Brooklyn: A History

With more than 50 lakes within a 10-mile radius of the village of Brooklyn, it’s easy to see why this area is known as the “Heart of the Lakes.” Located in the scenic Irish Hills, Brooklyn was originally known for being a highly anticipated stagecoach stop along the Detroit to Chicago route. Since then, it has developed into a cozy town full of unique small businesses, while the lakes and many parks draw visitors for outdoor recreational activities. In addition, Michigan International Speedway is a destination for tourists from all over the country. The first officially recognized inhabitants of the Brooklyn area were the Native Americans mainly from the Potawatomi tribe who hunted for deer and wild turkeys, fished in the lakes, gathered honey, and picked huckleberries and cranberries. They also created numerous well-worn trails through the wilderness as they traveled. These ancient trails were later used by European settlers who made their way from the eastern states to the area that would become Brooklyn. In the Treaty of Saginaw in 1819, the United States government negotiated with prominent Native American chiefs, resulting in the U.S. government taking possession of most of the land in lower Michigan. In the 1830s and 1840s, early pioneers began to purchase the land that would eventually become Brooklyn and the surrounding areas. An early timeline, up to the 2020s, traces some of the major developments of Brooklyn that forged the thriving village it has become today. 1830s

In 1832, New York Baptist minister Calvin Swain filed the first land claim in the area that would become Brooklyn. He originally named the settlement Swainsville. In 1834, Calvin Swain built a sawmill and harvested the first wheat crop. In 1834, the Baptist Church of Brooklyn was organized, with Reverend Calvin Swain at its head. In 1834, Royal Watkins and his wife Sally established a farm that encompassed over 1,000 acres of cultivated pastures, and grazing land for cattle and sheep, straddling Jackson and Washtenaw counties. The Watkins farm was known to hire and help laborers without regard to race, including Native Americans and escaped and self-freed slaves from the South. In 1836, the community voted to change the town’s name from Swainsville to Brooklyn, named after Brooklyn, New York. In 1838, the First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn was organized, with a list of 13 members.

1840s

In the 1840s, Sylvester Walker’s farmhouse tavern at Cambridge Junction was a favorite resting spot for stagecoach travelers going on the five day trip from Detroit to Chicago. Though it was a popular place, it offered little in the way of modern comforts. There were few sleeping rooms and travelers often shared beds or slept on the floor. The tavern also served as a community center, and church services were held in the bar on Sundays. In the 1840s, the A. P. Cook Mercantile Building held the name Cook, Austin, & Sherman. It was said to have possibly been Jackson County’s oldest business site. In 1847, Kentucky slave-trader George Brasher and seven other men attempted to capture John Felix White at the farm of Royal and Sally Watkins. White was a self-freed slave who had escaped from Kentucky and was working as a laborer at the Watkins farm. Watkins, with the help of prominent underground railroad activist Laura Smith Haviland and other local abolitionists, helped John White escape capture. 1850s

In 1853, Walker’s tavern was so popular that he built Brick Walker Tavern across the street. This location offered private rooms, a dining hall, and on the third story, a dance hall. In 1856, Brooklyn founder Calvin Swain died. He is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Napoleon.

In 1858, All Saints Episcopal Church originated at a meeting held in Felt’s Hall.

1860s

In 1865, the First Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at the home of Dr. L.M. Jones, with a list of 11 members. In 1868, the Clark’s Lake Baptist Church Society was organized by a small group who met at the Clark’s Lake schoolhouse. 1870s

In 1870, Brooklyn was officially organized as a village. In about 1870, citizens erected a Civil War Memorial in a cemetery one-half mile south of M-50 on Brooklyn Road, in Napoleon. The monument, consisting of a stone obelisk on a marble base, about eighteen feet high, honors local soldiers who gave their lives in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. In 1870, thanks to the efforts of Addison Cook and Joseph Griswold, the first railroad came to Brooklyn, the Jackson branch of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern. In 1872, the train depot was constructed. It served the Detroit, Hillsdale, and Southwestern Railroad Company. 1880s

In 1881, the Brooklyn Exponent was started by Charles Clough, chronicling the happenings in the Brooklyn area. This paper is still published today. In 1882, the first annual Brooklyn Fair was held. It is not known exactly when the fair was discontinued, but there is no indication of news about it in the 1900s. In 1888, Addison P. Cook and his sons incorporated the business of Cook, Austin & Sherman Mercantile to the name A.P. Cook Limited. Addison Cook died a year later and was also an esteemed member of the community, once serving as the village president. 1890s

In 1898, a large fire destroyed the west side of Brooklyn’s village square. After this fire, the village council worked to formulate a plan to prevent future fires like this, including making sure brick or stone buildings, rather than wooden buildings, were constructed within the fire limits of the village square. 1900s

In the early 1900s, Fred Kline ran a tailor shop on South Main Street. His son, John P. Kline, was the town’s shoe salesman during this time. In 1903, as an example of how property taxes were assessed back in the early 1900s, Edward Peterson’s taxes for Columbia Township were $3.84 for 21 acres of land plus fees. In 1908, the rail line was still an important way of transportation and trade. By this year, the rails were run by the Lakeshore and Michigan Southern Railroad Company. 1910s

In about 1912, Calvin Swain’s Brooklyn Mill was destroyed by fire. In May of 1914, Brooklyn suffered the worst fire of the town’s history thus far, destroying many buildings on the east side. In 1917, the famous racehorse “Cambridge Belle” died at the age of 29. People from all over Michigan and adjoining states were familiar with this popular horse who was driven by her owner Frank Neely at numerous local matinees, fairs, and later the big circuits.

