Chelsea Fair: Figure 8 Derby: 20 August 2014

The demolition derbies are one of the Chelsea Fair’s big draws because everybody loves an evening of controlled vehicular violence. Tuesday’s derby was canceled due to heavy storms, but Wednesday’s weather was considerably more cooperative, so the figure 8 derby was good to go.

Before we begin, let’s go over the difference between a regular derby and a figure 8 derby:

• In the regular derby, the goal is to use your car to batter all the other cars until they can no longer move. In other words, the goal is to be like a typical Michigan road.

• In the figure 8 derby, the goal is to be the first to complete twelve laps. If in the process of completing twelve laps you have the opportunity to push other cars out of the way and/or into the wall, you can go right ahead and do it. In other words, the goal is to be like a typical east coast driver.

Okay, on to the action.

The Wolverine: 18 August 2014

For decades, the Wolverine has been a Chelsea institution and a familiar piece of the local landscape. That’s about to change: the Wolverine is about to close.

This Saturday (August 23) will be the last day for the Wolverine. Before long, the building with the distinctive paint job will be demolished — along with the neighboring gas station — to make way for a larger gas station.

On Monday I visited the Wolverine to get a few photos of the building and the paint job that helped make it a Chelsea landmark.

As you can see in the above pictures, most of the front of the building is brick. The rest of the building isn’t. That’s where the paint comes in.

There’s a touch of humor in the small sign painted next to the door:

“Please use front door,” says the sign. It’s good advice. Getting through that door would require patience, determination, and power tools.

The east side door has another sign:

“Please use back door.”

The front of the building now bears a banner breaking the news to all passersby.

There’s a marker clipped on the banner so loyal customers can bid the Wolverine farewell.

There are a lot of loyal customers.

Some of the messages are reminders of just how long the Wolverine has been a part of Chelsea.

Others reveal that the Wolverine has been a part of important moments in the lives of Chelsea residents.

When I was talking with someone about the closing of the Wolverine, she said, “Oh, my parents met there!” Every story like that — and I’m sure there are plenty — shows that the Wolverine has long served as a gathering place for Chelsea.

Vintage Base Ball: 17 August 2014

The Monitor Base Ball Club of Chelsea traveled to Northville to play the Eclipse Base Ball Club.

A good beard is a good beard no matter what team you play for.

Would you like to be check out the fun of a vintage base ball match? The Monitors and the Merries — Chelsea’s women’s base ball team — will both be in action in Chelsea next Saturday, August 23! The Merries will be playing after the fair parade (approximately 2:30), and the Monitors match will follow. All are welcome!

 

Sounds & Sights: 14 August 2014

Thursday was the final Sounds & Sights of 2014. Remember when it was just starting? Two and a half months goes quickly!

All eleven Thursdays featured good weather, a marvelous run I can’t recall happening in years past. Rain? Unusually high temperatures? None of that. Every Thursday was beautiful. Some more than others — I most enjoyed the October-like chill in the air this week — but all were beautiful. What a great year for Sounds & Sights!

Stormfront was on the library lawn.

Seven Bridges was by the courthouse.

Seven Bridges had FANS.

Yes, they were all enjoying the music. You’ll just have to trust me. THEY WERE.

Continue reading →

Sounds & Sights: 7 August 2014

The run of beautiful weather on Thursday evenings continued! Another good crowd showed up for the penultimate Sounds & Sights of 2014.

Annie & Rod Capps and Jason Dennie were on the library lawn.

One little girl was a big fan of the music.

Captain Awesome enjoyed it, too.

Cold Tone Harvest was by the courthouse.

James Muto was in the alley.

Salmagundi was on Middle.

The Shelter Dogs were at the Glazier Building.

Their audience was having fun.

Of One was at the gazebo.

The fountain is always popular.

Face painting was in the courtyard.

Skye Hilliam and Drake Morency were at the Glazier Building.

Back on the library lawn, Annie & Rod Capps and Jason Dennie were still entertaining the crowd.

Next week is the last Sounds & Sights of 2014! Come check out the fun in downtown Chelsea next Thursday evening from 6:30-8:30.

Vintage Base Ball in Chelsea: 26 July 2014

The Monitor Base Ball Club of Chelsea played a home match against the Wahoos of Royal Oak.

As always, the match began with a bat toss to determine which team would bat first.

(That ball was fair just inside the third base line.)

The match was very close the whole way, but the Wahoos held the Monitors scoreless in the ninth to preserve an exciting 12-11 victory.

This is what a postgame huzzah looks like:

You may have noticed “Tallies for Charity” at the bottom of the scoreboard. The Monitors were collecting donations for Smile Train, an organization that provides cleft lip and palate surgeries to those in need around the world. After the huzzahs, the Wahoos surprised the Chelsea captain with a very generous donation.

It was a great moment.

In fact, the whole afternoon was a rousing success: a large crowd — the largest crowd yet! — showed up to cheer on the teams, the match was exciting, and a worthy cause benefited.

After the postgame photo, they gave kids a chance to hit the ball and run the bases.

Would you like to join the fun? More spectators are always welcome! The Monitors’ next home match is the afternoon of Saturday, August 23, after the fair parade. Come check it out! (The rest of the schedule is here.)