Dearborn in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
On the River
Where you are standing now was once an open channel to the Rouge River. The Fords would pilot their boat, the Callie B, out of the boathouse to the river. The Ford grandchildren would harbor small boats here, as well. Conveniently, Mrs. Ford's brother lived just one mile upstream.
In the early 1950's, the channel was filled in because of water pollution from combined storm and sanitary sewers associated with the postwar housing boom upstream. The channel was loaded with slag from the Rouge Steel plant downstream.
Regional and local efforts to clean up the Rouge River are well underway. In the future, visitors to the estate may once again enjoy boat trips along the Rouge River just as the Fords did many years ago. The design of the boathouse by landscape designer Jens Jensen was intended to appear like a cave opening in the hillside. The adjoining garden at one time had stone walls that paralleled the stone of the boathouse, visually extending the strong horizontal lines of the designed landscape.
Erected by Fair Lane and MotorCities National Heritage Area.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Jens Jensen , and the MotorCities National Heritage Area series lists.
Location. 42° 18.844′ N, 83° 13.987′ W. Marker is in Dearborn, Michigan, in Wayne County. Marker can be reached from Fair Lane Drive, 0.3 miles west of Evergreen Road. This marker is found on the grounds of the Henry Ford Estate, Fair Lane, about 75 feet northwest of the Ford residence. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Fair Lane Drive, Dearborn MI 48128, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Preserving Fair Lane — An Iconic American Estate (within shouting distance of this marker); Rock Garden Masterpiece (within shouting distance of this marker); From Farmland to Great Estate (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Preserving Fair Lane — An Iconic American Estate (within shouting distance of this marker); The Path of the Setting Sun (within shouting distance of this marker); A Trail Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Restoring Fair Lane Landscape (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fair Lane (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dearborn.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 312 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 1, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 2. submitted on September 10, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 3. submitted on March 1, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 4. submitted on September 10, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.