Fowlerville is a village in Livingston County, in the northeast part of Handy Township. While it is an easy drive to the larger towns of Brighton and Howell, plus close to the city of Lansing and Michigan State University, Fowlerville has maintained its small-town atmosphere and charm. With a strong sense of community and top-rated schools and athletic programs, Fowlerville residents take pride in their hometown. Festive annual events like the Fowlerville Fair and Christmas in the Ville draw many visitors into town, while the Livingston Centre Historical Village, located on the Fowlerville Fairgrounds, allows people to experience the rich history of this area.
Although there is evidence of people in the area that would become Fowlerville back to the late Paleo-Indian or early Archaic Indian time period, the first officially recognized people in this area were Native Americans of various tribes who lived in log huts and wigwams. They hunted and fished, held ceremonies, and also passed through the area using the Grand River Trail.
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 Fowlerville and the surrounding areas.
Many of the first pioneers in the area came from the state of New York. Early settlers to the area that would become Fowlerville noted that the land was a good place for agriculture, in that it was level, well-watered, had few swampy areas, and was heavily timbered.
An early timeline, up to the 2010s, traces some of the major developments of Fowlerville that forged the thriving village it has become today.
1820s
In 1825, Handy Township, part of the area that would become Fowlerville, was surveyed by Sylvestor Sibley.
1830s
In 1836, Calvin Handy and his family moved into a cabin in Handy Township. They were joined by a few others that year, including Ralph Fowler, who came from Livingston County, New York. Ralph Fowler is considered the founder of Fowlerville, though it was officially platted as a town until the 1840s.
In 1838, a post office named “Cedar” was established in the area.
In 1839, the first log schoolhouse was built in the area that would become the village.
1840s
In 1849, Ralph Fowler instructed Amos Adams to plat the village that would become Fowlerville.
In 1849, the first sawmill in the village was built by Russell Fuller of New York state. The land upon which the sawmill stood was donated by Ralph Fowler.
1850s
In 1852-1853, the plank road between Lansing and Howell was completed. Ralph Fowler undertook the job of completing the plank road from Howell to Fowlerville. The completion of the plank road created great interest in the village.
In 1853, the post office, formerly named “Cedar”, was renamed “Fowlerville” after the village’s plat name.
In 1855 and 1856, the first grist mill, for grinding grain, in the village was built.
In the mid-1800s, Handy Township Hall was constructed on Grand Avenue in downtown Fowlerville.
1870s
In the 1870s, the Starkey Stave Factory, created by W.W. Starkey was an important industry in the village of Fowlerville. The factory made red and white oak “shooks” or staves for the manufacture of two different sizes of wooden barrels. These barrels were used for rum, molasses, sugar, and fish in the West Indies.
In 1871, Fowlerville was incorporated as a village. In that same year, the railroad came to Fowlerville. This was a turning point for the village, as farmers and manufacturers were able to transport their goods to wider markets.
In 1872, a railroad depot was built out of wood.
In 1873, Starkey’s Stave Factory was the largest employer in Fowlerville, with 35 people in the mill and shop, with another sixty men in the woods.
In 1874, the Fowlerville Review, a weekly newspaper, was established and edited and published by G.L. Adams.
In 1875, the Village Council appointed a committee to procure a wagon to carry firefighting equipment. The wagon cost $90.00 and was built by Mr. Gilliam, the blacksmith, and carriage maker. The wagon was large enough to carry five dozen large buckets, eight ladders, plus rope, chains, and hooks.
In 1877, George Lovely began to build a public hall on Grand Avenue, which was claimed would be the finest public hall between Detroit and Lansing. He named the building Lovely’s Opera House.
In 1878, a fire destroyed the Starkey Stave Factory, but it was rebuilt soon afterward.
In 1879, the Fowlerville Fire Company was officially organized.
In 1879, an epidemic of diphtheria swept through the village, causing the school to close for a week and homes to be quarantined.
1880s
In 1881, another fire destroyed the Starkey Stave factory, with a loss above insurance of about $2500. A large amount of new machinery had just been installed.
In 1882, F. H. Starkey took over the Shook Factory from W. W. Starkey and erected a new building.
In 1886, the Fowlerville Agricultural Society was organized. This organization started the Fowlerville Fair, which has been an annual event for 136 years.
1890s
In 1891, Lovely’s Opera House was destroyed by fire. The fire also destroyed several buildings downtown, including the northeast block of wooden buildings, in addition to jumping over North Grand Avenue and damaging buildings on the Palmerton block.
