Dexter: A History

Dexter is a vibrant community situated along the Huron River and Mill Creek. Known for its historic downtown, beautiful parks, and excellent schools, Dexter offers visitors and residents the charm and comfort of a small town along with the advantages of close proximity to the larger city of Ann Arbor.

The first officially recognized inhabitants of the area that would become Dexter were Native Americans from the Ojibwa, Ottawa, Huron, and Potawatomi tribes. These people inhabited the area for many years, using it as hunting grounds, a trade route, and a place for tribal gatherings. The water from Mill Creek and the Huron River made the area rich in natural resources.

However, 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 Dexter and the surrounding areas. Samuel W. Dexter was a prominent early settler and founder of the village of Dexter. Using the resources and power from the Huron River and Mill Creek, in addition to rich farming land, early settlers of this area formed a growing community. An early timeline, up to the 2000s, traces some of the major developments of Dexter that forged the thriving city it has become today.

1820s

In 1824, land speculator and lawyer Samuel Dexter purchased a large parcel of land that would become the village of Dexter. The area was first called the “Mill Creek Settlement” until the name was officially changed to the village of Dexter in 1830.

In 1826, when Washtenaw was officially recognized as a county, Samuel Dexter was appointed as its first chief justice. From that point on, he was known as Judge Dexter.

In 1827, Judge Dexter had a sawmill built, using the power of the Huron River and Mill Creek. Judge Dexter also established the first post office in Dexter, transporting mail to and from Ann Arbor by horseback.

In 1828, Judge Dexter married Millicent Bond. They went on to have eight children.

1830s

In 1830, Dexter’s first school was built on “B” street, downtown.

In 1838, a woolen mill was established.

1840s

In 1841, the Michigan Central Railroad reached Dexter from Detroit. Judge Dexter encouraged the railroad company to build tracks to Dexter by donating the land for them to use.

In the early 1840s, Judge Dexter’s house was built just north of the village, in the Greek Revival architecture style. It was designed by Calvin T. Fillmore, brother of President Millard Fillmore. This home is an important landmark today. He named it Gordon Hall in honor of his mother’s side of the family. Legend has it that Gordon Hall was a stop on the Underground Railroad.

1850s

In 1857, Dexter Union Schoolhouse was built at 7714 Ann Arbor Street. It is known as the “Copeland Building” today.

1860s

In 1863, Judge Samuel Dexter died. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Dexter, a cemetery that he founded.

In 1867, John Costello converted the third floor of his general merchandise store into a hall that seated 300 people. Costello Hall hosted a variety of events, including lectures, concerts, and meetings.

In 1869, the Dexter Leader was established, after townsfolk enticed a Detroit printer to move to their rural village and start a newspaper.

1870s

In 1877, a severe fire broke out downtown Dexter, damaging a block of stores along Main Street. Later that year, after many requests from the community, the town council agreed to purchase a hook and ladder truck, axes, and pails. In December of that same year, a fire engine house was built on Alpine Street. In 1886, a cider mill was started by the VanNatter family. The Dexter Cider Mill is still thriving today, and it is the longest continuously operating cider mill in Michigan.

In 1886, the Dexter Opera House opened. This modest wooden building was formerly a roller-skating rink.

In 1887, the Dexter railroad depot was built, designed by Frederick H. Spier of Detroit.

1890s

In 1890, a fire company was organized, composed of seven members.

1900s

In 1909 Harley Stanton opened a nickelodeon in Dexter in a room above the H. G. Higgins store at 8110 Ann Arbor Street. Nickelodeons were popular at that time, and were called that because admission was five cents.

1910s

In 1915, the Dexter Bakery was established. This spot is still a favorite among locals and visitors today.

In 1919, approximately 50 farmers met at the Dexter Opera House to form the Dexter Agriculture Association. Their goal was to eliminate the “middleman” as they felt they were being overcharged for farm supplies and underpaid for grains, livestock, and produce.

In 1920, the Dexter Agriculture Association opened a co-operative. Within two months there were 94 members.

In 1926-27, the village installed a new water system, which included fire hydrants throughout the village.

In 1927, the Agriculture Association became a stock company and changed the name to the Dexter Co-op Co.

In 1927, the Dexter Public Library was formally founded by the Dexter Women’s Study Club. It started as a shelf of books in a local store.

In 1928, the library moved to a small building on Central Street. In 1971, the Dexter Area Historical Society was formed, led by Norma McAllister and Frank Wilhelme.

In 1972, Gordon Hall was placed on the National Register for Historic Places.

In 1974, Dexter celebrated its Sesquicentennial with many festivities, including a parade, a pie-eating contest, a husband-calling contest, and historical presentations.

1930s

In the 1930, during the Great Depression, the Dexter Co-op did well and continued to grow.

In 1938, the Village of Dexter took over support of the library, though the Women’s Club continued to run it.

