Main Street, Michigan: From Ann Arbor to Wolverine, 1890s-1940s
Main Street, USA.
Not in this case though...this is Main Street Michigan.
Earlier, I presented a photo gallery of twenty old photos depicting various Main Street scenes throughout Michigan...and I figure, why not do another one? There are still plenty more to show.
Of course, every community, village, town, burg, and city has a Main Street. Some of them have been re-named – for example, some Main Streets in a few Michigan towns were re-named 'Michigan Avenue'. Many other places in Michigan have re-named their old Main Streets, thus confusing some people who try to locate those old throughways, only to be mildly baffled by another name.
Some Main Streets run north and south, others east and west. It can get confusing if you’re searching old photos.
What is so appealing about those streets?
They are supposed to represent the rest of the town. At one time or another, most of those streets were lined on both sides with great old brick and wood buildings, with many of them demolished for who-knows-what reason.
Thankfully, there are still plenty of places in Michigan where those old buildings have stood the test of time, while others burned down due to sweeping fires – and Michigan had more than its fair share of wildfires burning down towns. Some just plain deteriorated due to neglect.
Many old communities have at least one old structure still standing, amidst the newer ones that unfortunately take away from the original downtown charm.
Scroll down a little way and take a look at this second batch of old Michigan Main Streets, from Ann Arbor to Wolverine, going back to the early 1900s...then come back HERE and look at the first gallery that goes from Adrian to White Cloud!