Category Archives: Other Points of Interest

Other points of interest include, but are not limited to, buildings, geographical areas or features, organizations, clubs, and symbols, that are organized here in order to better display their characteristics.

Ancient Greece/Mythology Camp

Ancient Greece/Mythology Camp. Source: aarecedsummer.weebly.com.

“Study ancient secrets of the Greeks and become an architect as campers design and build their own Greek Temple. Create exciting hands on projects including a Trojan horse, fresco mural, amphora pottery and actor’s masks. Campers write & perform a short Greek style play and enjoy all things sports as they participate in camp Olympic Games where they’re crowned Demi-gods! Don’t miss this classic opportunity to bring the past to life” (aarecedsummer.weebly.com).

It is interesting to see that Rec & Ed, which was for over 50 years funded by the Ann Arbor Public School system and the City of Ann Arbor and still is tied to them, promotes a summer camp, catered toward grades K-8, that teaches and reenacts Greek history including the subjects of architecture, art, drama, sports, and mythology.

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Township of Scio

Established in 1833, the Township of Scio (“sigh-o”), is named after the Greek Island of Chios (Χίος). The township’s name has long been questioned by historians because early records were supposedly destroyed in a fire. Therefore, no one is entirely sure how and why Scio, which is not spelled correctly, was selected. However, pro-Greek sentiment was indeed derived from support of the Greek War of Independence (1821-32) because the US had recently overcome their own fight for freedom.

Also, according to the township’s website, Daniel Webster, one of the five greatest U.S. senators, gave a moving speech in Congress in 1824 about the massacre of Chios and also praised Chios “as a seat of Modern Greek culture” (sciotownship.org). It is hypothesized that some of his admirers in Washtenaw county, transcribers or speech writers, used the Italian spelling of Chios, when studying his speech. The Italian spelling (Scio) was the most common foreign one until the end of the 19th century, especially in Philhellenic texts and titles. For example, the title of Delacroix’s famous painting was Les Massacres de Scio (The ‘sci’ at the beginning of the Italian name is pronounced like the English ‘sh’ and therefore corresponds to the Greek chi/X). These same admirers, using this spelling, named the township Scio and that is most likely how Michigan and Chios were connected later on in 1833.”

First Church Christ, Scientist

First Church of Christ Scientist.

Built by Spencer Beman in 1912 the Church of Christ Scientist held service for more than 75 years until it was converted into a residence over 20 years ago (Winerberg 2014: 85). The former church, which looks a little like Monticello, Thomas’ Jefferson’s home, is built of stucco over brick and features a colonnaded porch with side entryways, Frank Lloyd Wright inspired windows, and a cupola on the roof (Wineberg ibid.) Currently the owner plans to make the neoclassical building it a showplace for downtown living (aadl.org).

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Zion Lutheran Church

Zion Lutheran Church, north side. Source: flickr.com

Early on the church was located at the old Congregational Church on Fifth and Washington Avenues, but in the current building on West Liberty was completed in 1958 (Zion Lutheran Church). The church exhibits a front facade in the Greek temple style with its plain pediment and Ionic columns, but also does have divergent features such as the Italian renaissance styled entryway and the ornamental window in the pediment.

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