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This countryside tour links past and present by following the pathways of the Michigan Central Railroad tracks and North Territorial Road. Early settlers in the Michigan Territory followed the paths you will take. Historic cemeteries provide the stories in stone of the pioneer communities, some of which no longer exist.

This auto tour will take a leisurely hour and a half, depending on your choice of loops and how long you choose to stay at each stop. The travel distance is approximately 35 miles, including the loops.

BE CAUTIOUS for much of the tour takes you on heavily traveled roads. Please respect private property marked DRIVE-BY. Be sure to park well off the road in places marked STOP. ( MAP - 15KB )

1. Clock Tower

Begin your tour at Chelseas's most visible landmark, the Clock Tower of the old Glazier Stove Works Building. As you cross the railroad tracks you will see the restored depot. The Village of Chelsea grew rapidly after 1850 when the railroad laid the pathway for business and passenger service. The Gothic passenger depot, built in 1880, was designed by the prestigious firm of Mason and Rice of Detroit. At the turn of the century, rail passengers walked the short distance to the Sylvan hotel on main Street (STOP).

After a devastating fire in 1985, the former hotel now has a new lease on life; it houses a variety of small shops. Turn east on Middle Street. As you travel, notice the variety of styles of the well-kept nineteenth-century homes.

2. Oak Grove Cemetery (1860) intersection of Madison and Middle.

Beautiful cut stones enhance the lampposts marking the entrance to the cemetery. The tree-lined drive leads you through a stone portal erected in the 1920s. The oldest section of the cemetery is laid out in the rural tradition with curving pathways and vegetation which was popular in the late nineteenth century. Note the red sandstone mausoleum. Here you will find a history book in stone of Chelsea's past including the grave of Elisha Congdon, one of Chelsea's pioneers. (STOP)

The Staffan monument leads one into Mt. Olivet, the Catholic Cemetery.

Pass through the cemetery and turn north on Freer Road. After crossing the railroad tracks turn east onto Dexter-Chelsea Road. This road parallels the railroad tracks of the old Detroit-Chicago line. Its steep banks are carpeted with "railroad lilies" and other field flowers. Notice the farm house with a nearly intact windmill in the yard. Just beyond the farm, on the left you will notice a State recreation sign. If you wish to follow the Four-Mile Lake loop turn left.

*Loop-Four-Mile Lake"

Follow the narrow dirt road to this tranquil lake. Birds dart overhead. Fish jump in the clear water bordered by flowering loosestrife and arrowhead. Take a few minutes to enjoy the sounds of nature. As you return to Dexter-Chelsea Road and cross the railroad tracks note Provico-Big H (formerly Honegger's) grain elevator on your left. It was constructed at this juncture to take advantage of the nearby railroad to ship grain. behind it looms the ruins of a cement plant.

*Loop-Four-Mile Lake Cemetery
(Lindermann Cemetery)

This nearly forgotten cemetery lies on the east side of the road 1.8 miles north of the intersection of Dexter-Chelsea Road and North Lima Center Road. Resting in a grove of towering oaks it tells the stories of early settlers in Lima Township. In mid-summer, there is no easy access road to the site. Returning from the cemetery, an east turn onto Beach Road will lead you to the boggy site of the Zabinsky Blueberry Farm, where you may pick your won berries in season. Follow Beach Road to Dancer Road where a south turn will lead you back to Dexter-Chelsea Road. Continue east on Dexter-Chelsea Road. (DRIVE-BY)

3. Beach School/Florence Howlett Memorial School: 11000 Dexter-Chelsea Road

This building is now the Little Friends Nursery School. It is appropriate that this building continues in its original purpose to educate. There is a plaque which marks it as a "Standard School" which meant that it followed a specific curriculum set up by the state. Note the bell which still hangs in the belfrey. (STOP)

4. Old Stone Viaduct

This 8.2 mile drive will bring you to Dexter, Chelsea's neighbor to the east. Turn northwest onto Island Lake Road, passing under the narrow stone viaduct which was built to carry rail traffic over the roadway. As you travel note the majestic Creek Revival home built by Judge Dexter Gordon Hall, named in honor of his mother. At the fork of Island Lake Road and Dexter-Pinckney Road veer right onto oak-lined Dexter-Pinckney Road. Use caution as you drive this heavily travelled road. At 6450 Dexter-Pinckney Road note the Gothic-style farmhouse with gingerbread trim on the roof and windows. You can almost hear the dinner bell calling the workers to the mid-day meal.

