers.  More info later.

Preservation Eastern (a group of graduate students, under the guidance of our friend Ted Ligibel) has come up with a fundraiser to benefit the Freighthouse.  Not every detail has been hammered out, but we’re pretty close.  The event will take place on Saturday, September 20 (the Depot Town Farmers’ Market “Apples, Apples and More Apples” day). 

Serving hours will likely be noon till 3 p.m.

Please reserve the date!  More details later.

Thanks to all who joined us on Sunday, June 22, at Haab’s Restaurant.  Nearly $400 was raised!

A $35,000 grant from the Department of the Interior and administered by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) was awarded to the City of Ypsilanti. The Ypsilanti Freighthouse is the designated beneficiary of the funds. Grant proceeds will be matched at 40% with additional funds from The Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse, the Depot Town DDA and the Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation.

“Our confidence is really boosted by this success,” said Bonnie Penet, FOYF Co-Chair and co-author with Nathalie Edmunds of the grant. “This site is a crown jewel in historic Depot Town.”

“This grant targets some of the most critical site issues surrounding the Freighthouse,” stresses Edmunds, “water run-off and accumulation, which is undermining the foundation and producing what is called ‘rising damp’ in the brick walls and mortar.

Repairs will involve the installation of proper drainage systems, collection of rain water run-off into the drains, and the contouring of the surfaces around the entire site, including nearby parking areas.

“We were very confident, because we did our homework and prepared our application with great care,” says Edmunds.

Having already begun the administrative work on the project, the FOYF look forward to the contractor’s work on the project to begin this summer and to be completed by the end of 2008.

Great news!  The money’s in; the figures have been tallied.  We raised just over $5100 at the Frenchie’s fundraiser on Tuesday, May 13.  The FOYF owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Sidetrack management staff who donated their time (and 100% of their tips) to this event.  Thanks also to Steve Gross and to our auction donors (see below) for a lively auction.  And thanks to all who came and helped to make the event a success!

Auction donors:

Café Luwak
Corner Brewery
Eleven West Salon and Spa
EMU Theatre
The Enchanted Florist
Haab’s Restaurant
Maria’s Skin Care
Sidetrack Bar and Grill
Honorable A. Thomas Truesdell
Ypsilanti Police Department

According to Ed Penet, Saturday night’s Fullfreight Banjo Benefit for the Freighthouse at the Corner Brewery raised just over $3000. By all accounts, it was an incredible event, one for which Caleb Brokaw, of the band Black Jake and the Carnies, deserves a great deal of credit! He dreamt it up, promoted it, did all the press releases, and made it a success! The results were amazing, and the place was packed! Check out the photos!

The FOYF owes Caleb, and all the bands that performed, a debt of gratitude! We were just happy to show-up and enjoy the music with the rest of you. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE THIS A SUCCESS!

And look for FullFreight Fiddle (et al.) in your future.