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

Battle Alley

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 13, 2010

1. Battle Alley Marker

Inscription. This historic district was once the scene of frequent brawls. In 1880, an uproar between local rowdies and workers of a traveling circus rendered so many bruised, beaten, and jailed, that this street was thus named "Battle Alley." Carry A. Nation, "Kansas saloon smasher," came to Holly on August 28, 1908, at the request of the local prohibition committee. Wielding her umbrella, she strode through the alley's bars bellowing about the "Demon Rum" and its sins. In 1910, Battle Alley became the first brick street in the village.

Erected 1978 by Michigan History Division, Department of State. (Marker Number L0602.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 42° 47.452′ N, 83° 37.609′ W. Marker is in Holly, Michigan, in Oakland County. It is at the intersection of Battle Alley and South Broad Street, on the left when traveling west on Battle Alley. This marker is on the side of the Historic Holly Hotel. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 Battle Alley, 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.

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At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Holly's Town Hall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Crapo Park (about 500 feet away); This is the Site of the Holly Milling Co. (approx. 0.3 miles away); 1834 Clark Dibble Settlement (approx. 3.9 miles away); 1840 Grindstone from Fenton Mills (approx. 3.9 miles away); Fenton United Methodist Church (approx. 4 miles away); Saint Jude's Episcopal Church (approx. 4 miles away); Dibbleville Business District I (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Holly.

Additional commentary.
1. Historic Holly Hotel Update
The hotel sustained fire, smoke, and water damage when the building next door on the alley went up in flames in June 2022. The owners of the hotel had hoped to repair and re-open the hotel, but the renovation was halted in August of 2023 over litigation centered on a 6-inch encroachment of the hotel's wall onto the neighbor's property. A year later, frustrated by the ongoing litigation, the owners decided to sell the hotel (September 2024), thus ending a 46 year run of operation. The property is still for sale as of April 2025.

— Submitted May 16, 2025, by John Garman of Rochester Hills.

Additional keywords.

Battle Alley Marker and the Holly Hotel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 13, 2010

2. Battle Alley Marker and the Holly Hotel

Prohibition; temperence

The Historic Holly Hotel and Battle Alley image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 13, 2010

3. The Historic Holly Hotel and Battle Alley

Battle Alley and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by John Garman, April 22, 2025

4. Battle Alley and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2010, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 6,158 times since then and 232 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 17, 2010, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 4. submitted on May 16, 2025, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.