5. Hudson Mills Metropark and Hudson Mills Cemetery

On the right you will see a part of Hudson Mills Park. The main entrance to the park, is approximately one-half mile to the east on N. Territorial Road. as the name suggest, the park is named for one of the pioneer mills along the Huron River. The park offers a vast array of both summer and winter family sports activities in addition to food vendors. It is open form 8:00am until 10:00pm daily. a fee or Metropark sticker is required. (STOP)

On the left, the Hudson Cemetery repeats the name. The gravestones tell the story of a pioneer settlement. Take some time to read the epitaphs, to note the varied symbols of lambs, clasped hands and willow trees. The stones around the perimeter are endangered by the overgrowth of vines and shrubs. When you reach the intersection with N. Territorial, turn west. (STOP)

6. Stinchfield Woods and Peach Mountain Observatory

From July through September, on the third Sunday of the month between 2 and 4:30pm, you can visit the University of Michigan's Radio Telescope atop Peach Mountain. It is the only fully computer automated telescope in the United States. The neighboring Stinchfield Woods is a forest study area for the University of Michigan. It affords many pleasant hiking trails and in winter, is a cross-country skier's delight. (STOP)

7. North Territorial Road

This path which originally served as a gateway to early settlement now serves as a gateway to Washtenaw County's beautiful lake region. Traffic then was heavy but not nearly as rapid as it is today. One still has the feeling of traveling through a tunnel of oaks. These "oak openings" enabled early settlers to clear their land more easily. The changing color of each season is a reflection of the moods of natures' artistry. Use caution as you travel. The nineteenth century can still be glimpsed in the Upright and Wing (Michigan) farmhouses that line North Territorial Road's entire length. An example is Hillside Farm at 11677 North Territorial Road. However, suburbia is encroaching at a steady pace. (DRIVE-BY)

*Loop - St. Joseph Cemetery

An early twentieth century rural schoolhouse marks the corner of Dexter Townhall Road and North Territorial Road. Head south until you reach Quigley Road. On the knoll at the southwest corner of the intersection you will find the historical marker relating the brief history of the old St. Joseph Catholic Church on this site. many of the first settlers in the surrounding area were from Ireland. After the church burned in 1854, use of the cemetery declined. In 1981, concerned parishioners rescued the remnants of gravestones and created a memorial. Retrace your route to North Territorial Road and continue westward. (STOP)

8. North Lake Community

As you approach North lake, on your right note the street sign marking Noah's Landing. Six generations of the Noah family have resided in the community. On the south side of the road you still see the spire of North Lake Methodist Church rising above the trees. The historical marker explains that the original church which was founded in 1836 by the Glenn family burned and was replaced by the current church which was built in 1866. A remnant of the apple orchard planted by the Glenn and Webb families in the early part of the nineteenth century still produces fruit. (STOP AND WALK)

*Loop-Riker Road/North Lake Cemetery

Grandview Farm, built in the nineteenth century by the Eisenbeiser family, crowns the rise on the southwest corner of Riker Road and North Territorial Road. A glassed-in belvedere caps this graceful Italianate style house. After you turn south onto Riker Road, pause to look at the elongated board and batten barn and the stone wall. As you wind around the curve in the road you will see the gravestones of North Lake Cemetery on your left. The earliest stone bears the inscription "Infant daughter of Charles and Mary Glenn - 1839." This community cemetery marks the resting place of pioneer families who have given their names to local rads and whose descendants still tend their graves. (STOP) Return to North Territorial Road and head west.

9. Island Lake Road

Island Lake Road was originally called "Old Plank Road." It carried the pioneers over the swampy and lake-dotted land which enhances the beauty of this area. Today's adventurous traveller may wish to explore some of these side roads.

10. The Lakeshore and Lyndon Central Railroad: 19130 North Territorial Road
(Enter off Embury Road)

Railroaders and children of all ages will delight in a ride on this small-scale steam-powered train. Developed as a retirement project, Don Drew combined his knowledge as a fireman on the Michigan Central Railroad with his love of the "iron horse." The hours are from 1-6 on Sundays during the summer months only. (STOP)

11. Parks Lyndon, North and South

Park of the Washtenaw Country Parks System, these parks provide facilities for picnicking, hiking, tours led by naturalist. The quiet beauty offers the traveller a place to enjoy a picnic lunch. The rolling terrain serves as a backdrop for relaxation. (STOP)

12. Lyndon Townhall

The township hall was the center of political and social activity in each township in the nineteenth century. This townhall still serves those functions for the township. The Lyndon townhall Road on your left will take you down a short dire road which looks much the way it did a century ago. Both this road and North Territorial Road will lead you to M-52. On M-52, turn south and return to Chelsea.

Back on Main Street, stop and enjoy the sights, smells and friendly atmosphere of Chelsea which combines a strong sense of the -past with a vision of the future.

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