Ypsilanti’s Failed Breakfast Cereal

Ypsilanti once had a chance of becoming an empire of breakfast cereals, like Battle Creek.

In 1909, electricity was still making inroads into the city. Only some houses were “wired.” Most were heated with coal. Cars were uncommon. Most women were homemakers, and most men’s commute consisted of a walk from home to another part of the city.

Many families got their flour from the Ypsilanti Milling Company on Cross Street near the river. The mill’s ad in the March 2, 1909 Ypsilanti Daily Press read,

“The Ypsilanti Mill is now running and turning out a STRICTLY HIGH GRADE FLOUR.

“Our BLUE LABEL brand is gaining new friends every day. Last week it was just a youngster. This week it is older and you will probably like it better.

“Further, we want you to try our ‘TIDAL WAVE’ brand. It’s a strictly high class patent and worthy of a little assistance from its friends in the way of trial orders.
“We have on hand BRAN MIDDLINGS, COTTON SEED MEAL, LINSEED MEAL, CALF MEAL, WHEAT HEARTS and GRAHAM.

“Our wagon is still running [for home delivery] and we want you to phone your orders in AT ONCE OR SOONER.”

The hydro-powered mill was an old one, dating from the 1830s. A feature article in the May 23, 1874 Ypsilanti Commercial gave an overview of the city businesses of the time. The piece mentions the city mill.

“[The mill stands] on the east bank of the Huron, above Cross Street bridge. It, or rather the mill of which this is an enlargement, was built in Territorial days [before Michigan became a state in 1837]. In 1865 it came into the possession of the Ypsilanti Woolen Mill Company, and by this company was sold to T. C. Owen, Esq., a nephew of E. B. Ward of Detroit, who is also an interested party. The mill is an immense structure. It contains seven run of stone, and at present is turning out 250 barrels of flour per day. It, in addition, grinds 30,000 bushels of grain per year, for the farmers of the vicinity.  . . A side track from the Michigan Central Railroad runs to the door of the mill.” The side track ran approximately where Rice Street is today.

Ypsilanti poet-farmer William Lambie raised wheat on his farm just north of town. In his poem “A Harvest Hymn,” published in his 1883 book “Life on the Farm,” he lauded the grain:

We see the God of nature in bounteous love bestowing,
In every year of life we reap the seed we have been sowing,
Till our barns are filled with plenty and cups are overflowing,
As we are marching on.
We have entered on a calling that will never know defeat,
For honor and for daily bread we work in summer’s heat,
Ever reaping golden harvests of the finest of the wheat,
When summer days are long.

1909 was a good year for local wheat production. The Ypsilanti Milling Corporation decided to put some of that wheat into a new venture. It milled it into a breakfast gruel similar to Cream of Wheat.

On August 6, 1909 the first ad for “Wheat Hearts” appeared.

“WHEAT HEARTS

“What are they? Well, we’ll tell you. They are our new breakfast food made from the very best wheat grown; viz, that around Ypsilanti, and ground fresh every day. Why buy breakfast foods made away from home when you can get something here which you know is fresh and which will cost you less money. Ask your grocer for Wheat Hearts.
“The Ypsilanti Milling Co.
“East Cross St. Phone 171.”

The ad ran again on August 10, 12, and 16.

Several local grocers also ran ads during that summer, often listing their goods and specials in the ads. Some listed oatmeal and cornflakes.

None listed Ypsilanti Wheat Hearts.

The Ypsilanti Milling Company’s ads for Wheat Hearts vanished by September of 1909. Perhaps no one wanted a hot breakfast gruel in August. Possibly a fall launch of the cereal might have helped it to succeed. At any rate, Wheat Hearts vanished from the scene. The Ypsilanti Historical Museum holds no packaging artifacts of this forgotten cereal.

Had it caught on, Wheat Hearts might have made Ypsilanti a breakfast cereal empire, renowned from Mackinac to Monroe. Trains could have shipped the cereal to cities around the nation. Citizens could have been humming the catchy Wheat Hearts jingle, perhaps along the lines of:

From the fertile Ypsilanti
To the pantry of my auntie,
It’s Wheat Hearts!
For some good starts!

