Small Towns around Detroit

[Brock7]

Boy[[or girl), you guys don't f*** around. Maybe that house is part of the Bringard family. That one map goes back to 1876. Maybe the house was built in the 1880's-1890's, by the look of it?

If Xavier Bringard built the house I think it would have to be before 1879 and likely not much earlier than 1859. He was married at Assumption church at 6½ & Gratiot January 25 1859. By 1879 his wife and children are living in Detroit a little east of Michigan & W. Grand Blvd and he's headed to Jackson prison [[where he shows up on the 1880 census) for embezzling a large sum as treasurer of Grosse Point Township. Some of his property was seized by the sherriff and sold off for $900 to recover the funds. I don't know if this could have included the house or land.

Joseph Bringard [[owner of the adjacent land, who I assume going by the ages is Xavier's brother) and his family aren't listed in the 1880 census though they appear in the one for 1870 and before that in 1863 he's listed in the Detroit City directory as running a saloon at 224 Gratiot. It makes me wonder if he's the one who actually took the money and absconded maybe to Canada or even back to France.

I don't think they ever lived in that house again. Xavier is listed in Detroit directories of 1885 and 1887 as a night watchman for a lumber company on Jefferson downtown and living in the same area as his wife was in 1879. The last listing I could easily find was in the 1895 directory and has him as a fireman and still living in the same area. His wife died in 1899 in Detroit.

It looks like the guy I knew in the 80's was still living in the house when he died in 2003. According to MikeM's post his family had been in that house only from about 1949. I suspect the reason there is no tax bill listed is because the city must own the property now.

[littlebuddy]

I see a burg on the map from Brock7 named Eloise, is that the place where they had the mental hospital?

[wilderness]

I see a burg on the map from Brock7 named Eloise, is that the place where they had the mental hospital?

Eloise Hospital was located on the Northeast Corner of Michigan Ave and Merriman. The property extended east to the railroad tracks just west of Henry Ruff Road and may have included that property also at one time. Last time I paid attention while driving past Michigan & Merriman portions of Eloise still existed.

[Big Dog]

MikeM, I grew up around 8 mile/VanDyke.When you crossed 8 mile, you were in Baseline, MI. I lived in Detroit, but went and walked to, Ascension School, in Baseline MI.. It was 4 or 5 blocks north of 8/van, and 2 or 3 blocks, east of van dyke. Went there until 1954, I think it was still Baseline. MI. then.

[Jimaz]

... when the small towns, villages were distinct and seperate from other towns, villages but now are just a part of metro Detroit in that there seem to be no borders that divide them?

A few years ago I was doing some research in the Utica library, scanning through their old phone books. Utica [[and so their phone book) was small enough that you can scan the whole book manually without too much difficulty.

I was surprised that these books listed Warren as a subordinate suburb of Utica rather than of Detroit. So not only was Utica distinct and separate but it was also apparently considered a hub at one time. Today it seems to me more like Utica is subordinate to Warren which is subordinate to Detroit although Detroit may be becoming a "hollow" hub.

It's an illustration of how distinct population concentrations can morph into homogeneity over time. It's interesting to consider that the hollowing of the Detroit hub could represent the beginning of homogeneity morphing back into distinct population concentrations. Symmetry!

It's as if at some point figure and ground can reverse roles.

[Jimaz]

Japanese Addresses must be what set me onto this figure/ground role reversal path.

[Mikeg]

I was surprised that these books listed Warren as a subordinate suburb of Utica rather than of Detroit.

Utica became a village in 1838 and prospered because of it's elevated location near the Clinton River, the Clinton-Kalamazoo Canal and the railroad which connected it to Detroit. The old Utica telephone book was most likely listing the other villages in the vicinity which had their own telephone exchanges installed beginning in the late 1920s. The Warren listing would have been for the one square mile community of that name which was located at the intersection of Mound and Chicago Roads and which became a village in 1893. The 34 square miles of Warren as we know it today became a city in 1957 when it incorporated both the village and township of Warren.

