Ok, on to another townie conundrum…

My dad always pronounced the park over on Packard near Elsworth, “B’yur.” I grew up calling it that, but have begun to pronounce it “Burr.” As a townie, I need some help here. How should I be saying it?

“The land company which gave the Campus to the State for the site of the University laid out an addition east of Division Street. members of this company used their own names for this plot. William S. Maynard had two streets named for him: William street and Maynard: and the names of William R. Thompson, Charles Thayer, Chester Ingalls, E.S. Cobb, and Daniel B. Brown were also given to streets.”

The 1853 Henry Hart survey, and the Washtenaw County plat maps and atlases from 1856, 1864, 1895, and 1915 all say “William St.” The 1860 City Directory calls it “William,” as well. However, the 1874 County atlas says “Williams St.” A 1914 transcription of the original city plat also says “Williams.” Clearly, this is a common error that goes way back.

It’s “William” on all current signs, maps and official documents used by local government, including the designation of the William Street Historic District. I’m sticking with William, which is what I’ve called it for 33 years.

@teacherpatti, you statement to Vivienne doesn’t seem to make sense. People who commute INTO Ann Arbor, do so because they HAVE jobs in Ann Arbor. I don’t understand your correlation to not enough jobs and commuting into Ann Arbor. Just a thought.

@Vivienne, I think so many people have to commute in b/c it’s so expensive to live here and there aren’t enough jobs. I could never find a job here that pays what my out of town job does (not that I would necessarily want to).