Controversies over the Rock puts city, 'U' in a hard place

Recently, discussions about the status of the Rock, and its location have been the talk of the town. Officials at city hall, as well as area residents, are frustrated with the destruction of the Rock, its surrounding grounds and private property.

FILE PHOTO When the sun goes down the Rock is often a favorite target for Greek pledge classes, hard-core football fans, local residents and just about everyone else.

The Rock, like many others, was originally gray. Geologists estimate it to be between 20,000 to 30,000 years old. It was moved by a glacier from the Georgian Bay, just north of Toronto, to the Pontiac Trail, not far from Ann Arbor. The grooves that can be seen on the under part of the rock are a result of its rock being dragged by the glacier.

In 1932, Eli Gallup, the superintendent of parks for Ann Arbor discovered the rock in a landfill. Along with the financial support of the Daughters of the American Revolution, he decided to transport the 25 ton limestone boulder to its present location, not only to preserve geological history, but to honor the bicentennial birthday of George Washington.

Local high school students at the time scrapped together pieces of copper and cast a plaque that was to be affixed to the front of the rock. The plaque, which was last seen in 1982, but is still somewhere underneath the eight inches of paint, reads "To George Washington - This memorial is erected in celebration of the 200th anniversary of his birth, 1932." It is shaped like a shield with a sword running through it, and is approximately three feet long. Beneath the rock, Gallup buried a lead box containing its history.

It was not until the 1950s that the Rock was painted for the very first time by students from Michigan State University, who painted a green "S" on it before the Michigan/Michigan State football game.

But, in recent years, the tradition has turned ugly.

In 1993, the Rock became a heated issue in the Ann Arbor community and was given national attention in newspapers. Private homeowners had many problems with the conduct of those who painted the rock, as well as gripes with the many sororities and fraternities that are interspersed throughout the neighborhood. Many worried that the paints contained harmful toxic chemicals, including lead, titanium, cadmium and mercury, although tests found no harmful ingredients.

Many suggestions on ways to solve the problem were proposed, including moving the Rock to a landfill - which would cost an estimated $4,300 - or breaking it up in pieces and selling them as souvenirs.

On Aug. 17, 1993, the city's parks department came up with a solution to buy the small piece of land from private owners and name it George Washington park. A sign declaring the park's name was erected, and a set of rules on the back. These rules included: No drinking, loud noise, littering, painting beyond the Rock, dumping paint in sewers, vandalism to private property or trespassing. Additionally, the park would be closed from midnight until six a.m. Violations of these rules would result in a $520 fine, or the removal of the Rock.

According to Gerry Clark, the city's park planner, definite improvements were made in 1994 and 1995, as the city worked in cooperation with the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association and dedicated more time and manpower to keeping the park and the bordering sidewalk clean. But the Rock continues to be painted and the neighbors continue to complain.

Bobbi Heilveil, the house director of Delta Phi Epsilon, the sorority closest to the Rock and whose front pillars have also been painted and vandalized, feels that the Rock provides, "an innocent form of expression," and she would rather see students paint the rock as opposed to engaging in other activities.

She also pointed out that while many of the houses were originally privately owned, the University has purchased much of the property on Washtenaw and other streets in close proximity. But neighborhood residents have in fact chosen to live there, in the "middle" of campus. It is quite possible that many students often forget that non-students live in Ann Arbor, especially near campus, and there is still the threat of the Rock being removed, not so much because of the painting but because of the noise and other negative effects.

But for now it will remain in its home on Hill and Washtenaw. As some letters on file in the park department read: The Rock is a tradition, a landmark, and a part of Ann Arbor.And a 1929 alum wrote that she feels stability in the Rock. Clark also worries about what would show up instead, if the rock were to be removed. As Heilveil said, "We have our rock....what do other schools have?"

03-25-99