A new approach to golfing!

An idea from Ron Clark regarding a low-stress golf outing (and cheaper too)

Spouses, kids, grandkids, brothers, sisters, friends, aunts, uncles, cousins of the 1958 graduating class of Chelsea High School and 1958 fellow graduates are all invited to the golfing fun (non-competitive) outing. We could do non-scoring or 2 or 4 person scrambles type of games. Hell, as long as you pay the fee, you could just ride a cart around with the group.
Check out the site:
http://www.waterloogolfcourse.com/homewelcome.html

Sound fun?

If you’re interested in a new way to experience golfing on Saturday afternoon on the 50^th reunion weekend, contact Organizer Ron at: yellowkayak@yahoo.com

Questionnaire Results

As the results from our written questionnaire come in, I will post them here on the blog site. Check back regularly to see the results!

As of May 8, 2008

Questionnaire

Please give us a yes or no on the following and the number attending as appropriate:

1) Will you provide a recent photo and bio sketch? Yes: 21 No: 6

If yes, electronic: ? or hard copy: ?

2) Will you attend the Reunion Weekend? Yes: 32 No: 7 # 42

3) Will you attend the Friday Noon events uptown? Yes: 12 No: 14 # 16

4) Will you attend the CHS football game on Friday night? Yes: 12 No: 13 # 16

5) Will you go to Jim Grau’s place after the game? Yes: 14 No: 11 # 20

6) Will you join the gang for Golf Saturday Noon? Yes: 6 No: 20 # 12

7) Will you attend the social hour / dinner at Reddeman’s? Yes: 32 No: 1 # 40

8) Will you attend the Brunch Sunday morning? Yes: 11 No: 13 # 13

9) Will you bring a CD of your favorite 50s music? Yes: 8 No: 14

10) What other ideas do you have to make this event special? We will do our best to include your ideas:

11) If you no longer want to hear about any future reunions, please check here and we will no longer include you in any correspondence. Number: 3

New post

For those of you who are interested, see the vision at citizensforfsw.blogspot.com

Potential intriguing and touching story

Sandy and I ran into Jim Grau last night at Thompson's Pizza (where else?) He told a very intriguing and touching story to us. I promised I would put it on the blog if he wrote it out (since, he doesn't type!). So, for those of you who would like to read this story, you might encourage him to do his part, then I'll put it on the blog.

Happy New Year!

Anyone still making resolutions?

Office on South Main "in the way" of the developer

FSW Saga--excluding hearsay!

Known Facts about FSW Property as of 12.27.07

2000 Comprehensive Plan designates FSW property to be zoned from Industrial to Residential when FSW no longer viable.

Several years ago , the owner of the house at 516 South Main Street, immediately south of the FSW property, was denied rezoning to Commercial to remain in compliance with 2000 Comprehensive Plan.

2007 DRAFT Comprehensive Plan designates FSW property mixed use. Plan not yet adopted.

On October 9, 2007, Magellan Properties registered the deed of the site previously owned by FSW property with the county. The deed indicates a restriction against residential use and residential development.

On November 20, 2007 The Planning Commission held a public hearing at which Magellan Properties presented a concept plan and requested a rezoning to C-2 of the FSW site, plus the house immediately to the north at 416 South Main Street. The response of Carl Schmult, planning consultant to the Planning Commission, is taken from the official minutes of the meeting and follows:

“Carl Schmult read his report regarding the proposal. The request for C-2 zoning does not support what is in the current Comprehensive Plan nor is it consistent with the Comprehensive Plan that is about to be adopted, His opinion is that while the site it not viable any longer for Industrial and probably should be rezoned, it should stay consistent with your Master Plan. You either need to deny that request or change your Master Plan. In addition, based on the current Master Plan, and the one ready to be adopted, the rezoning should not include the residential parcel to the north. The Future Land Use map in both versions leaves that parcel residential. The applicant could apply for PUD zoning which would assure mixed use, have a specific layout, establish architectural features, and enhance the character and treatment of the edges of the site which abuts surrounding residences. If you allow C-2 zoning it does not necessarily mean you will get what is shown tonight. Anything under C-2 would be allowed. A decision will have to be made on what the Planning Commission and City Council want to do with the rezoning of both the residential property to the north, and the Federal Screw property. This should be done before the Comprehensive Plan is adopted. It is suggested that this be discussed at the Joint Meeting with City Council. There is a deed restriction between the old owners of Federal Screw and the purchaser Rene Papo which states that because of contamination no residential development can take place on site. Mr. Schmult said that the City’s stand on this issue should not be based on a deal between two people. Yes there is contamination, but the possibility does exist that it could be cleaned up and used as residential.”

