Bus Terminal To Be Dedicated Tomorrow
Formal opening of the new $60,000 Eastern Michigan Motorbus Terminal at 116 W. Huron St. will take place at 1 o’clock tomorrow afternoon with Mayor Walter C. Sadler severing the satin ribbon stretched across the doors symbolizing the completion of Ann Arbor's new bus station and its opening for business.
This dedication ceremony will be witnessed by city officials and many residents of Ann Arbor as well as bus company officials and visitors from other cities.
Special guests of the bus company will assemble at noon at the Michigan Union for registration and will be transported in special buses to the terminal for a preview of the building and its up-to-date facilities.
Luncheon At Union
After Mayor Sadler formally opens the station, a public inspection will follow while the special guests will return to the Michigan Union for a luncheon at which Mayor Sadler will preside.
The terminal which places Ann Arbor in the first flight cities with modern bus facilities, is built on the site of an old brick building, relic of interurban railroad days, which was razed last May. The building has a frontage of 58 feet on Huron St. and a depth of 172 feet. Plans for the structure were drawn by Bonfield and Cumming of Cleveland, and Arthur O. Misch, of Detroit, was general contractor.
Its exterior is of Indiana limestone and polished black marble with stainless steel and polished aluminum used as a trim. A large neon sign informs the public that buses of Blue Goose, Short Way and Greyhound lines use the terminal. A feature of the depot is the enclosed loading platform which protects travellers from the elements.
Modern In All Details
Comfortable and modern in every detail is the interior of the terminal. Harmonizing colors and stainless steel trimming make the waiting room attractive, and a detail is the up-to-date fluorescent lighting.
As one enters the building the ticket counter, a large baggage room and exits to the loading platform are at the right. On the west side of the room are the restaurant, news stand, telephone booths and built-in lockers. A decorative feature is the wide stairway with polished steel handrails which leads to the mezzanine where large rest rooms are located. Blending well into the general color scheme are the seats of natural birch with satin steel trim.
Buses will arrive and depart from the station Thursday afternoon. They will enter from Ashley St. and depart on Huron St. The bus firms have had temporary offices in the St. James Hotel while the new station was under construction. Parking has been prohibited from the hotel to Ashley St. and for a smaller space on Ashley St. to accommodate the buses.
With the opening of the new station and the start of its operation tomorrow, the parking restriction in front of the hotel and on Ashley St. for the buses will be lifted and parking will be prohibited in front of the new terminal. The action to make the change was taken last night by the city council.