[Hermod]

Because the area north of Detroit was a virtually impassable swamp, a lot of settlers from New York came by water and moved up the Clinton River [[De Witt Clinton, governor of NY) to settle in towns along the river [[Utica, Rochester) bypassing the areas between six mile and sixteen mile. There was a lot of water power available from the Clinton River and its tributaries [[like Paint Creek) and a variety of different types of agricultural, textile, and industrial mills were set up along the river. Even though the DUR didn't go east of M-150 on its way to Rochester, there was a stop [[possibly Rochester Rd and Auburn Road) known as "West Utica". After Mt Clemens and New Baltimore, Utica was one of the important locales in Macomb County.

[Detroitnerd]

Because the area north of Detroit was a virtually impassable swamp, a lot of settlers from New York came by water and moved up the Clinton River [[De Witt Clinton, governor of NY) to settle in towns along the river [[Utica, Rochester) bypassing the areas between six mile and sixteen mile.

That's pretty much as I've heard it. Lewis Cass hated that all that land was swampy, and sent several expeditions to reassess just how swampy it was. In fact, he likely put the county seat way out in Pontiac just to spur development out that way.

And, so I hear, that's why Ferndale is called that name. If you had to pick a name for a swamp, "valley of ferns" probably is the nicest way to say it.

Those were all dredged out by -- what? -- the 1860s? And I trust the 10,000-acre tract deeded to the city by the feds had very little swampland on it in the 1810s?

[Hermod]

That's pretty much as I've heard it. Lewis Cass hated that all that land was swampy, and sent several expeditions to reassess just how swampy it was. In fact, he likely put the county seat way out in Pontiac just to spur development out that way.

And, so I hear, that's why Ferndale is called that name. If you had to pick a name for a swamp, "valley of ferns" probably is the nicest way to say it.

Those were all dredged out by -- what? -- the 1860s? And I trust the 10,000-acre tract deeded to the city by the feds had very little swampland on it in the 1810s?

If you want the county seat to be in a "central" location so that all of the farmers had equal access to the courthouse, Pontiac is a pretty central place in Oakland County.

Oakland and Macomb County settlements follow three lines

1. The line out Woodward towards Pontiac and Flint which also became the route of the GTW line to Durand).

2. The line out the military-built road to Fort Gratiot [[Port Huron) which also became the route of the GTW line to Port Huron.

3. The line of the Clinton River.

Note that the Michigan Central line which ran from Detroit through Utica, Rochester, Oxford, and Lapeer to Saginaw and Bay City had no real stops on the line before Utica except the little hamlets of North Detroit [[part of Detroit) and Warren. After Utica, towns abounded on the line. Most locales were "township centers"

[lalynch]

Anyone ever hear of the Old Homestead section of Ecorse Township? I was recently going through the old Mellus Newspapers [[The Allen Parker, The Lincoln Parker, etc.) for 1947. An article and advertisement announcing the Jack Cinnamon's grocery store opening listed it on Fort Street near Oak in the Old Homestead Section of Ecorse Township. I think that the advertisement might of listed it as Wyandotte but the rendering resembles that building on the Southgate side of Fort Street at 14222 Fort Street, Southgate that houses a vacuum cleaner, florist and carpet store. Jack Cinnamon's was revolutionary as a self-serve modern grocery store. Jack Cinnamon lived close by on Argyle Street as I recall from the article.

[Hermod]

The little burg of Oak was located at the junction of the Pere Marquette/CSX main line from Detroit to Plymouth and the PM/CSX srur that ran southeast to the Ford Rougemere plant. The closest location to Oak would probably be the place where the PM/CSX line crosses Inkster Road about halfway between Plymouth Road and Schoolcraft.

Edit to add: Upon further consultation with Google Maps, I stand corrected. Inkster Road and Fullerton was the location of "Koenig". Beech-Daly Road and Fullerton was the location of "Beech".
"Oak" was located along Evergreen just south of the Jeffries Freeway where there is a junction on the CSX. Fullerton and Evergreen intersection was removed during the construction of the Jeffries. Oak Yard to the east of Oak station/junction is just north of the Jeffries between Evergreen and Southfield.

[takascar]

Question - Is there any connection between the strip farms that existed in Grosse Pointe Twp and something called a "Private Claim" number? Is there a map that shows private claim numbers?

