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“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Hamburg Township near Pinckney in Livingston County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
 

Hitting the Road

Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township

 
 
Hitting the Road: Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Joel Seewald, July 9, 2022
1. Hitting the Road: Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township Marker
Inscription.
The Humpback Bridge used to be here,
crossing the Grand Trunk Railway. The narrow wooden span was built in 1900 to carry vehicles on state route M-36 over the Grand Trunk Railway line (now the Lakeland Trail). Unsuited to speeding traffic, it was the site of accidents and fell into disrepair before it was demolished in 1966 and M-36 was reconfigured. The first Hamburg settlers, arriving in 1831, followed Indian trails along the Huron River and between area lakes. The earliest built roads were graded dirt, later paved for increased traffic and motorized vehicles.

You Auto Know
The route that is now Hamburg Road was cut through the region in 1835.

This sign produced as a joint effort by the Hamburg Township Board of Trustees and the Hamburg Township Historical Society.

Special thanks to Eagle Scout Nathan Hinkle whose 2008 project inspired this new sign.
 
Erected by MotorCities National Heritage Area, National Park Service.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & ViaductsRoads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the MotorCities National Heritage Area series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.
 
Location. 42° 27.916′ 
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N, 83° 52.062′ W. Marker is near Pinckney, Michigan, in Livingston County. It is in Hamburg Township. Marker is on the Mike Levine Lakelands Trail, about 0.5 mi. east of the trailhead that is next to the Hamburg Township Fire Department and 0.9 mi. west of Kress Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pinckney MI 48169, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Trains Off Line (approx. Ύ mile away); Chain of Lakes (approx. one mile away); The Big Chill (approx. 1.2 miles away); Homesite of Edwin B. Winans (approx. 1.9 miles away); Huron River (approx. 1.9 miles away); Trains to Hamburg (approx. 3.6 miles away); St. Stephen's (approx. 3.6 miles away); Travelers Stop (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pinckney.
 
Hitting the Road: Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township Marker — top left image image. Click for full size.
Photo courtesy of the Hamburg Historical Society.
2. Hitting the Road: Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township Marker — top left image
James Dewolf driving his team, Mage and Dan, grading a section of state route M-36 in 1915.
Hitting the Road: Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township Marker — top right image image. Click for full size.
Photo courtesy of the Hamburg Historical Society.
3. Hitting the Road: Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township Marker — top right image
The Humpback Bridge was built in 1900 to carry state route M-36 over the Grand Trunk Railroad tracks.
Hitting the Road: Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township Marker — bottom left image image. Click for full size.
Photo courtesy of the Hamburg Historical Society.
4. Hitting the Road: Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township Marker — bottom left image
Allie Hull leaving the Hamburg post office to start the second day of rural delivery, 1910. Until then, area residents had to pick up mail at the post office. Improved roads were critical to the region's growth.
Hitting the Road: Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township Marker — bottom middle image image. Click for full size.
5. Hitting the Road: Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township Marker — bottom middle image
Concrete abutments are traces of the old bridge along the sides of the Lakeland Trail.
Hitting the Road: Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township Marker — bottom right image image. Click for full size.
Photo courtesy of the Hamburg Historical Society.
6. Hitting the Road: Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township Marker — bottom right image
The Humpback Bridge was the site of many car accidents due to limited viewlines of a tight curve on the far side.
Hitting the Road: Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Joel Seewald, July 9, 2022
7. Hitting the Road: Changing Routes Through Hamburg Township Marker
View looking toward the west along the Mike Levine Lakelands Trail. Remnant of the bridge abutment can be seen on the left side of the trail.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 19, 2022, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 128 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on July 19, 2022, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.

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Mar. 28, 2024