Ypsilanti once excelled Chicago

The following story is from the Ypsilanti Daily Press of Thursday, May 15, 1906.

A relic of old days, when Ypsilanti was a town more important than the city of Chicago, has been found by George D. Lockwood, of the city, and is a circular issued by the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, of Newark, N. J., when their general western office was in this city.

In order to see what sort of a place Ypsilanti was then, the Daily Press sought out Mr. Robert W. Hemphill, and asked him if he knew S. M. Loveridge, who was general agent of the company in this city at that time, and where he kept his office.

"Do I remember Mr. Loveridge and where he kept his office," repeated Mr. Hemphill "Yes, I remember him, but I don't think he had any office, all of his business being done at his residence which was situated on the site where the postoffice now stands. There was no town in those days, as we have now, but instead of stores were gardens and flower beds. From Mr. Loveridge's house to the store now occupied by Mr. Stein's cigar store was all flower gardens. Only one store stood on Congress street (now Michigan AVe.) then that stands now, the one occupied by Frank Smith, who was then the junor member of the firm of Kinne & Smith, druggists. East and west of this store were gardens and across the road lived the father of Mr. Samuel Post. His residence sat just back of Kuster's market, and I think is still standing. Out by the east side, back of Griffen's law office was his garden. The only block in the village at that time was the three stores on the east side of Huron street, now occupied by Wilber's insurance office, and extending to Burtis' barber shop."

Mr. Loveridge live until about fifteen years ago, and was well known in this city. He was the grandfather of Mrs. Glen Seymour.