Last week, Saline Journal editor Dell Deaton shared a photograph from the Michigan Avenue reconstruction project here. He went on to explain how that one single image could fully capture the whole of that event, which unfolded here over the course of several months — all summer long. [1,2]
He closed by asking this:
How would you have made a photograph to tell this story? If you believe you’ve come up with your own “decisive moment” photograph for this, explain why.
Someday the Saline Area Historical Society will undoubtedly put together another of its invaluable programs on this shared local experience. That will surely include photographs from a variety of dates, sources, and subject content. [3,4]
Until then, this is “the publisher’s pick” for that one image to represent the Michigan Avenue reconstrucction project running through Saline this year. Here are some bullet points:
- The four-corners and church steeples in the skyline are iconic downtown Saline.
- Pineapple House and Dan’s Downtown Tavern are clearly identifiable, significant. [5,6]
- A variety of specialized equipment necessary to this project can be seen, from the precision transit and hand-operated compactor to the Deere shovel.
- This is no mere roadway resurfacing: The eastbound lane is gone, the worker is hip-deep in a hole, and a new cement tile appears staged for installation.
- Notice details indicating traffic light replacements and the barrade fence to safely allow for continued sidewalk use for businesses on the south side of Michigan Avenue.
Modern-day truck and van help establish the time frame for work here. At the same time, a passing blue 1957 Pontiac Star Chief sedan almost steels the show. Vehicles from this period are common sites in Saline, both at important events such as Saline Street Machines during Saline’s Summerfest and simply driving about. In addition to being symbolic then, this car seems almost defiant as it passes through. [7]
In addition to all of this, the Michigan Avenue reconstruction project unearthed tracks from “Old Maude.” Any photograph intended to tell this US 12 story would at least have to reflect the sort of deep digging that went into making that discovery. [8]
With all due respect to Dell (who, by the way, shot both photographs), this is the one image that tells the story.
References
- “Could Just One Photograph Fully Capture Whole of a Months-Long Historical Event?” Dell Deaton (November 1, 2016) Saline Journal.
- “US-12 (Michigan Avenue) Reconstruction: City of Saline“(January 2016) Michigan Department of Transportation.
- “Society’s Events: Events | Educational Programs” Saline Area Historical Society.
- “From Trail To Highway: The Development of US 12 in Saline, Michigan” Kathy Holtz, Saline Area Historical Society.
- Pineapple House (home page).
- Dan’s Downtown Tavern (Facebook Page).
- Saline’s Summerfest (home page).
- “Old Maude Electric Line to Ypsilanti” Saline Historical Photos, University of Michigan Library.