• Many neighborhood residents urged the Planning Commission not to grant C-2 rezoning, citing increased traffic congestion as a concern, lighting spillage, interruption of the neighborhood, in general.

• Many other Chelsea citizens presented reasons that the entire site should not be leveled as proposed by the Magellan Properties concept plan. The site has been a factory complex since 1916 until the Chelsea Division of FSW went out of business in 2005--receiving awards from the Army and Navy for quality production during World War 2 and playing an important part in the history of Chelsea. In particular, reasons for rehabbing and reuse of the two corner office buildings were given: architectural uniqueness that serves as points of interest that would be examples of preserving historic places as frequently cited in the 2007 draft Comprehensive Plan for the purpose of Chelsea as a destination.

The draft Comprehensive Plan and rezoning request were tabled.

On November 29, 2007, The Chelsea Standard published an extensive piece written by Kathy Clark on page 4-A: An Industrial Landmark: Federal Screw Works employed hundreds in heyday.

On December 4, 2007, a work session to review the 2007 draft Comprehensive Plan was held between the Planning Commission and City Council. No changes to the proposed mixed use zoning for the FSW site were suggested.

On December 28, 2007, the Planning Commission held a second public hearing to consider the 2007 draft Comprehensive Plan and rezoning request by Magellan Properties.

Citizens individually addressed the proposed rezoning of the FSW property for multiple reasons:

• Historic significance of the factory to Chelsea
• Architectural significance of the two office buildings to Chelsea’s unique and historic building inventory
• Neighbors object to C-2 zoning in general
• Brownfield money is available to mitigate contaminants that are cited in 11/8/07
• Base line environmental assessment submitted to DEQ-this could be accomplished to allow residential development
• Other monies are available for the purpose of rehabbing and reuse the two offices;
• knowledgeable people are willing to assist with this process IF Magellan Properties indicates motivation to pursue these options
• Washtenaw County is a certified local government and can write a proposal for a

project, pledge matching dollars for the project, and submit their proposal to the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office as part of the competitive pool for that federal money. The projects can be bricks and mortar or planning projects.

• The federal tax credits are available to developers who are rehabilitating a building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and who will be using it commercially. The federal tax credits are only available for commercial use--stores, etc. However, rentals are considered commercial use--it is a building that is depreciable. So what many developers do is develop a project, rent out the residential portion for 5 years (the tax credit recapture period lasts 5 years), and then they convert their residential units to condos after that

• The concept of “Chelsea as a destination” was expressed by business owner, Tom Diab-

“As the owner of the Gourmet Chocolate Cafe located in the Clocktower

Complex, I know from experience that people who come to Chelsea

are drawn to the unique charm of the old buildings. Eight out of ten

people come into the Gourmet Chocolate Cafe as they are walking

around town in the summer. Chelsea businesses benefit from architecture

that is distinctive with historical meaning.

The Comprehensive Plan and zoning can determine what happens

on the FSW site. Historic ambience is a quality that can be used

in marketing Chelsea as a destination.”

• Two organizational letters of support for rehabbing and reusing the two offices

buildings were read and submitted-

Chelsea Area Historical Society and Chelsea Depot Association

A work session between the Planning Commission and Magellan Properties was requested by the developer. TBA This can be observed by interested parties with no public comment.

What was your favorite part of "the holiday"?

Note: politically correct question....Okay, I'll start: My favorite part was watching my two grandgirls be angels in the impromptu Christmas children's nativity play. They are already angelic-looking, so it wasn't difficult to believe they were angels with their set of wings strategically placed on their backs.

When I lived in Canada, we also celebrated "Boxing Day"...a hangover from the Brits. That was a time one took presents to relatives out to relatives and friends in the country. All stores were still closed. A far cry from the rapid returns people do now! Not to mention the exchanges and after Christmas sales already underway!

If you can't respond by signing in, just post by using "anonymous" and sign your name at the bottom.

Wishing you an old-fashioned Christmas from 1945

Rural schoolhouse project

For those of you who went a rural school, you can schedule an interview by calling 734 475 9242. For those of you living outside the area, you probably could arrange a phone interview!

Nancy Irwin's Surprise Birthday Party

Finally, I have remembered something that Sandy Weber doesn't remember! (It's tough moving back to a place your brain practically deleted when you graduated from high school.) Today, Sandy and I were talking about surprise birthday parties, because one was held last Tuesday for Mary Kathryn Weber on the occasion of her 82 birthday.