Alas, it wasn’t to be. Wheat Hearts vanished from the 1909 papers and presumably from local stores—if indeed it had ever been stocked.

The only people who remember our failed foray into the breakfast cereal arena are local hermits poring over crumbling newspapers.

And they’re no help in promoting Wheat Hearts. They usually  have just a miserly cup of coffee—black, no sugar—for breakfast.

Laura Bien is the author of “Tales from the Ypsilanti Archives.” Catch her free talk with local historianJames Mann at Ypsilanti’s Senior Center Wednesday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m.. Have an old-time Ypsi story? Contact Laura at ypsidixit@gmail.com.

Picture of the Week - The Last Hudson Dealer

The last Hudson dealer - Ypsilanti, Michigan, photo by sjb4photos

Here in Ypsilanti, Michigan is the last remaining Hudson dealership
in existence. It is now part of the Ypsilanti Auto Heritage Collection,
founded by Jack Miller, who’s Father started this dealership.

Jack was manning the front desk when we visited on New Year’s Eve.
This 1933 Terraplane is currently displayed in the showroom and is
all original.

Still Cookin’ with Aunt Gerry

Minnie, Aunt Gerry’s “Big Puppy,” a 1-year old black lab, has been acting-up all week. The dog ate a loaf of bread, a box of cookies and a package of licorice. Every morning Minnie has been greeting Aunt Gerry with one of Joe’s socks and Aunt Gerry is never able to locate it’s match. It’s been hectic around the house so Aunt Gerry quickly pulled out two old standards for this week’s column:

Popular Porqupine Meatballs

When the rice cooks, it pokes out around the meatball, making it look like the back end of a porqupine. However, these “Porqupines” aren’t dangerous, they’re delicious! ~Aunt Gerry

2 lbs. ground beef
3/4 cup uncooked rice
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 teaspoons celery salt
2 tablespoons onions
1 (10 1/2-oz) can tomato soup
1 (8-oz) can tomato sauce
1 cup dwater

Blend meat, rice pepper, celery salt, onions. Form into 24 balls. Place in baking dish; add soup, tomato sauce, and water. Cover and bake in slow oven (325 degrees) for 1 1/4 hours.

Lazy Lemon Cake

It’s called “Lazy” because the recipe calls for a box cake mix. I always keep one on hand in case I’m asked to prepare something for a funeral at church. My daughter thinks I’m morbid. The women in charge of the funeral luncheons think I’m wonderful. ~Aunt Gerry

1 small pkg. lemon jello
1 cup boiling water.
1 pkg. lemon cake mix
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/4 cup water

Stir together Jello and water until jello is dissolved; cool. While Jello mixture is cooling, in mixing bowl combine remaining ingredients. Mix with mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add the cooled jello-water mixture. Mix until well blended. Pur batter into greased and lightly floured angel food cake pan or Bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven and poke holes in top of cake. Pour glaze over cake while hot.
Glaze:
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/2 cup lemon jice
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
Mix together until smooth and pour over hot cake.

Gerry Burns (Aunt Gerry) is an octogenarian & Ypsilantian who has resided with her husband Joe in their Augusta Township home for 43 years. After working 20 years at Eastern Michigan University, she retired in 1992. In addition to knitting and baking, Aunt Gerry enjoys the company of her husband & family which includes three grown children, three grandchildren and Minnie; a large, rambunctious, black Labrador retriever. At 80 years old, Aunt Gerry is happy that she’s “Still Cookin’” You can email Aunt Gerry at AuntGerry@YpsiNews.com

Now Where Did I Put That Darn Iguana? (1 Update)

South-Side Ypsilanti resident and YpsiNews.com managing editor Steve Pierce sent an interesting inquiry via email today:

If you lost an iguana (we think that is what it is) I may know where it is.  Give me a brief description of what it looks like and where you last had it.  ~Steve

Steve can be contacted at Steve@YpsiNews.com

If the AWOL iguana is not claimed, perhaps there is a new belt or a pair of boots in Mr. Pierce’s future.