[Brock7]

Question - Is there any connection between the strip farms that existed in Grosse Pointe Twp and something called a "Private Claim" number? Is there a map that shows private claim numbers?

As posted earlier by MikeM
Ribbon Farm Appreciation thread:
http://atdetroit.net/forum/messages/...tml?1180288955

Here are some updated links from that thread

Hornwrecker
If you go to the NOAA website and do a search in the historical chart section for Michigan and the year 1796, you'll find a French map done of the Detroit River for Napoleon. On it are all the farms on both sides of the river, with tables listing the owners.
NOAA search

Fareastsider
Here is a list of Private claims and original owners
http://web.archive.org/web/200505092...landclaim.html

The top center link for the 1893 map of private claims of Wayne County is the most legible numbered version I can find.
http://www.historicmapworks.com/Atla...+with+Detroit/

Another scan of it is here.
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text...eq=14&size=400

[Danny]

Today most of Detroit and suburban streets were named after farm families. For example Minock St. in Detroit's West Side used to be Minock Family Farm in Redford TWP. When it was a 6x6 mile sqaure.

[Detroitnerd]

Today most of Detroit and suburban streets were named after farm families. For example Minock St. in Detroit's West Side used to be Minock Family Farm in Redford TWP. When it was a 6x6 mile sqaure.

Brush and Cass leap to mind first, but, yes, it's very common.

[Brock7]

Early days in Detroit By Friend Palmer 1906
IN the old 'Detroit Gazette of Friday, May 31, 1822, is this notice:
"Judge Clemens, one of the proprietors of Mt. Clemens, has recently established a Stage, to leave this City Weekly, after the arrival of the Steam Boat, and arrive at the Seat of Justice of Macomb Co. on the same day..."
The allusion to Mt. Clemens in the Gazette suggests the following extracts from some articles I wrote last summer for the Mt. Clemens Monitor, in regard to the early days of the "Bath City," and to the country between here and there and through which the rapid transit electric runs. Note the difference between then and now. It is almost a part of Detroit...
Referring to the trip to Mt. Clemens on my mother's wedding day...We journeyed to Mt. Clemens in fine style via the Gratiot turnpike and arrived at Mr. Connor's residence along late in the afternoon. "Jabe" and the coach returned the next day.
There was very little settlement along the turnpike between here and Mt. Clemens, after you left the confines of the city. There was a tavern at Connor's Creek, five miles out, and another ten miles out, called the Half Way House. Aside from these two houses I think there were but five or six others the entire distance. I know there was but one between the Half Way House and Mt. Clemens, and that was five miles this side of the latter town.
To this house from the Half Way tavern the pike ran through an unbroken forest. On this piece of road the people had allowed the brush to encroach to the extent that there was insufficient space left for the passage of vehicles, and when it came to turnout, as did happen now and then, it was a rather difficult matter.
I am reminded of another trip through these same woods nearly ten years later on and they had changed but very little in that time. A young lady relative of mine desired to attend the funeral of a mutual friend in Mt. Clemens, a daughter of Colonel Stockton, and requested me to drive her up there in a buggy. I undertook the business, and we started about nine o'clock. Fine day and all that, road in good condition, but the horse was poor, not much of a goer, and we did not reach the Half Way House until long in the afternoon. We tarried long enough to refresh the horse and ourselves, and started on our journey. We had not gone far before the shades of evening began to fall and soon it got as dark as a "stack of black cats;" could not see your hand before you; had to let the horse take his own course, which he did...
My first visit to this interesting village was in 1834...Mt. Clemens wears a different aspect now from what it did then. It was at best only a straggling village, with the business, etc., centering around the square in which was the old wooden court house, jail, and meeting house as well...
THEN AND NOW.
The passenger to and from Mt. Clemens at the present day, comfortably seated in the luxurious electric cars, can hardly realize, in passing over the road, the different aspect the same route presented in the '30's and '40's Then it was almost a dense wilderness, relieved now and then by a settler's log dwelling; now it is a continuous settlement the entire route of prosperous farmers, with their commodious dwellings, in lieu of the rude log cabin. I have had it forcibly brought to mind when passing over this electric road what a wonderful change has taken place on this route from that period to this.
I have tried often to locate the site of the old Half Way House, that was in the early days such a desirable point to reach, a haven of rest, as it were, particularly if one was journeying from Mt. Clemens to Detroit. The woods were so dense, the settlers so far between, and the way seemed so long to the tavern, it used to seem as though it never could be reached.
The sign, a large swinging one, painted white, hung away out over the road, a prominent reminder that when you reached it you would be ten miles nearer your destination, one-half way home, and sure of ample refreshment for yourself and horse, if you were not on foot. That delusive white sign, how often have I when journeying from Mt. Clemens to Detroit eagerly watched for the first sight of it, and when it did loom into view white over the road, five or six miles in the distance, it seemed, as said before, as though it never could be reached, like the mirage on the plains, "so near and yet so far." It was awfully tantalizing. There are very few living I imagine that have had the same experience on this route, and to those the incidents I relate I am sure they will readily testify to.

