Farmington in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Travel Through Time
on Farmington's Grand River Avenue
Photographed By Joel S., July 4, 2015
1. Travel Through Time on Farmington's Grand River Avenue Marker
Long before our everyday journeys,
people traveled along this important road. This was once the Grand River Trail, a pathway Native Americans followed across Michigan before European settlement. Farmington founder Arthur Power came here along this dirt path in the 1820s. In the 1850s it became a plank road to ease travel between Detroit and the new state capital in Lansing. Downtown Farmington grew with electric trolleys that began rolling along rails in this street in the early 1900s, but there was no truly smooth car travel until the first paving here after 1929.
You Auto Know
Electric trolleys were powered by contact with wires suspended overhead along the tracks.
Erected by MotorCities National Heritage Area, National Park Service.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the MotorCities National Heritage Area series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1929.
Location. 42° 27.838′ N, 83° 22.475′ W. Marker is in Farmington, Michigan, in Oakland County. Marker is at the intersection of Grand River Avenue and Warner Street, on the left when traveling west on Grand River Avenue. Marker is in front of Talmer Bank and Trust.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Methodist Episcopal Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home, Inc. (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Farmington Masonic Temple and Farmington Township Hall (about 800 feet away); First Quaker Meeting (approx. 0.2 miles away); Farmington's First Post Office (approx. ¼ mile away); The Village Center (approx. ¼ mile away); The Potawatomi Indians of Farmington (approx. ¼ mile away); City of Farmington (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Farmington.
Photographed By Joel Seewald, June 3, 2017
2. Upper Left Image
Farmington, 1870s. It was a struggle to operate horse-drawn vehicles in rutted and muddy Grand River Avenue. Photo courtesy of the Farmington Community Library.
Photographed By Joel Seewald, June 3, 2017
3. Middle Left Image
Farmington, 1940s. Even after paving, the road required a lot of maintenance. Photo courtesy of the Farmington Historical Society.
Photographed By Joel Seewald, June 3, 2017
4. Lower Left Image
Photographed By Joel Seewald, June 3, 2017
5. Top Center Image
Grand River Avenue and downtown Farmington, about 1910. At the left, this exceptional photograph shows three modes of transportation of those years, operating side-by-side — an electric trolley, a horse carriage, and an automobile.
Photographed By Joel Seewald, June 3, 2017
6. Upper Right Image
The Owen House, about 1900. This inn was located at the southeast corner of Grand River Avenue and Division Street (Farmington Road), where the trolley track turned southward headed to Northville. Photo courtesy of the Farmington Historical Society.
Photographed By Joel Seewald, June 3, 2017
7. Middle Right Image
The Grand River Avenue plank road in Farmington, 1850s. Because of this road's importance to the region, planks were laid down over the muddy ruts to create a more solid surface. Photo courtesy of Brian Golden.
Photographed By Joel Seewald, June 3, 2017
8. Lower Right Image
A toll house along the plank road in Farmington township. About every 10 miles, tolls were paid at toll houses to the company that built the plank road. Photo courtesy of the Farmington Community Library.
Photographed By Joel S., July 4, 2015
9. Travel Through Time on Farmington's Grand River Avenue Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 19, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 629 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 14, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 8, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 5, 6, 7. submitted on July 17, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 8. submitted on July 19, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 9. submitted on July 14, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
