The village of Stockbridge lies in the southeast corner of Ingham County, about 36 miles southeast of the city of Lansing. Stockbridge is characterized by small-town charm and is known as one of the oldest farming communities in Michigan. Michigan highway M-52 runs through the heart of the village and motorists driving through enjoy the view of the old-fashioned town square and historic Romanesque town hall building. With a location close to both Lansing and Ann Arbor, Stockbridge residents have access to the larger cities, while enjoying a quieter life in this close-knit community.
The first officially recognized inhabitants of the area that would become Stockbridge were Native Americans, mainly from the Potawatamie and Ottawa tribes. There they hunted deer and other wild animals. Legend has it that their dancing grounds were Devils Elbow and on Topith Road near the Hardt Farm. 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 Stockbridge and the surrounding areas. An early timeline, up to the mid-2000s, traces some of the major developments of Stockbridge that forged the unique village it has become today.
1830s
In 1835, the first pioneer settlers arrived in the Stockbridge area. Most came on horseback and by wagon, often with a cow or two from their homes in the east. Elijah Smith laid out the first plat for Stockbridge, though at the time, he called the settlement Pekin. However, Mr. Smith never registered the plat and instead sold it to Silas Beebe for $25.00. Mr. Beebe, along with Ira Wood, added 20 acres to the plat and then registered it as Stockbridge with the County Register of Deeds.
In 1836, the first school in Stockbridge was established at 500 South Clinton Street.
1840s
In 1844, the Dewey School, located in Waterloo Township, was organized. Little did the founders know this would become a museum still in operation today.
1850s
In the 1850s, the first version of the Realy Farmhouse, among many other farmhouses, was built. This farmhouse would have several renovations throughout the years but is still standing today as an iconic museum and testament to a way of farming life that is this region’s heritage.
In 1854, the group organized in connection with the Presbyterian denomination erected a building to be used for worship and gathering. They officially dedicated the building in 1855.
1860s
In 1860, the Stockbridge Lodge No. 130, Free & Accepted Masons were founded. The original meeting place was above the H.P. Everett Hardware.
In 1867, First Presbyterian Church was officially organized.
1870s
In 1877, the Methodist Church was organized.
In 1877, the first annual meeting of the Union Agricultural Society occurred in Stockbridge. The group consisted of members from Bunker Hill, Iosco, White Oak, Lyndon, Unadilla, and Waterloo Townships. Ingham and Henrietta were subsequently added to the list.
1880s
In 1883, the first train rolled through Stockbridge.
In 1883, the Stockbridge Sentinel began, published by H.H. Freeman.
In the vicinity of 1884, the Stockbridge Sun began publishing. By 1886 it was published by William B. Gildart.
In 1889, Stockbridge was incorporated into a village.
In 1889, a volunteer fire department was organized, in response to a hotel fire that occurred. Before this, a fire was signaled by the ringing of church bells, and all able-bodied men would turn out to form a bucket brigade.
In 1889, Oaklawn Cemetery was established.
1890s
In the 1890s, telephone service came to Stockbridge, beginning with the installation of a payphone in the W.E. Brown store on East Main Street, and expanding in fits and starts after that.
In 1892, voters approved a bond issue to build a town hall. They approved another bond in 1893 for funds to complete the project. For the next thirty-five years, the town hall was the center of community life in the village. It included an auditorium, with a balcony, that could seat up to 400 people.
In 1896, the Brief began, published by H.W. Morgan.
1900s
In 1902, the Home Culture Club organized a library, in response to the need for books for the people of the village.
In 1904, the Brief became the Stockbridge Brief.
In 1907, the Stockbridge Brief merged with the Stockbridge Sun to form the Stockbridge Brief-Sun.
1910s
In 1910, electricity came to Stockbridge. At first, electricity was only available in the business district, and then only in the evening.
In 1912, electricity became available to residents on a 24-hour basis.
In 1912, the village water department was formed. This included the drilling of 3 deep wells and the completion of a water tower, located behind the village offices on Elizabeth Street.
1920s
In 1928, railroad passenger service was discontinued in Stockbridge. After 1928, sometimes a coach was added to the freight train, or sometimes people rode in the caboose.
In 1929, a new high school was constructed.
1930s
In the 1930s, as part of a vegetable-growing region known as the “salad bowl,” Stockbridge attracted a large number of farmworkers from Kentucky. Descendants of these farmers still live in the Stockbridge area today.
In 1931, the Rural Telephone Company was established, but this service didn’t become satisfactory until the early 1950s.
In 1934/35, the first 4-H club in Stockbridge Township was established. It was a sewing club, with eleven members.
In 1936, the first 4-H livestock club was organized.
In 1937, Mrs. Lily Cook offered her home as a site for the growing library and opened the doors of her home to the public that year.
1940s
In 1946, a group of Stockbridge veterans formed an “Independent Veterans Committee” which eventually became the MackinderGlenn post of the American Legion.
1950s
In 1951, natural gas became available to village residents.
In 1951, the Stockbridge Lions Club was chartered. This organization provides many services to the community.
