West Bloomfield Township in Orchard Lake Village in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Settling the Dust
The Countryside Improvement Association
Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 2, 2017
1. Settling the Dust Marker
The lakes and landscape of Oakland County weren't ready
for the automobile in the early 1900s. Weekend visitors, in noisy "self-propelled" vehicles, churned up dust on unpaved roads and trespassed on private property. To address these difficulties, women from Pine and Orchard Lakes formed the Countryside Improvement Association in 1911. Their early fundraising paid to settle the dust by spraying oil on roads. Further efforts improved the region's roads and signs, and defined road rules and property rights. Countryside fundraising continues to support charities and scholarships.
Michigan's first state parks
in the tri-county region were created in Oakland County as destinations for visitors. In 1922 the Dodge Brothers Motor Company and Howard and Amy Bloomer worked with the Countryside Improvement Association to purchase county land for public parks. A later report wrote that "weekenders found a pleasant place by the side of the road..."
You Auto Know
During World War I, the Countryside Improvement Association canned fruit and vegetables for American troops overseas.
Erected by Motorcities National Heritage
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the MotorCities National Heritage Area series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.
Location. 42° 34.074′ N, 83° 23.59′ W. Marker is in Orchard Lake Village, Michigan, in Oakland County. It is in West Bloomfield Township. It can be reached from Arrowhead Road 0.3 miles south of Pontiac Trail. Marker is on the West Bloomfield Trail, near the West Bloomfield Nature Preserve parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4655 Arrowhead Road, West Bloomfield MI 48323, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan and in Greater Detroit. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies:
Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 2, 2017
2. Upper Left Image
An envelope from the 1916 Oakland County Centennial. Courtesy of Ron Gay.
Also see . . . The First Twenty-Five Years Of The Countryside Improvement Ass'n. Of Orchard and Pine Lakes Oakland. Online copy of a booklet covering the early history of the Countryside Improvement Association. (Submitted on July 4, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 2, 2017
3. Lower Left Images
Left: Georgia Hoyt, organizer of a festival of music and dance as a Countryside fundraiser during the 1916 Oakland County Centennial. Photo courtesy of Ron Gay.
Right: At the 1916 centennial, a plaque was dedicated that reads: "This tablet marks the end of the Indian trail from Mt. Clemens to Orchard Lake. Chief Pontiac and his braves retired to Me-Nah-Sa-Gor-Ning after the Battle of Bloody Run. Placed by the Countryside Improvement Association, 1916."
Right: At the 1916 centennial, a plaque was dedicated that reads: "This tablet marks the end of the Indian trail from Mt. Clemens to Orchard Lake. Chief Pontiac and his braves retired to Me-Nah-Sa-Gor-Ning after the Battle of Bloody Run. Placed by the Countryside Improvement Association, 1916."
Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 2, 2017
4. Center Images
Left: Dodge #4 State Park on Cass Lake. Photo courtesy of Pontiac Public Library.
Right: Howard Bloomer. Photo courtesy of the American Academy for Parks & Recreation Administration.
Right: Howard Bloomer. Photo courtesy of the American Academy for Parks & Recreation Administration.
Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 2, 2017
5. Old Orchard Trail Sign
Countryside created the first names and signs for roads in the lakes area. Drawing courtesy of Countryside Improvement Association.
Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 2, 2017
6. Upper Right Image
"Weekenders" arrive on crowded dusty roads at the Wilkins Corners gas station at the intersection of Orchard Lake Road and Pontiac Trail, 1930s. Photo courtesy of Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society.
Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 2, 2017
7. Bottom Right Image
In 1920 Countryside raised money for an enclosed dining hall for the Detroit Free Press Fresh Air Camp in Sylvan Lake (above). Photo courtesy of the Detroit Free Press.
Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 2, 2017
8. Bottom Far Right Image
Bill for a Countryside luncheon meeting in 1912 at the Auto Club of Detroit, now the Pine Lake Country Club, where meetings were held in the early years. Courtesy of Countryside Improvement Association.
Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 2, 2017
9. Settling the Dust Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 4, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 501 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on July 4, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
