Northside in Ann Arbor in Washtenaw County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Brown and Fuller's Addition—1832
An earlier mill race and sawmill south of the river (1) were challenged by their plans to improve the dam (2), create a new 40-foot wide "Mill Canal" (3) use water power to operate a new sawmill (4) and flour mill (5) just beyond the wooden bridge where "Detroit Street" (6), now Broadway, led toward open land suitable for farming and grazing on the way to Pontiac, Plymouth, and Detroit. Speculating on land development and lot sales, the partners hoped this would be the future center of Ann Arbor.
Anson Brown was no stranger to commercial enterprise. He arrived in Ann Arbor in 1827 at the urging of his older brother Daniel. Both young men had worked with their father, a contractor on the Erie Canal before it opened in 1825. Anson brought with him the first large assortment of goods trans- ported for sale in Washtenaw County.
Only three years after the town was founded in 1824, Anson joined Daniel in operating a wood frame Main Street store that imported groceries and general merchandise from east. Furs, cranberries, and wild honey from Native Americans were bartered for goods and shipped to New York City. Anson-ambitious, bright, and energetic-soon developed bigger plans, and they were not for Main Street.
Erected 2014 by the University of Michigan. (Marker Number 1a.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1832.
Location. 42° 17.311′ N, 83° 44.124′ W. Marker is in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in Washtenaw County. It is in Northside. Marker is at the intersection of Maiden Lane and Freesia Court, on the right when traveling east on Maiden Lane. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1024 Maiden Ln, Ann Arbor MI 48105, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Anson Brown and Early Lower Town (here, next to this marker); Homes of Early Lower Town Settlers (here, next to this marker); David McCollum's House (within shouting distance of this marker); Agriculture, Water Power, and Transportation (within shouting distance of this marker); The Jonathan and Almy Lund House (within shouting distance of
this marker); Indian Trails, Roads, and Trains (within shouting distance of this marker); The Washtenaw House Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); The Washtenaw House and Lower Town Decline (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ann Arbor.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 79 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 16, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.