|
TERRITORIAL ROAD RECOLLECTIONS OF THE "OLD TERRITORIAL ROAD" AND ITS TAVERNS
The rivers and large streams were bridged, and the road over some of the worst marshes was corduroyed. This was true of most of the route. No one rode on the wagon but the ladies, and they walked when we came to difficult places and at all other times when they were tired of riding. Among the names of taverns* this side of Ann Arbor, that were famous in those days, Hurd's is as familiar as household words. It was west of Lima and a little east of the present Chelsea. It was a log structure, situated on a rise of ground in a grove of hickories by the roadside. We remained there over night. Just east of the "short hills" was Davidson's. Whoever has stopped there will not have forgotten the jovial landlord, his amusing stories nor the entertainment they received. I think Dunhan's tavern was in or just west of the short hills. It is, at least, one of the old hotel names that yet live in the memory of the pioneer. We probably halted for dinner and to feed our team at this tavern, then continued our journey till we reached Falkner's at or near Grass lake, where we stayed all night. Here my father found in the landlord, Col. Falkner, a man whom he liked very much. He was an able man, and a fine talker. They soon became acquainted. The Colonel had been a member of the New York Assembly, and they shortly found they had many mutual friends in their native state. We stopped the next night at Jacksonburg, then a small and rather uninviting place. "In the spring of 1831, " says Dea. W. Mills of --Galesburg, "I saw two men, with a horse and wagon and their axes, start out from Ann Arbor westward. They cut their way through the woods to a point on the grand river where they stuck their stakes and commenced to make betterments. They were two brothers by the name of Blackman— the Romulus and Remus who founded Jacksonburg. " The place soon began to thrive and grow out of the woods, then out of the "burg" and into a large
Stoat's tavern" (built in 1828) was first.
Michigan
Page 8
|
|
If you find this information helpful please consider making a donation
Thank you
Thank you
|