1940s

In 1941, the Dexter Co-op opened in a new, larger building. To celebrate, they provided 100 pounds of free hot dogs to the community, in addition to prizes and gifts which included knives, pencils, coal, feed and baby chicks. Amidst the ups and downs of business and decline of small farm/family agriculture, the Co-op changed hands several times. It is now the Dexter Mill, a place that serves hobby farmers, pet owners, wild bird enthusiasts, equestrians, gardeners and full time farmers.

In 1949, the Dexter Theater was built by McLaughlin Oil Company, located next to its gas station on the corner of Main Street and Baker.

1950s

In 1950, Gordon Hall was deeded to the University of Michigan by Katharine Dexter McCormick (granddaughter of Judge Dexter).

In 1950, twelve local school districts were consolidated to form “Dexter Agricultural Schools.” The district is now known as Dexter Community Schools.

In 1953, passenger service ended at the Dexter Depot.

In 1958, Gordon Hall was placed on the State Register of Historic Places.

1960s

In 1963, the Dexter Theater closed, due to competition from larger theaters in Ann Arbor and the advent of television.

In 1966, Dexter experienced one of the most famous (or infamous) UFO sightings in history, when Frank Mannor and his son spotted a glowing object in a wooded swamp near their home. Similar glowing objects were reported near Hillsdale and other areas of southern Michigan that same night. Astronomer J. Allen Hynek attributed the sightings to “swamp gas,” however many still believe there was more to the story.

1990s

In 1995, the Dexter Leader closed. It was later rolled into a newspaper covering several towns in the area, called Washtenaw Now.

In 1996, the Dexter Public Library moved to a new, larger building, formerly known as the Methodist Church Education Building.

2000s

In 2002, as the community of Dexter grew, a new Dexter High School was built. Dexter is one of only two schools in the country with a ‘dreadnaught’ as a mascot. A dreadnaught is a battleship used in the early 1900s, including use by the British Royal Navy in World War I.

In 2006, the Dexter Area Historical Society and Museum assumed ownership of Gordon Hall with the aim of restoring and preserving this historic home.

In 2008, The Sun Times newspaper began. It covers events and issues in and around Dexter, Chelsea, Pinckney, Manchester, and Saline.

In 2008, the Encore Musical Theater Company was founded by high school friends, Broadway actor Dan Cooney and Anne Koch, along with her husband Paul Koch. According to their website, their mission is to “create quality, original theatrical productions with an emphasis on Musical Theatre, utilizing a unique mixture of Broadway and the finest Michigan talent while engaging and entertaining a wide spectrum of the surrounding communities.”

In 2009, the new Dexter Public Library opened to rave reviews at its location on Alpine Street.

2010s

In 2012, an EF3 tornado struck the village and outskirts of Dexter, causing substantial damage to many houses and buildings. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.

In 2013, the border-to-border trail from downtown Dexter to Hudson Mills Metro-Park was completed. This trail is good for walking, runnin, biking, and rollerblading. There are segments of this trail network opening on a continuous basis, connecting locations in Ann Arbor, Dexter, Chelsea, Stockbridge, Jackson, and more.

In 2014, Dexter residents voted to adopt a city charter.

In 2014, the online news source welovedexter.com launched its first article.

In 2015, Washtenaw Now, a newspaper that came about after combining several local papers in the area, published its last issue.

Sources:

https://www.dextermi.gov/community/history.php

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

https://aadl.org/aaobserver/36154

https://thesuntimesnews.com/g/chelsea-mi/n/25233/how-military-coverdexter-ufo-incident-led-greater-government-transparency

http://historypbw.org/history-of-dexter/

https://thesuntimesnews.com/g/dexter-mi/n/23641/then-and-now-dexterhistory-dexter-area-historical-society

https://www.aamrc.org/hvrrhs/depot

https://www.dexterschools.org/

https://dextermill.com/index.php?option=com_ gridbox&view=page&blog=2&category=1&id=19&Itemid=118

https://annarborobserver.com/articles/historic_halls.html#.YJWGPijYq3A

https://www.salinehistory.org/location-is-everything

https://calvin.edu/news/archive/a-student-s-memory-of-dexter-mich-

https://welovedexter.com/2018/06/12/the-story-of-dexters-historic-gordon-hall/

https://www.annarbor.org/listing/dexter-bakery/1500/

Dexter Today

In its early days, the village of Dexter was known as a prosperous agricultural area and milling center. Over the years, Dexter has grown in population and is now a small city with unique shops, first-class restaurants, cultural events, and extensive outdoor recreation opportunities. Amidst the positive cultural and economic growth, the area continues to stay true to its roots, with family farms that have stood the test of time, historic buildings, and iconic businesses like the Dexter Cider Mill, Hackney Hardware, the Dexter Bakery, and the A & W.