UPDATE:

June 22, 2010 @ 18:15

Approximately 20 responses were received regarding the little lost lizard.  This impressed Steve Pierce because as he put it, “You know, when you are the guy that wrote the (April Fools Day) stories about crocodiles in Riverside Park and oil discovered at Water Street… well, it is fair that some were skeptical about a report of a lost iguana.”  (http://ypsinews.com/index.php/200804-crocodile-spotted-in-riverside-park)

According to Pierce, the iguana’s owner has been found.  The owner was able to ID “Marissa” from pictures.  Marissa has been missing since May 28, 2010 and began her journey in the Normal Park area.  To make her way to Ypsilanti’s south side neighborhood, she would’ve had to cross busy Michigan Avenue.  Well done, Marissa!

Although the iguana’s owner has been found, the iguana herself has eluded capture so far.  Apparently it’s not easy to track a green iguana in a green tree.

YpsiNews.com does not anticipate CNN trucks lining the streets and doubts Nancy Grace will be reporting from Ypsilanti.  However, a small volunteer watch has been formed to locate Marissa.  YpsiNews.com will keep you posted on the Great Ypsilanti Iguana Hunt.

If you happen to spot “Marissa”, please contact YpsiNews.com and be informed that Marissa likes cream cheese.

It Takes A Town To Make A Video - How Was I To Know?

This is the story of  the making of a music video.  Before reporting how it was made, YpsiNews.com is proud to report where it was made - In Ypsilanti, Michigan.  Ypsilantian Ken MacGregor is a strong proponent of supporting local businesses.  With this music video he is trying to do his part to bring national, perhaps even global, attention to our city as a place of “enormous creative potential.”

It started with an idea for a song, but since MacGregor, the man with the idea, couldn’t write  music, play music, or even sing - he needed help.  He found it in Adam Dahl: singer, songwriter, guitarist. Together, they hashed out the lyrics, and within an hour had completed “How Was I To Know?” They played the song for friends and family with positive response.  Dahl & MacGregor both got the song stuck in their heads and figured that was a good sign.  Adam commented, half-joking, “We should make a music video!”  Ken responded, “You know… I know people who do that.”

MacGregor sent out emails and used his connections with local Ypsilanti talent to set things in motion.  He said, “I could see it in my head, and once I could do that, I knew I could make it happen in the real world…or at least on camera.”  Ken contacted videographer Scott Hatkow, who agreed to work pro bono saying, “I’ve always wanted to do a music video.”  MacGregor also called upon Kelly Jean Passage, the female lead in a zombie horror / comedy he’ll be  shooting this summer.  Passage loved the song and was enthusiastic about being in the video.  Matthew Fulton,  a buddy from high school, now a Kung Fu instructor happily agreed to choreograph the fight scenes.  A recording session was scheduled, filming locations were confirmed and they were ready to go.

Kelly Jean Passage had never studied martial arts, a key element of the video.  After a month of rehearsing fight choreography, Matthew Fulton had her looking like a mighty warrior, very convincing on camera as a competent Kung Fu practitioner.  Matthew also provided the armor used in the video and appeared as an extra.  The first day of shooting was devoted entirely to the fight scene, and was shot over five hours on a day with intermittent rain showers. They had to stop taping often to run into the garage out of the rain.  Shooting would resume when there was a break in the clouds.  MacGregor ended up ill after shooting scenes where he repeatedly had to fall  on the wet grass.  His enthusiasm still evident he remarked, “It was totally worth it. We got some great footage!”

The gym scene was shot at Ypsi Studio, a small fitness and wellness center in Ypsilanti on Michigan Avenue.  Julia Collins, the owner, donated the use of the space and agreed to fill in as an extra.  MacGregor also called in Dave Rahbari at the last minute as an extra-extra-extra playing three different parts.   The final location was Haab’s Restaurant, an Ypsilanti landmark.  There, the production was aided by a very helpful staff, including the bartender who made the actors fake cocktails to drink.

The video went up on YouTube on June 1, and is  already closing in on  1,000 hits.  YouTube has begun putting ads on the video, which can be assumed means  they think it’s doing pretty well.  It’s definitely a positive statement about the local talent in Ypsilanti.

WATCH VIDEO:  How Was I To Know?

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