Bell tolls at new facility Former Ypsilanti High is now a home for seniors

Wednesday, May 16, 2001

By EMMA JACKSON and MARIANNE RZEPKA
ANN ARBOR NEWS STAFF REPORTERS

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No one can remember exactly when the bell in the clock tower of the old Ypsilanti High School stopped tolling.

But when the gong sounded Tuesday, a cheer went up from a crowd of former students, some of whom now call the 85-year-old brick school their home.

Tuesday, the bell rang in a new era for the building, now Cross Street Village, a residence of 104 apartments for people over age 55 who like living in the renovated classrooms, laboratories and offices that made up part of the school that closed in 1973.

The residence at 210 W. Cross St. is "one of the best projects of this type I've had an opportunity to work on," said Robbert McKay, architectural coordinator director of the Michigan Preservation Office at Tuesday's grand opening. "What you have as a community is very special. It speaks volumes for your local community and your officials as well."

Twice the project might have been stalled. "Thank you for not leaving," McKay told officials from American Community Developers, owners of the building. "There were times I was surprised you didn't."

In one case, there were questions over whether the renovation would qualify for tax credits, but lobbying by residents and historical experts successfully pushed for the financial breaks.

Then on Dec. 19, 1998, just as renovations were starting, a four-alarm fire broke out on the roof of the building, a blaze that some thought might end the project. Luckily, the damage wasn't as bad as was feared.

Now the halls are painted, the tiles around the old drinking fountains are cleaned up, the stairways polished and new touches - like a small movie theater and a modern laundry room have been added.

And every day at noon and 6 p.m., the clock in the bell tower will chime.

Why at noon and 6? "Because," said Gerald A. Krueger, president of American Community Developers. "We wanted to do it when it wouldn't wake anyone up." But, he added, "we're open to suggestions."

Some former students lamented they weren't able to gain entry to the secured stairwell leading to the landmark bell tower.

"The attraction (to the clock tower) was the fact that it was always locked and kept off-limits to students," said Tino Lambros, Ypsilanti High School class of 1962. "I don't know of anyone who got up there. If they did, they kept it a secret."

But several obviously did, leaving their names behind as evidence.

Ken McGregor '71, Gayle Court '72, Carol McKenna '69, Bill Newton '70 and Dan Vercruyssee '72 are just a few of the names recorded in chalk or marker on the cement walls and beams on the tower's first level. Two tiers up is the original bell and the new electronic system that sounds the chime.

The original clapper from the clock tower bell was removed in 1978 and has been in the care of H. Robert Peper, a former Ypsilanti School District administrator. Peper had the piece refurbished and mounted and recently turned it over to Cross Street Village.

The clapper's return is in some ways symbolic for the residents who once attended school or worked at the building they now call home.

John Calder - a 1938 graduate of the high school, Ypsilanti mayor from 1960-64 and now a resident of Cross Street Village - said he remembers the sound of the bell as he ran down the alley from his nearby house.

"I remember," he said, "because it meant I was late."

Marianne Rzepka can be reached by e-mail at mrzepka@annarbornews.com or at (734) 482-2263; 

Emma Jackson can be reached by e-mail at ejackson@annarbornews.com or at (734) 482-3837.