Fifty years ago 4 churches in Ann Arbor Michigan opened a coffeehouse in a historic mansion owned by one of the churches. That coffeehouse has become a premier acoustic music venue and the only surviving folk coffeehouse from the 60’s. It has changed locations in the city twice and now is celebrating FIFTY FOLKIN’ YEARS! So of course The Ark threw a birthday party for itself to which yours truly attended.
Plywood Model of the Original Ark Location
Unfortunately the original Ark location on Hill Street has been demolished, but on a sunny day in early August an outdoor picking party complete with 6.5 oz. Coca-Colas and Dunkin Donut quarters was held on the site where the house once stood.
Picking Party Folks
For 3 hours various of the Arkies from back in the day played and sang as we had done in the Old Days. Well, OK, we’re a bit grayer but we know more songs too!
Picking Party in Progress
Note the donut quarters in the foreground if you please. The cokes were on ice.
Another View of the Proceedings
There were folks from all over the country at ther Reunion including some from California.
One of the Californians & His Blue Synthetic Travel Guitar
The Reunion started with a sign in and greet session Wednesday afternoon and ended at about midnight on Saturday. There were picking sessions from 11am until 3pm daily with coffee, tea, soda, juice, fruit trays, vegatable trays, and sandwich fixings to sustain us all. Thursday afternoon was the Ark Hill Street site picking party from 3:30pm until 5:30pm and Friday evening there was a potluck and picking party at a current Arkie’s home. Wednesday through Saturday evenings there were concerts at the Ark’s current venue, a location which is getting bought by the Ark as its permanent home!
It was an awesome 4 days. I sang harmonies left, right & sideways, caught up on all the news from folks I haven’t seen since my college days, and got very, very little sleep. It was awesome. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the current Arkies who put this all on!
(I didn’t take all that many pictures, I was too busy signing!)
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