In 1956, the Dewey School, along with other one-room schools, was closed in a reorganization of the Stockbridge school system.
1960s
In 1962, the Waterloo Historical Society was formed, in order to preserve and restore the Realy Farm surrounding area. This historical farm, called The Waterloo Farm Museum, gives visitors a glimpse into pioneer life in the mid to late 1800s and includes a restored farmhouse, log cabin, barns, blacksmith shop, windmill, and more.
In 1963, a bond was passed for a sewer system and waste disposal facility. This project was completed in 1966.
In 1964, an iron removal plant was built, improving the quality of the village water.
In 1965, the Stockbridge Brief-Sun merged with the Town Crier to form the Town Crier and Stockbridge Brief-Sun.
In 1967, the local newspaper title was shortened to the Town Crier.
In 1967, the current library building was constructed, at a cost of $17,780 with funds donated in memory of Harold L. Mayer, plus one mill levied for one year.
In 1968, the S.A.A.I. (Stockbridge Area Ambulance, Inc.) was incorporated as a nonprofit organization to provide emergency ambulance services to the Stockbridge area.
1970s
In 1973, the Waterloo Farm Museum was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1974, the last train went through Stockbridge. After 1974, the railroad tracks were removed and that ground is now a bike trail, part of the Lakeland Trails State Park.
In 1979, the town hall was renovated and returned to its former grand state.
1980s
In 1980, the town hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. This building continues to be used as a meeting place for a number of groups, in addition to housing the township government offices. The auditorium continues to be used for shows and plays.
In 1980, a contract was signed with the Ingham County Sheriff’s Department to provide police protection within the village limits.
In the early 1980s, the Friends of the Stockbridge Library was organized, initially, as an informal group of library supporters.
In 1984, the Stockbridge Garden Club was formed. This group is involved in the beautification of the village and donations to outreach organizations. The Garden Club also has hosted several garden walks featuring the gardens and grounds of homes in Stockbridge, Gregory, Munith, and other surrounding communities.
In 1985, Stockbridge celebrated its sesquicentennial with many events, including a variety show, picnic, sidewalk sales, pony rides, and much more.
1990s
In 1993, the Friends of the Stockbridge Library became a tax-exempt organization with the sole purpose of aiding the library in serving its local patrons.
In 1994, the Stockbridge Area Chamber of Commerce (SACC) was established, with the goal of helping businesses and residents succeed to make Stockbridge a better place to work and live.
In 1994, the SACC started the annual festival “A Day in the Village.” This celebration is held in downtown Stockbridge on Father’s Day weekend every year and provides residents and visitors with a variety of activities and events.
2000s
In 2000, the Stockbridge Town Hall Players held their first meeting, led by Jeff Boyer and Jo Mayer. Since then, this group has put on many plays showcasing local talent of all ages.
In 2000, the Stockbridge Area Education Foundation was organized. The mission of this foundation is to fund projects and programs that enhance educational opportunities available to residents in the Stockbridge Community School District.
In 2006, the Stockbridge Area Emergency Services Authority was formed, in response to rising operation costs and cutbacks in insurance reimbursement, that caused the Stockbridge Area Ambulance, Inc. to seek alternate funding.
In 2008, the Sun-Times bought the Town Crier. The Sun-Times expanded its coverage range to surrounding communities as well, such as Chelsea, Dexter, Saline, and other nearby communities.
2010s
In 2016, the Stockbridge Community News began publishing. With both an online and print version, this free news source is run by volunteers who seek to “promote the common good and general welfare of residents in the local Stockbridge, Munith, Gregory, Pleasant Lake and Fitchburg community through the collection and dissemination of local educational news and social-benefit information.” The Sun-Times stopped covering Ingham County in 2017, officially passing the baton to the Stockbridge Community News in September of that year.
In 2017, Lakelands Trail State Park was recognized as a state park. It is a multi-use 34-mile trail stretching between Ingham and Livingston counties, converted from abandoned railroad beds, where people can bike, walk, hike, or jog. There is a trailhead in Stockbridge, at M-52 and S. Center Street.
Stockbridge Today
Stockbridge is a community rich in history, where long-time residents and families look out for one another. With historic homes, a downtown complete with a town square, gazebo, and stately town hall, Stockbridge is a village where one can experience the true small-town feeling. Many successful farms still exist just outside of town, as this area has stayed true to its agricultural roots. Whether you want to watch a play at the iconic town hall, take a bike ride along the Lakelands Trail, visit the Waterloo Farm Museum, or check out the local shops, Stockbridge offers a chance to slow down and savor village life.
Sources:
http://www.vosmi.org/Info/Historical.aspx
https://www.cadl.org/lhonline/Stockbridge%20175th%20Anniversary.pdf
https://www.cadl .org/lhonline/Stockbridge125th_web.pdf
https://www.cadl.org/lhonline/Stockbridge%20150th%20Anniversary_web.pdf
http://www.migenweb.org/ingham/Stockbridge.html
https://www.stockbridgeareachamber.org/stockbridge
http://waterloofarmmuseum.org/
https://stockbridgecommunitynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/SCN-September-Layout.pdf