Van Buren Township near Belleville in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

French Landing Dam and Powerhouse

Photographed by Joel Seewald, October 18, 2016

1. French Landing Dam and Powerhouse Marker

Inscription. In 1910 the Eastern Michigan Edison Company, now the Detroit Edison Company, purchased most of the Van Buren Township land along the Huron River for a hydroelectric plant. The French Landing powerhouse and dam were completed in 1924-25. The dam, the largest and last in a series of five constructed on the Huron River, created Belleville Lake, with its miles of beautiful residential and recreational lakefront lots. The dam generated up to 12.7 million kilowatt hours of electricity until it was eventually donated to the township. In 1981 Van Buren Township began a five-million-dollar project to restore the dam and powerhouse.

Erected 1983 by Michigan History Division, Department of State; GFWC-Belleville Junior Study Club; Van Buren Twp. Historic Dist. Study Commission. (Marker Number L998.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 42° 12.914′ N, 83° 26.369′ W. Marker is near Belleville, Michigan, in Wayne County. It is in Van Buren Township. It is at the intersection of Haggerty Road and

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Alden Road, on the left when traveling north on Haggerty Road. Located in French Landing Historical Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12090 Haggerty Rd, Belleville MI 48111, 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 Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Merrill-Morris House (approx. 2 miles away); Morris Homestead (approx. 2 miles away); Our Boys Who Served In The World War (approx. 2.4 miles away); Romulus Memorial Cemetery Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.4 miles away); Romulus Memorial Cemetery (approx. 2.4 miles away); Rene Robert Cavelier Sieur De La Salle (approx. 2.4 miles away); Old Van Buren Township Hall (approx. 2.7 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Belleville.

Also see . . . French Landing Dam and Powerhouse. Wikipedia article. (Submitted on June 15, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Photographed by Joel Seewald, October 18, 2016

2. French Landing Dam and Powerhouse Marker

Belleville Lake, French Landing Dam, and Powerhouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, October 18, 2016

3. Belleville Lake, French Landing Dam, and Powerhouse

View from the fishing pier at French Landing Historical Park.

Downstream view of the dam and powerhouse. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 12, 2021

4. Downstream view of the dam and powerhouse.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, June 6, 2024

5. French Landing Dam and Powerhouse Marker

The park has a new layout but used the same original marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 2,181 times since then and 97 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 18, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 4. submitted on May 13, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 5. submitted on June 6, 2024, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.