In 1918, the Brooklyn Library was founded. It would eventually become part of the Jackson County Library. 1920s

In the 1920s, paving began on the Chicago Road, allowing more tourists and visitors to pass through Brooklyn. In 1921, Frederic Hewitt purchased Walker Tavern and converted it into a museum. In 1921, Henry Ford purchased land where Calvin Swain’s Brooklyn Mill had stood. Ford planned to build a small factory to produce parts for his automobile company. In 1924, the original of the two Irish Hills Towers was built by the Michigan Observation Co. on half a hilltop purchased from Thomas Brighton. Admission to this 50 foot structure was 5 cents. Edward Kelley was angry about how close the tower came to his property line, so soon thereafter, he built a tower of his own that was 60 feet high, called the “spite tower.” Not to be outdone, M.O.C. added 14 feet to its tower. Mr. Kelley then added 4 feet to his tower, making both towers 64 feet. In 1926, Brooklyn acquired its own water tower. 1930s

In 1938, Henry Ford of Ford Automotive Company hired 100 men to build a small factory that produced small parts for his vehicles in Brooklyn. Mr. Ford built small factories in several small towns in the area in order to utilize the water power. 1940s

In 1942, the Ford plant in Brooklyn shifted from automobile parts to wartime production, making parts for B-24 bombers. After the war, the plant made distributors and supplied 50 percent of Ford’s horn buttons and starter switches for cars and trucks. In 1944, Frank Lamping bought the original tower from Michigan Observation Company. 1950s

In 1954, the Brooklyn Ford plant shifted from making distributors and starter switches to a plastic plant that produced arm rests, parking light lenses, interior dome light lenses, seat shields, air-vent registers, and a variety of knobs and dials. In 1955, Frank Lamping bought the other tower from an heir of Edward Kelley. In 1958, the white frame Walker Tavern became a Michigan Historic Site. 1960s

In 1965, Walker Tavern was sold to the Michigan DNR, and it underwent several alterations as it was restored. In 1966, the Ford plant in Brooklyn closed and moved its production to a much larger plant in Saline. In 1967, groundbreaking began for construction of the Michigan International Speedway. Over 2.5 million yards of dirt were moved to create the D-shaped oval designed by Charles Moneypenny, who previously designed the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. MIS hosted its first race in 1968. In 1967, the Brooklyn, Cement City, and Clark Lake school districts came together to create the Columbia Central School District. Former rivals went to school together under one roof to create the Columbia Central Eagles. 1970s

In 1971, the white frame Walker Tavern was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1972, the existing tops to the two towers were built, joining them together at the top for the first time. The top of the towers is 14 feet above sea level, making the towers the highest point in southeastern Michigan. In 1976, Donna Boglarsky and her late husband, Ron, acquired the towers. Tourism at the towers declined after the 1980s and they were closed to the public at the end of the summer of 2000. 1980s

In 1987, an 18-hole miniature golf course was built around the base of the towers. The rocks used throughout the course came from a local farmer’s field.

1990s

In 1998, the Brooklyn Library opened as part of the Jackson District Library’s newest branch in the former Post Office building. 2000s

In 2004, ‘Oh These Irish Hills!’, a nonprofit organization created to advance the legacy of the Irish Hills area, was formed. In 2007, the brick Walker Tavern was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was purchased in 2008 by Tom and Jennifer Lee of Livonia, and is currently used as a wedding and private events venue. 2010s

In 2015, a street art initiative was started on Water Street in Brooklyn, with the goal of bringing innovation, culture, and creativity to the community. In 2016, Watkins Lake Park became a state park. Located near Brooklyn, this 1,122-acre state park consists of a 5 mile walking trail and a lake, among other amenities. 2020s

In 2020, the National Park Service accepted Watkins Lake State Park

and County Preserve in southeastern Michigan into the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Watkins Farm was owned by early settler Royal Watkins. He strongly opposed slavery and helped protect a man who had escaped enslavement in Kentucky and was the target of failed kidnapping attempt. In 2021, the remodeled Brooklyn Library opened. Doubled in size and outfitted with the latest technology, this branch can accommodate up to 50 visitors at a time. Brooklyn Today

The village of Brooklyn is a charming community that offers its residents a high quality of life. With numerous small businesses, the downtown offers shoppers everything they need. The beautiful lakes nearby provide endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Located along the historic US 12 Heritage Trail and in the scenic Irish Hills, Brooklyn is rich in history and natural beauty.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn,_Michigan

https://kids.kiddle.co/Brooklyn,_Michigan

https://99wfmk.com/brooklyn-michigan-b/

https://apnews.com/article/115d754aeddf06c404af0522bb969c9f

https://www.washtenaw.org/3192/Watkins-Lake-UGRR https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?type=SPRK&id=440

http://www.brooklyn.net/other_bklyns/bklyn_mi.html

http://genealogytrails.com/mich/jackson/columbiatwp.html

https://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/2013/05/peek_through_time_irish_ hills.html

https://irishhills.com/history.asp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Brooklyn_Exponent

https://www.us12heritagetrail.org/us12story.asp

https://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/2014/04/peek_through_time_ brooklyn_sha.html

https://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/2016/09/peek_through_time_ columbia_cel.html

https://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/2016/11/from_brooklyns_original_ sawmil.html

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/09/07/parkbrooklyn-national-registry-underground-railroad-watkins-lake/5738777002/