The Fabulous Sights of South Central Michigan

**mtburb** · January-08-12, 03:53 PM

Today, I drove out as far west as Jackson, Michigan and through the Irish Hills. Here's the photos from this. I know most of the photos are very big.

We start out with a building in Dexter that looks like it was a gas station. Anyone know what this was?

This new development is located at Island Lake and Dexter-Pinckney Roads northwest of Dexter.

Just up Dexter-Pinckney Road is this "tree tunnel."

This stone overpass in Dexter was built numerous years ago and probably predates the automobile. Today, the rails on the overpass see many Norfolk Southern freights and six Amtrak trains rumble on them.

This unique barn at the Dexter Gardens south of town has the number "1885" on it. Was that the year the barn was built?

Scio Township's water tower is passed by daily by rural commuters on I-94 and those getting off the freeway to visit Dexter.

At a curve on I-94, the red barn and dome-roofed silo of the Daily Rain farm on Jackson Road appears.

Another water tower, this one Sylvan Township's, appears from I-94 just west of M-52.

Among the dozen lakes that pop up between Chelsea and Jackson is Brill Lake, seen in this photo.

The parking lot of this Meijer at the Michigan Avenue interchange on US 127 on the east side of Jackson experiences a crowded parking lot on a gleaming Sunday afternoon.

This Alro Steel plant has it's company name visible to the motorists who pass it every day on US 127. [[Sorry, the last few letters got cut off in the photo below.)

This rusty barn comes into view on M-50 about halfway between US 127 and Napoleon.

This is the only traffic light in Napoleon, as seen from the Mobil station there. This might be considered the town's downtown.

A long watering machine awaits the springtime watering on a field on M-50 just south of Napoleon.

This explains the story of the man who founded Brooklyn, Michigan. The Mario Brothers live here -- just kidding!

These power lines head away towards points unknown, as seen from the drive-thru of a McDonald's outside Brooklyn. Their poles are among the tallest structures in the area.

Another barn, this one on M-124 near Wamplers Lake.

The sign for a popular mystery hill, at M-124 and US 12 deep in the Irish Hills.

These cool silos appear on US 12 just northeast of Clinton.

This barn, with silo, appears nearby.

Another vanishing point of power lines, on US 12 about halfway between Clinton and Saline.

Sadly, this barn near Saline has collapsed. Note the roofless silo behind it.

Saline's water tower, the town's tallest structure:

This massive plant pops into view on the east side of Saline on US 12. Do you know which plant this is?

And to end this, another new housing development nearby. In the past 10-to-20 years, developments such as this one and the one you saw near the beginning of this thread displaced the forests and farms that were there for many years.

Hope you enjoy this series of photos. And don't forget to leave comments, including any memories you have of any of the places you saw in the photos.

**DetroitPlanner** · January-08-12, 11:49 PM

The Plant in Saline is a Ford Plant. It made Fordson/New Holland Tractors. It is now a Visteon parts plant.

I was hoping to see some of Jackson on your trip to Jackson!

**Mind field** · January-09-12, 02:54 AM

no offense, but your pictures are terrible and not interesting at all.

**Modusvivendi** · January-09-12, 03:45 AM

Originally Posted by Mind field

no offense, but your pictures are terrible and not interesting at all.

Ouch! Not sure that's the type of comment the OP was looking for...

**riviera** · January-09-12, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by Mind field

no offense, but your pictures are terrible and not interesting at all.

Maybe you would prefer ruin porn? I'm not sure what other attractions are on the road to Jackson, it was pretty much covered.

**detroiturbex** · January-09-12, 09:10 AM

Thank you for sharing these. Brings back fond memories of home, and good to see some variety.

**MidTownMs** · January-09-12, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by Mind field

no offense, but your pictures are terrible and not interesting at all.

Did that feel good? No Offense.

**DetroitPlanner** · January-09-12, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by Mind field

no offense, but your pictures are terrible and not interesting at all.

Feel free to post your pics if you think you can do better. Have you ever been out in that part of the state? Those pics are representative of the landscape. On a day trip [[at a time of the year with limited daylight) you're not going to be spending much time hiking the backwoods and farmfields looking for gems.

**drjeff** · January-10-12, 01:33 PM

Most recently that building in Dexter was a Cottage Inn Pizza place. They were there from pre-1999 until a couple of years ago when they moved into the old Busch's shopping center. There also used to be a small liquor store next to Cottage Inn, and later an attorney's office. As far as I know it's vacant now.

**Detroit Stylin** · January-10-12, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by Mind field

no offense, but your pictures are terrible and not interesting at all.

Considering I'm a shooter myself, i found those very interesting especially since it seems those are cell phone pictures and it gives me a glimpse into a part of the state that I have never been to. Question is can you do better photographic critic?

**kahnman** · January-10-12, 03:30 PM

Ah yes, the internet. Home of people who can easily chide someone anonymously rather than offer something constructive.

Hmm, lets try it.

mtburb, thanks for taking the time and effort to present your "travelogue". I always like seeing something new, especially when I'm 2000+ miles away and could not easily see it myself.

If you are able to, stopping the car to take a steady picture would make it easier to see some of the details. I really like the barn photos [[especially the collapsed one) and the second perspective shot of the power lines - nice composition!

Well mind field, that took me about 47 seconds more than your response...

**Jimaz** · January-10-12, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by kahnman

... If you are able to, stopping the car to take a steady picture would make it easier to see some of the details....

Also a tripod helps, especially with zoomed shots.

**Pcm** · January-11-12, 08:18 PM

Ah, you city-folk...

I grew up in Jackson County. These photos are absolutely representative of mid-Michigan. Agriculture and small towns.

I live in Detroit proper now. Seeing these photos makes me appreciate what I couldn't when I was a kid.

To the OP, had you driven even further west, you would have hit some interesting small towns' downtowns.

**gazhekwe** · January-11-12, 08:53 PM

I like driving those roads myself, and I agree, the scenery and buildings were well represented in these pix. Earlier in the fall, there are lots of farm markets and fruit and veggie stands to see. In the spring, there are huge piles of lime in the fields. Farming is a way of life out there, and it is interesting to see the different sights.

**sycloneman** · January-12-12, 02:02 PM

I forget what time of year it is but when you travel U.S. 12 west of U.S. 23 there are Sunflower fields as far as the eye can see. They are amazing! I will have to try to dig up some pictures I took a few years back.

**Brich** · January-12-12, 04:20 PM

Thanks for the photo tour.
The Dexter railroad viaduct does indeed predate the arrival of the automobile [[1890), according to this article:

http://www.aadl.org/node/1293