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This countryside tour takes you through some beautiful rural landscapes on winding dirt roads. You will see centennial farmsteads perfectly preserved, historic churches and cemeteries, one-room schools and a picturesque mill. Here also, you will see the imprint left by glaciers which covered the land thousands of years ago.

Mush of this tour follows gravel roads and the driver must use caution, especially in inclement weather. There are several tricky turns and many of the roads are traveled by school buses, so be sure to watch for children. watch for slow tractors, deer darting across the road and, sometimes, horseback riders.

This auto tour is approximately 35 miles long and takes just over an hour to drive without stops. Most of the points of interest are "DRIVE-BY's." Please respect private property. Those points of particular interest will be marked "STOP." Share the adventure, bring your camera and a picnic lunch!

On this tour you will explore the handiwork of man and nature. This geographical area encompasses examples of continuity and change; churches whose congregations have evolved over more than a hundred years, a working mill which is now a winery, and rural schools which are now homes. You will see the remnants of the once-thriving community of Sylvan. New England-style barns with their shallow pitched roofs dot this southern Michigan countryside. The predominant architectural styles that you will see are America foursquare and Greek Revival.

Natural beauty surrounds you in the hills and hollows with winding streams and roads. The towering oaks give us only a glimpse of the landscape the early settlers saw. Listen to the birds such as thrushes and warblers. Look for seasonal wildflowers, many of which are rare. Smell the newly cut hay. Take your time.

As you leave Chelsea, take M-52 south.

Watch carefully for the sharp turn west onto Grass Lake Road. ( MAP - 17KB )

1. Note the farmsteads.

On the north side of the road, most of the farmsteads are of the upright and wing or simple Greek Revival style. (DRIVE BY)

2. Greek Revival Farmstead

17850 Grass Lake Road.
You will want to slow down to get a wide-angle view of this barn with its gambrel roof. The house is a typical Michigan upright and wing. Directly opposite is a beautiful glen on the south side of the road. (DRIVE BY)

3. Fieldstone Foursquare Farmhouse

Continuing along grass Lake Road, you will notice that farmhouse styles change. Around the turn of the century, this sturdy style was popular. To gain ore space for an expanding family sometimes an ell was added as it was here. As you continue your drive observe other houses of this same style. (DRIVE BY)

At the "Y" intersection, turn south onto Sharon Hollow Road. A bit further, on your left, you will see a pond graced with water lilies in summer. Capture them only in your photos.

As you continue, use caution because the road curves and zig-zags in this area.

4. Foursquare Farmstead

3630 Sharon Hollow Road
A low stonewall reminds one of New England, with stones, as well, paving the path to the fields and pastures. Surrounding the farmstead are woods with nut trees, sumac and a pond. During the fall season you may see Sand Hill Cranes making a stop-over on their way south. we can understand why the early settlers gave the name Sylvan to this township. (DRIVE-BY)

The road makes a sharp curve to the east. As you drive along look for remnants of old farmsteads and outbuildings. Clues are: fruit, nut and lilac trees.

5. At the Corner of Trolz and Sharon Hollow Roads

Here you jog west on Trolz until you come to the intersection of Sharon Hollow again, as you turn south onto Sharon Hollow Road you will see a Victorian-style farmstead with outbuildings trimmed with "gingerbread." (16834 Easudes Road). (DRIVE-BY)

6. Sharon Mills Winery, Mill Pond, and Settlement

The River Raisin, or "River of Grapes" so named by the French settlers in southern Michigan, provided waterpower for the mills along its banks. There were often settlements where the river could be dammed for a mill pond. Thus came to be the tiny village of Sharon hollow. today, a winery occupies one of the many mills that Henry Ford developed as a cottage industry to supply parts for car production. This peaceful setting by the mill pond invites picnickers. (STOP)

When you reach Sharon Valley Road, turn east. This road becomes a dirt road.

7. Gillet Cemetery

This township-owned cemetery contains the gravestones of early settlers in this part of the county. It is worth a stop to read the inscriptions which have faded with the passage of time. (STOP).

Follow the winding dirt road, listen to the murmur of the water, enjoy the natural beauty of this secluded hollow. It is the perfect place to watch the canoes from a nearby livery float swiftly down the river through the overhanging trees.

When you reach Meyers Road turn north, then turn east onto Bethel Church Road. (There may be no sign at that intersection.)

8. Davidter School #2 (1861)

This one-room school is no longer in sue as a school. There were over a hundred one-room schools in the county before consolidation. These buildings serve varied purposes today, this one is used for farm storage. (DRIVE-BY)

When you reach M-52 turn north. At this point you may wish to return to Chelsea or continue your tour. To continue, turn west onto Pleasant Lake Road. For a description of the Sharon United Methodist Church ("Salems Kirche") and its adjacent cemeteries see "Steeples and Stones."

As you travel Pleasant Lake Road be cautious of the heavy traffic.

9. Sharon District #1 School (1890)

This school was built at the time when attendance at tone-room schools was at its peak. Notice the arched window hoods and brackets tucked up under the roofline. (DRIVE-BY)

10. Greek Revival Farmhouse

18451 Pleasant Lake Road
This is an outstanding example of Greek Revival architecture with its Ionic columns, surprisingly ornate for a farmhouse. (DRIVE-BY)

This stretch of road has farmhouse of varied architectural styles. If you look closely on the north side of the road you will see the stone remains of a bank barn as well.

11. Mahlon Smith Centennial Farm

This farmstead has been carefully maintained over the years. The beauty and function of the board and batten barn and outbuildings contrast with the remnants of the foundation of a bank barn nearby on the north side of the road. Appreciate the fragility of barns and outbuildings as part of our vanishing landscape. (DRIVE-BY)

When you reach Sharon Hollow Road, loop around and head back down Pleasant Lake Road to the first road on the left. That will be Sylvan Road although it may not be marked.

12. Sharon Town Hall and adjacent cemetery

Along with one room schools the township hall was the focus of community life. The monument adjacent is one of the rare statues of Abraham Lincoln found in the state of Michigan. The building is now a private residence. (DRIVE-BY)

You will definitely see hills and hollows along this dirt road. Jog west when you reach Wingate Road which immediately becomes Sylvan Road again. As you travel further north you will catch glimpses of the fenced wooded property along the east side of the road. This is the Chrysler Proving Grounds. (DRIVE-BY)

13. A Queen Anne-style house

This house commands the corner of Heim and Sylvan Roads. This architectural style is distinguished by its varied building materials, numerous window sizes and shapes, porches and gables.

14. Old Sylvan settlement

This pioneer community was a center of activity in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Its residents scattered to other settlements nearby, leaving it a ghost town similar to Geddesberg and Jerusalem. All that is left of the old days is the Sylvan Town Hall and Maple Grove Cemetery.

Continue north on Sylvan Road until you reach Old U.S. 12, turn east and follow it into Chelsea.

We hope you have enjoyed this adventure. As you return once again to Chelsea, take advantage of the variety of shops and restaurants. As you browse, plan you next visit to the community.

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