Appendix H - Historical Archaeological and ... - CBP.gov

the horseless carriage, road surfaces became smoother. In 1909, the first one-mile stretch of
concrete roadway was paved in the City of Highland Park (Dunbar and May, 1995).
By the late nineteenth century, a network of major railroad lines provided connections to the east
and west, and the major industrial centers of the state were connected by interurban railroads.
These rail lines connected one side of the Detroit metropolis with the other and from Detroit to
Saginaw and Lansing. Railroads facilitated the growth of major industries. In communities like
Jackson and Durand, railroad repair shops became dominant employers, drawing additional
industries, workers, and residents.
During the twentieth century, four of the most notable bridges in the state were erected, three of
which connect Michigan to Canada. In the 1920s, the Ambassador Bridge was completed
connecting Detroit with Windsor. The Blue Water Bridge, opened in 1938, connects Port Huron
and Sarnia across the St. Clair River. In 1962, the International Bridge was opened between
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Michigan’s most famous
bridge, the five-mile-long Mackinac Bridge, or “Mighty Mac,” opened for traffic in 1957 and
connects the Lower Peninsula with the Upper Peninsula (Michigan Department of
Transportation, 2009).
Agriculture
Wheat was an early favorite crop, with other grains following soon after. In areas where heavy
logging had occurred, one of the first crops to flourish after the trees were removed was the
potato. Early in the twentieth century, the Petoskey area was recognized for its production of the
Chief Petoskey seed potato. Corn and soy beans are common crops grown in the Lower
Peninsula; sugar beets are prevalent in the Saginaw River valley.
Pomiculture was established by the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century.
Microclimates in Michigan make it possible to produce apples in the Washington area of
Macomb County, peaches in nearby Romeo, and both cherries and grapes on the Leelanau (an
area known for its wine industry). Viticulture was practiced in the Monroe region as early as the
mid-nineteenth century (Hathaway and Kegerreis, 2010).
Industry/Manufacturing
Settlement in the northern portion of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula was facilitated by logging the
white pine forests. Lumber companies purchased large tracts of land, where they established
camps to facilitate clear cutting. Logging company owners earned millions of dollars, and the
titles of Lumber Barons, in the process.
Logging, railroads, and waterborne shipping formed a symbiotic relationship, and communities
such as Bay City, Detroit, and other lakeside settlements often included at least a small
shipbuilding enterprise. Although shipbuilding has largely ended, the lakeside ports remain
connected to the interior by railroad and highways and continue to ship goods.
Although exactly where the automobile was first invented is often disputed, there is no argument
that the automobile industry gained its power and reputation in Michigan. Small automobile
manufacturers and their suppliers were located across the state, with most cities in the Lower
Peninsula claiming one (or more) automotive-related industry. Michigan also claims credit for
Northern Border Activities H-98 July 2012