Holly in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Crapo Park

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 13, 2010

1. Crapo Park Marker

Inscription. Henry Howland Crapo (1804-1869)--wealthy lumberman, Republican, state senator (1863-64) and governor of Michigan (1865-68)--owned prosperous lumberyards in Holly, Fenton and Flint. Lumber and railroads were essential elements in the development of this area. In 1863-64 Crapo was instrumental in developing the Flint to Holly Railroad, which linked this part of the state to the rest of the country. The eighteen-mile line was among the first to use steel rails in the United States and was funded entirely by private subscriptions. This park, named for Governor Crapo, is on the site of his Holly lumberyard. The property, owned by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, has been leased to the Village of Holly since 1918.

Erected 1980 by Michigan History Division, Department of State/The Holly Historical Commission. (Marker Number L0832.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1918.

Location. 42° 47.452′ N, 83° 37.498′ W. Marker is in Holly, Michigan, in Oakland County. It is at the intersection of Martha Street

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and John Street, on the right when traveling east on Martha Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Holly MI 48442, 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Battle Alley (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Holly's Town Hall (about 800 feet away); This is the Site of the Holly Milling Co. (approx. 0.3 miles away); 1834 Clark Dibble Settlement (approx. 4 miles away); 1840 Grindstone from Fenton Mills (approx. 4 miles away); Fenton United Methodist Church (approx. 4.1 miles away); Saint Jude's Episcopal Church (approx. 4.1 miles away); Dibbleville Business District I (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Holly.

Also see . . . Henry H. Crapo - Wikipedia. Govenor of Michigan (Submitted on August 19, 2010, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 13, 2010

2. Crapo Park Marker

Crapo Park sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 13, 2010

3. Crapo Park sign

Crapo Park and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by John Garman, April 22, 2025

4. Crapo Park and Marker

The Crapo Park sign was changed.

Photographed by John Garman, April 22, 2025

5. Crapo Park Marker

The Holly water tower can be seen in the background, looking southwest.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2010, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 2,841 times since then and 185 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 16, 2010, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 4, 5. submitted on May 14, 2025, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.