Dundee Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Dundee Historic Village is a historic district
located in Dundee
, Michigan
. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on August 20, 1990 and was also declared a Michigan Historic Site
. This area is commonly referred to as the downtown
area of Dundee and was settled almost concurrently with the Old Village Historic District
in nearby Monroe
. Both were built in their respective locations due to the River Raisin
. Originally, the buildings within the district were small, wood buildings, but these were eventually replaced with two story, brick storefronts. Most of the surviving buildings were built between 1866–1900, although the district traces its origins to Dundee's establishment in 1825.
The district itself is located about one mile east of US-23
along M-50
(known locally as West Monroe Street east of the river and Tecumseh Street to the west of the river) at the bend of the River Raisin. The majority of the district is on the north side of the river— including Riley, Ypsilanti, East Main, and Tecumseh Streets. South of the river includes a small portion of West Monroe and Toledo Streets. The district is colloquially known as the “Triangle District” for the unique shape of the grid plan
where Riley and Tecumseh streets intersect at a 45° angle to produce a triangular piece of land cut off by Park Place on the west. The original owners of this triangular plot of land donated it to the village with the promise that it remain undeveloped as a park in the center of the growing community. Today, the triangle is known as Memorial Park, complete with a naval cannon and bandstand
.
for the growing milling industry in Dundee. Later, the building was converted to produce hydroelectricity as the village's only source of power around 1910. Automotive magnate Henry Ford
purchased the building and restored it at great cost in 1934. He used it as a small factory to produce welding tips for his industry, and he was known to make many visits to Dundee. His interest in Dundee was an experiment to see if small towns could be used for his massive, global industry. After Ford's death in 1947, support for this small factory diminished, and it was sold in 1954 to the Wolverine Manufacturing Company, where the building was converted once more to produce paper products. The Wolverine Manufacturing Company used the facility until 1970. The village purchased and revamped the structure and its surrounding 13.8 acres (5.6 ha) for public use as a museum and park. Although the property is praised for its historical nature, it is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in its own right.
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
located in Dundee
Dundee, Michigan
Dundee is a village in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,522 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Dundee Township. Through a series of annexations and land transfers, the village has greatly increased in size over the past several years...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on August 20, 1990 and was also declared a Michigan Historic Site
Michigan State Historic Preservation Office
The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office is in charge of the listing of historic resources of local, state, and national interest in the U.S. state of Michigan, including buildings, lighthouses, bridges, historic districts, and many other properties deemed important to the history of Michigan...
. This area is commonly referred to as the downtown
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
area of Dundee and was settled almost concurrently with the Old Village Historic District
Old Village Historic District (Monroe, Michigan)
The Old Village Historic District is a commercial and residential historic district consisting of the downtown area of the city of Monroe in Monroe County, Michigan...
in nearby Monroe
Monroe, Michigan
Monroe is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,733 at the 2010 census. It is the largest city and county seat of Monroe County. The city is bordered on the south by Monroe Charter Township, but both are politically independent. The city is located approximately 14 miles ...
. Both were built in their respective locations due to the River Raisin
River Raisin
The River Raisin is a river in southeastern Michigan, United States that flows through glacial sediments into Lake Erie. The area today is an agricultural and industrial center of Michigan. The river flows for almost , draining an area of in the Michigan counties of Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw,...
. Originally, the buildings within the district were small, wood buildings, but these were eventually replaced with two story, brick storefronts. Most of the surviving buildings were built between 1866–1900, although the district traces its origins to Dundee's establishment in 1825.
The district itself is located about one mile east of US-23
U.S. Route 23 in Michigan
US Highway 23 is a United States Numbered Highway that runs from Jacksonville, Florida to Mackinaw City, Michigan. In the US state of Michigan, it is a major north–south state trunkline highway that runs through the Lower Peninsula...
along M-50
M-50 (Michigan highway)
M-50 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. Although designated as an east–west highway, it is nearly a diagonal northwest-southeast route...
(known locally as West Monroe Street east of the river and Tecumseh Street to the west of the river) at the bend of the River Raisin. The majority of the district is on the north side of the river— including Riley, Ypsilanti, East Main, and Tecumseh Streets. South of the river includes a small portion of West Monroe and Toledo Streets. The district is colloquially known as the “Triangle District” for the unique shape of the grid plan
Grid plan
The grid plan, grid street plan or gridiron plan is a type of city plan in which streets run at right angles to each other, forming a grid...
where Riley and Tecumseh streets intersect at a 45° angle to produce a triangular piece of land cut off by Park Place on the west. The original owners of this triangular plot of land donated it to the village with the promise that it remain undeveloped as a park in the center of the growing community. Today, the triangle is known as Memorial Park, complete with a naval cannon and bandstand
Bandstand
A bandstand is a circular or semicircular structure set in a park, garden, pier, or indoor space, designed to accommodate musical bands performing concerts...
.
Old Mill Museum
The most notable building within the district is the Old Mill Museum at 242 Toledo Street on the opposite side of the river from the majority of the district. While the facility itself was not built until the 1850s, the dam upon which it is located was first constructed in 1827 and rebuilt in 1846. The facility first served as a gristmillGristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
for the growing milling industry in Dundee. Later, the building was converted to produce hydroelectricity as the village's only source of power around 1910. Automotive magnate Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
purchased the building and restored it at great cost in 1934. He used it as a small factory to produce welding tips for his industry, and he was known to make many visits to Dundee. His interest in Dundee was an experiment to see if small towns could be used for his massive, global industry. After Ford's death in 1947, support for this small factory diminished, and it was sold in 1954 to the Wolverine Manufacturing Company, where the building was converted once more to produce paper products. The Wolverine Manufacturing Company used the facility until 1970. The village purchased and revamped the structure and its surrounding 13.8 acres (5.6 ha) for public use as a museum and park. Although the property is praised for its historical nature, it is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in its own right.