Looking out from the lobby of the State Theater in Ann Arbor gives one a vista westward down Liberty Street. Home to longstanding businesses (Afternoon Delight, Kilwin’s Chocolates) and recent arrivals (Bongz and Thongz, Grange Kitchen and Bar) and lost delights from yester-year (Mr. Flood’s Party, The Pan Tree). A full 10.5 miles of pavement, gravel, businesses, homes and farmland – Liberty goes from “Street” to “Road” as it meanders nearly due west from Ann Arbor’s campus area.
Toward the western end of Liberty, is the southern-most field of my farm . . . a field dramatically rising some 60 feet higher than street level and, this year, planted in soy beans. Only about a half mile exists of Liberty past the farm – dead ending at the foot of Dancer (what a great name for a road!). The road used to extend about a mile further to Gunther, but a lost bridge in between didn’t warrant replacing. Large cement pylons prevent western travel past Dancer Road. Yes, it is the end of Liberty (only figuratively, we hope).
About four miles east of Liberty’s end, is Howard’s home (regular readers know that my friend Howard is over 90, has spent his entire life in Ann Arbor, was a local businessman, lost his wife, and is an unmatched source of Ann Arbor history). Tonight, after a few dozen attempts over the last several months, I found him at home. He was there with son Brent and Brent’s friend Melanie. They had just finished dinner (pork chops, garden veggies – “you should have come earlier!”) and the four of us chatted for about a half hour. Howard was looking pretty darn good (perhaps I should say remarkably good for being on the far side of 90!). Brent and Mel were delightfully chatty and we enjoyed catching up. The only point of history was a review of Washtenaw County’s various German restaurants and their ability to deliver a decent sauerbraten.
“_____________ used to have a great one, but now it’s burnt meat with gravy,” fussed Howard. He then carefully lauded and dissected restaurants currently in business and closed as “recently” as the late 1950s for their sauerbraten. Additional fussing included the quality of four or five various menu items. How I enjoy these sessions!
His health is pretty good for the plus side of 90 and he still has his weekly outings with friends whose tenures extend beyond 50 years. He did agree to an outing or two with me to some former haunts (I have to buy, but he’ll leave the tip). I’m already looking forward to our adventures!
