Royal Oak in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Saginaw Trail / John Almon Starr House
Registered Michigan Historic Site
Photographed By Joel S., July 3, 2010
1. Saginaw Trail Marker
Saginaw Trail
The Saginaw Trail, running from Detroit to Saginaw through Pontiac and Flint, was originally an Indian trail. In 1816 Michigan territorial government authorized the building of a road from Detroit to Saginaw along the trail. Part of the trail in Oakland County is now Woodward Avenue and Dixie Highway. Evidence of the original Saginaw Trail's path through Royal Oak is still visible as a Depression in the ground running northwesterly across the property adjacent to the John Almon Starr House.
John Almon Starr House
John Almon Starr (1828-1895) and his wife, Nancy Quick (1831-1895), built this house in 1868 from bricks fired in Almon's tile factory. Almon and his parents had emigrated to Michigan from Richmond, New York, in 1831, the same year Nancy was born in Royal Oak Township. Almon and his father, Orson Starr, manufactured animal bells until 1866, when Almon started his brick yard and tile works at this location, later known as Starr Corners. The house was occupied by the Starr family until 1967.
Erected 1988 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number S164.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce •
this page online
Location. 42° 31.012′ N, 83° 9.898′ W. Marker is in Royal Oak, Michigan, in Oakland County. Marker is on Crooks Road, 1.1 miles west of Woodward Avenue (Michigan Highway 1), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3123 Crooks Road, Royal Oak MI 48073, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Indian Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Hedge's Wigwam (approx. 0.4 miles away); Union School Bell (approx. half a mile away); Dr. Firman W. Clawson Homestead Site (approx. half a mile away); Orson Starr Home (approx. one mile away); Roseland Park Mausoleum (approx. one mile away); American Legion Post 374 Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); Berkley Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Royal Oak.
Photographed By Joel S., July 3, 2010
2. John Almon Starr House Marker (backside of Saginaw Trail marker)
Photographed By Joel S., July 3, 2010
3. Saginaw Trail
The Saginaw Trail is the slight depression in the ground running toward the house, between the rock on the left and the tree in the middle.
Photographed By Joel S., July 3, 2010
4. John Almon Starr House
Credits. This page was last revised on December 8, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2010, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 1,819 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 13, 2010, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