I asked Sandy if she remembered what happened at Nancy Irwin's surprise birthday party. To my surprise, Sandy said she remembers being out in the country, but she doesn't remember what happened. Here are some choices of what happened:

A. Nancy fainted and her mother had to revive her
B. Nancy didn't show up when she was supposed to
C. Nancy started to cry and ran outside
D. Nancy went in the closet and won't come out

What do you think happened?

impotance continued (written by Byron's cousin!)

Importance of the two office buildings of FSW

First Federal Screw Works office built in 1919

Quiz

Jim Grau was overheard at Thompson's pizza telling a story about being expelled from a certain math class for a week. It seems that three other boys received the same treatment. Jim said he, Karl, Byron, and a fourth person spent the week playing cards during the hour at Karl's house while banned from the class. Karl told his dad that they had done so well on a math test that they didn't need to go to class for the entire week.

Question: Who was the unnamed fourth person?

Chelsea Standard article on FSW

Federal Screw Building

This is a blotter produced in the early 1900s to advertise the FSW--earlier named Chelsea Screw Company. The building in the far right corner was the original office built in 1919. That building, plus the other office building on Congdon are classic! You can also see the interurban running through the site.

Federal Screw Works site

To: City of Chelsea Planning Commissioners and Magellan Properties

From: Janet Bernath, 238 Harrison Street, Chelsea

Date: November 20, 2007

Re: The Federal Screw Works property

I was born in Chelsea at 138 East Middle Street in 1940 during the brief time the house at that address served as a hospital. I graduated from Chelsea High School in 1958—a member of the last class to graduate from the high school on Harrison Street. The school complex was later demolished in 1987, and now four ordinary apartment buildings and parking lots are there. No visible links to the past remain on that site except a small, cement ledge once a part of an outdoor court area.

Upon graduation from high school, I left Chelsea. I chose to return to Chelsea almost two years ago after a 47 year absence. My decision to return was based on the kind of community Chelsea has become with:

• extraordinary opportunities for learning at the library and the Adult Learning Institute and active organizations that address current social issues and explore our past
• a wide array of art, theater and music, downtown festivals, and good restaurants to enjoy

This time I chose Chelsea, and I’m reveling in the place of my birth. Friends who now visit me in Chelsea love the architecture, galleries, shops, restaurants, and think I’m lucky to have relocated here. My friends always spend money here and contribute to the local economy.

My father, uncle and grandfather worked at the Federal Screw Works. Certainly our family economy was affected by the existence of the Federal Screw Works, as were the economies of many other families in the Chelsea area. Dad invented machine parts for production, even naming one of them, “The Martin Pick-Off Attachment” in honor of his grandfather. (See attached)

Why is my family’s story important? The story represents one of many families touched by the long industrial history of the company. Federal Screw Works was a part of the rich industrial history of Chelsea. (See attached summary of Chelsea’s Federal Screw Work History written by Kathy Clark and edited by Cary Church from the archives of Chelsea Area Historic Society)

For a time, my dad had a room in the old office building facing Main Street. Even as a child I thought it quite unique and special, but little did I know that the building was built in 1919 and is a fine example of the Victorian industrial style.

The office on Congdon Street was the management office—the “front office” was the term Dad used, I think. Built in 1925, it is representative of the “Art Deco” style and is one of the few of that style remaining in Chelsea.

These two office buildings on Federal Screw Works property are historically and architecturally significant and worth being saved and adaptively reused.

Chelsea’s northern gateway with its industrial and architectural heritage has been enhanced by McKinley Properties. The Clocktower Complex sets the stage for entry into the downtown area. Magellan Properties now has an opportunity to enhance the industrial and architectural heritage of the Federal Screw Works property along the southern gateway into the downtown area.

If done with sensitive care of our historical assets, the development of the Federal Screw Works site would serve as a tangible link from the past for future generations and positively affect Chelsea as a destination. I urge Magellan Properties to save and adaptively reuse the historically significant buildings of the Federal Screw Works complex as opposed to demolition.

Direction

Hmmm.....I think this picture was taken looking east from East Street. What do you think?

Chelsea Area One Room School House Project

The Chelsea District Library, Chelsea Senior Center, and Chelsea Area Historic Society have a grant from the Chelsea Community Foundation to document activities of the rural one room schools in the area. I went to Reimenschneider (sp??) School near Cavanaugh Lake for kindergarten but that was all. My biggest recollection of that is walking past the very scary cows and marsh (where I thought Briar Rabbit lived) on my way to school.

I know that Doug Collyer went there longer. I believe several in our class had longer careers in one room school houses.

If you would like to participate in this effort to document history, please contact Tina Patterson and/or Kay Heller at the Chelsea Senior Center: 734 475 9242 or by email at: chelseaseniors@aol.com .

Just think, we're history!