Clinton in Lenawee County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Clinton / Site of the Clinton Inn
Photographed By Joel Seewald, May 14, 2017
1. Clinton / Site of the Clinton Inn Marker
Inscription.
Clinton, also, Site of the Clinton Inn. .
Clinton. Early settlers who came here from New York via the Erie Canal named this community in honor of DeWitt Clinton, the governor of their native state. First settled in 1829, Clinton became an important center of trade because of its location on the Chicago Road at the River Raisin. Only a decade after its settlement, the village had ten general stores, several blacksmith shops, and a hardware store. Five religious groups organized and built churches during this early era. In 1832 Clinton's first school was established; four years later a flouring mill began operation. A railway with wooden rails constructed about 1837 ran for a few years and by 1857 it had steel tracks. In order to utilize local wool production, village businessmen organized the Clinton Woolen Mills in 1866 which employed many area people until closing in 1957.
Site of the Clinton Inn. The Sauk and Potawatomi Indians first traversed this main thoroughfare as a portion of the Sauk Trail. It became a military road after Congress appropriated funds in the 1820s for survey and construction of a route from Detroit to Chicago. Built about 1830 on this site, the Clinton Inn served travelers on the Chicago Road who journeyed by stagecoach, covered wagon, and horseback. Originally called the Eagle Hotel, the Inn became the Union Hotel during the Civil War and lodged soldiers coming to and from the front. Walter Hubbell Smith purchased the Inn in 1864. His daughter and heir, Mary Ella Smith, sold the building in 1927 to Henry Ford who moved it to Greenfield Village. There the Inn was restored and reopened in 1929.
Clinton
Early settlers who came here from New York via the Erie Canal named this community in honor of DeWitt Clinton, the governor of their native state. First settled in 1829, Clinton became an important center of trade because of its location on the Chicago Road at the River Raisin. Only a decade after its settlement, the village had ten general stores, several blacksmith shops, and a hardware store. Five religious groups organized and built churches during this early era. In 1832 Clinton's first school was established; four years later a flouring mill began operation. A railway with wooden rails constructed about 1837 ran for a few years and by 1857 it had steel tracks. In order to utilize local wool production, village businessmen organized the Clinton Woolen Mills in 1866 which employed many area people until closing in 1957.
Site of the Clinton Inn
The Sauk and Potawatomi Indians first traversed this main thoroughfare as a portion of the Sauk Trail. It became a military road after Congress appropriated funds in the 1820s for survey and construction of a route from Detroit to Chicago. Built about 1830 on this site, the Clinton Inn served travelers on the Chicago Road who journeyed by stagecoach, covered wagon, and horseback. Originally called
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the Eagle Hotel, the Inn became the Union Hotel during the Civil War and lodged soldiers coming to and from the front. Walter Hubbell Smith purchased the Inn in 1864. His daughter and heir, Mary Ella Smith, sold the building in 1927 to Henry Ford who moved it to Greenfield Village. There the Inn was restored and reopened in 1929.
Erected 1977 by Michigan History Division, Department of State and Historical Society of Clinton. (Marker Number L474.)
Location. 42° 4.362′ N, 83° 58.245′ W. Marker is in Clinton, Michigan, in Lenawee County. Marker is on East Michigan Avenue (U.S. 12), on the left when traveling east. Marker is in front of the Clinton Village Offices, about 325 feet east of Jackson Street/Tecumseh Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 119 East Michigan Avenue, Clinton MI 49236, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Additional commentary. 1. Clinton Inn The Clinton Inn mentioned on this marker should not be confused with the current Clinton Inn at the northwest corner of Jackson Street and Michigan Avenue. As the marker states, the original Clinton Inn was moved to Greenfield Village and is now called the Eagle Tavern.
— Submitted July 2, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
via The Henry Ford, 1929
3. General Store and Clinton Inn (now Eagle Tavern) in Greenfield Village, August 1929
The Clinton Inn is now the Eagle Tavern at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. A History of the Clinton Inn/Eagle Tavern can be found in the Eagle Tavern Cookbook. Click for more information.
Photographed By Joel Seewald, May 14, 2017
4. Clinton / Site of the Clinton Inn Marker and Clinton Village Offices
Credits. This page was last revised on May 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 369 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 2, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 3. submitted on May 13, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4. submitted on July 2, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
