The Era of Settlement: 1826-1870

From the time settlers arrived in Lower Town in 1826 and began building, they set in motion a series of developments that would forever alter the Huron River landscape. One motivating force was the necessity for transportation of people and goods. Some kind of crossing over the river to the uphill settlement of Ann Arbor would assist transport immensely. A second drive was the need for an energy source to run the industries being established. The choice to locate a town on a river was based on the ability to harness the water as a propulsive power. Accordingly, the developers built mills along the river, with races and waterwheels underneath, and began producing various types of products. In 1837, these products began shipping on the railroad, and soon, manufacturing, commerce, and transportation had established the dominant land uses of the area.

• Crossing Between Two Parts of Town
• Connector to East-West Rail
• Water Power