Macomb County is a county located in the eastern portion of the state of Michigan and considered as part of northern Metro Detroit. Macomb County was formally organized on January 15, 1818 as the third county in the Michigan Territory. The county was named in honor of Detroit born Alexander Macomb Jr. a highly decorated veteran of the War of 1812 and hero of the Battle of Plattsburg. The county at first encompassed a much larger area than it would end up with. As the population grew in the area, the state legislature removed territory in 1819-1820 to form the counties of Oakland, Lapeer, Genesee and St Clair.
April 12th, 1827 the county was divided into five townships: the township of Washington, including the present day Bruce and Washington; Shelby, including the present Shelby and Sterling; Ray, including the present Ray and the west half of Armada; Harrison, including Lenox, Chesterfield and the present Harrison; and Clinton, which included Macomb, Clinton, Warren and Erin. In 1932 Macomb County was extended to its present size size by the addition of the township of Richmond and the east half of Armada. The north portion of Macomb County would end up with nine separate townships.
Historians believe the American township government was modeled after the English system of government. Settlers in New England developed small communities that delivered local services, while a county served as the administrative area of the government. After the Erie Canal opened many New Yorkers migrated to Michigan and brought their form of government here. Michigan is one of 20 states that use some form of township government.
There are two types of townships, Charter and Civil. Being a Charter township gives certain conditions that leaves it exempt from annexation to contiguous cities or villages. Whereas a Civil townships are generally not incorporated and nearby cities may annex land in adjoining townships with relative ease. Charter townships: Chesterfield Township; Shelby Township; Washington Township. Civil townships: Armada Township; Bruce Township; Lenox Township; Macomb Township; Ray Township; and Richmond Township.
The M-59 freeway crosses the border between Sterling Heights and Shelby Township and ends at Van Dyke Avenue in Utica, where M-59 becomes a boulevard called Hall Road. The highway crosses the Clinton River and the southern end of the M-53 freeway. This section of the highway is considered somewhat of a “main street” as it runs completely through Macomb County. Hall Road is home to a wide variety of shopping and dining including Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights and The Mall at Partridge Creek in Clinton Township. Although it is neither officially designated nor commonly referred to as such, the Hall Road portion of M-59 is considered “20 Mile Road” in the Detroit Mile road system. Although various names are used for M-59, at certain points it will be considered William P Rosso Highway as it follows the path to I-94 and then continues along the northern edge of Selfridge Air National Guard Base to Lake St. Clair.
Hothouse rhubarb was a very important crop for the farmers in this area from the late 1920’s through the 1960’s. From January through May of 1931, 843,000 pound were shipped through the Michigan Central Railroad Depot in Warren. Utica came to be called ‘“The Hothouse Rhubarb Capital of the World” producing about 85 percent of the world crop. In 1961, 300 farmers from Northern Macomb County in these areas from Armada, Washington, Macomb, Shelby and Utica and across the area were growing five to six million pounds. At the time estimates of the year crop value exceeded more than $1 million dollars. Hothouse rhubarb was discovered by accident in the early 1900’s by Ferdinand Schwartz, who lived on a farm in the Harper Van Dyke Road area. He dumped part of a load of manure on a snow bank when his wagon bogged down in the snow. A few days later, the rhubarb began pushing its way through the fertilizer, and a new industry was born were Schwartz shared his discovery with the neighboring farms. The first Rhubarb Festival was held with many of the people and organizations participating, for about 10 years, at the American Legion Hall and sponsored by the Utica Rotary Club and the Wolverine State Growers. There was a Rhubarb Queen and her Court chosen. The growers brought their best to be judged, with prizes awarded for extra fancy, fancy and choice. An auction was held with the proceeds going to charity.
We will concentrate on the townships north of the M-59, Hall Road corridor boundary, Shelby Township, Macomb Township, Chesterfield Township, Washington Township, Ray Township, Lenox Township, Bruce Township, Armada Township and Richmond Township.
Many children might never have seen a cow. Never mind knowing that milk, eggs, apples, cheese, bread, carrots and honey in their lunch boxes come from a Michigan or even near a Macomb County farm. From the very start when the government started selling the land in these various areas, farming was the main use for the land.
Linda Osborne Cynowa 