http://macombhistory.us/miscitems/Locals.html
The following partial list is from: Macomb County Extinct Towns, Railroad Stops, & Place Name Changes compiled by Cynthia Ladensack Reference Librarian Mount Clemens Public Library
Halfway - Earlier name of Eastpointe [[Post office 1897-1924; Village 1924-1929). Also an interurban stop on Gratiot at 9 Mile Road.

http://algonac-clay-history.com/the_chronicles_6_1.htm
In 1894, the Rapid Railway System constructed lines out Gratiot Avenue to Mt. Clemens. Later, it extended the line to Port Huron by way of the river communities....
The Detroit Urban Railway discontinued service from Detroit to Port Huron on January 13, 1930. They did operate as far as Mt. Clemens until 1932, at which time all operations were discontinued.

http://edhs1929.blogspot.com/
The Halfway Schoolhouse was built in 1872, where it sat facing Grove on Nine Mile Road until 1921, when it was closed. In 1921 Mr. Kaiser bought it and moved it to the southeast corner on Nine Mile Road and Gratiot. It was pulled there on skids by horses. The East Detroit Historical Society moved the building back to within 20 yards of the original site on September 4th, 1984 when restoration began.
The building is the original 1872 structure and was used mainly as a warehouse for coal supplies and storage between 1921 and 1984 when it was moved. Now it stands as it once did in 1872 when it was built to accommodate additional children because the "Red" schoolhouse was too small.

Halfway is shown as being at 9 mile on this 1916 map. The schoolhouse is indicated too.
http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/...ille++Halfway/

[gazhekwe]

Hermod said: Most of them felt they got a pretty good deal in Lewis Cass' purchase of the land.

That is a pretty good example of the brainwashing everyone gets in our public school system. Ask an Indian person sometime, what has been our tradition through time about this good deal. Go out and ask the Potawatomis in Kansas how their forebears felt about being swept out there.

For the record, here is a map of Oakland County after the Treaty of 1817. [[I wish I could make it bigger.) Notice there are three reservations, supposedly six sections total [[blue, yellow and magenta rectangles). What do you suppose happened to them? The good old Indian Relocation Act replaced this desirable land with prairie land in Kansas, "equal trade.' Families were driven out of their homes and forced to hit the "road" to Kansas in the 1830s. When they got there, the land was completely undeveloped and unsuitable for their lifestyle, so they had to start from scratch with scarce resources. They were forced off fully developed homesteads, villages and farmlands.

The reserves are near Inkster and Eight Mile, Pierce and Thirteen Mile, and the south shores of Orchard Lake.

This map is part of the Oakland County Historical and Cultural Map Series.

http://www.oakgov.com/oss/products_s...Americans.html

The second map in the series is also available:

The second map of the series, Historic Sites and Districts, is now complete. The product contains mapped information including the locations of early European settlement, national and state registered historic sites and districts, and locally recognized places. In addition, the product includes photograhs of some of the most recognized sites, images of several historic artifacts, along with helpful information to promote the preservation of our historic and cultural resources. The map is a great resource for local historians, planners, interested citizens, and a wonderful educational tool for school children to get an understanding for, and encourage the preservation of our cultural heritage. Printed in color on 42"x 36" paper.

http://www.oakgov.com/oss/products_s...districts.html