In 1895, a fire destroyed the first grist mill built in Fowlerville. A new one was built that same year, owned by Edward Greenaway.
In 1899, the Opera House building was replaced by a three-story building that housed the fire department, village offices, Handy Township offices and the jail on the first floor, the City Opera House on the second floor, and the Masonic Lodge on the third floor. In addition, it housed the library until the early 1970s.
1900s
In 1903, Charlie Gehringer was born on a farm southwest of Fowlerville. He graduated from Fowlerville High School and went on to play for the Detroit Tigers for 19 seasons.
In 1904, a fire destroyed most of the buildings in the southeast quadrant of downtown.
In 1904, a group of women formed the Ladies Library. It was located in the northeast corner of what is now the Handy Township offices, at the corner of Power Street and North Grand River.
In 1909, the railroad depot was destroyed by a cyclone. It was soon rebuilt.
1910s
In 1917, the railroad depot burned down. A new depot, made of stucco, was constructed soon afterward.
1920s
In 1922, Walter Tomion opened Tomion’s Dairy. It supplied the townspeople with milk and ice cream, and for 40 years, its soda fountain was a favorite stop.
In 1923, the paving of Grand River Avenue was completed.
In the 1920s, the early grist mill became Birdsall Mill.
In 1929, Harold Raby purchased the Fowlerville Review from G.L. Adams.
1930s
In 1934, Andrew Rudnicki and Gordon Harmon purchased the Fowlerville Review.
In 1936, the land behind the library was dedicated by the Board of Education for use in sporting events and other outdoor activities. At that time it was called Centennial Field.
In 1939, a new village well was put into operation while Andrew Rudnicki also served as village president.
1940s
In the 1940s, the Fowler Chair Company, managed by Russell Tubbs, produced wooden folding chairs. According to a local resident, when a customer ordered a dozen chairs from this company, they would get a 13th chair thrown in for free. The chair company eventually moved their operations to Pennsylvania, where the factory burned down.
In 1940 the Orr Theater opened. With about 270 seats, it played all the big films of the day.
In 1946, the Fowlerville Review partnership between Andrew Rudnicki and Gordon Harmon dissolved when Gordon Harmon went into real estate. The paper continued to be published for many years by the Rudnicki family.
In 1949, Fowlerville native Charlie Gehringer was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He is widely regarded as one of the best second basemen of all time.
In 1949, Birdsall Mill was sold and became H.M. & G. Feed Company.
In 1949, Collins Street Elementary School was opened, with five classrooms and an office.
1950s
In 1954, Andrew Rudnicki, owner, and publisher of the Fowlerville Review, died suddenly. The paper continued to be operated by his son Richard Rudnicki and Andrew’s wife Lena.
In 1955, Fowlerville High School opened.
In 1956, the Orr Theater closed.
1960s
In 1961, the Mill was closed and was used as an intentional burn exercise by the fire department. The property became the location of the Fowlerville District Library and the Fire Department.
In 1962, I-96 was completed. Before that, Grand River Avenue was the main thoroughfare between Lansing and Detroit.
In 1965, work was started on Fowlerville’s Community Park. This park is still in use today, with sports fields, picnic areas, a walking trail, and more.
In 1968, all elementary schools were moved to Smith Elementary.
1970s
In 1970, the building that would house the library was completed.
In 1970, the name of the Fowlerville Review was shortened to Review and was still published and edited by Richard Rudnicki.
In 1972, the Review was sold to the Livingston County Press. That same year, editor Richard Rudnicki ran for and was elected as the Livingston County Drain Commissioner.
In the 1970s, an ice skating rink was added to the grounds of Centennial Field.
1980s
In 1980-81, Fowlerville High School had a major expansion. It served as the High School through the graduating class of 1982 and then became Munn Middle School.
In 1985, the Fowlerville News & Views newspaper was established.
In 1987, the historic barn and silo were moved to the Fowlerville Family Fairgrounds, beginning the creation of the Livingston Centre Historical Village. Throughout the next few years, more historical buildings were moved there, including a schoolhouse, church, barbershop, and more. This historical village has the mission of preserving Livingston County’s heritage and history and making it available for the public to experience and enjoy. You can visit the Village during the Fowlerville Fair and Fowlerville Fall Fest, plus the Village offers tours to senior citizen groups, school classes and is open to the public for reserved tours during the off-season.
In 1989, the Handy Township Hall was completely renovated.
In 1989, the 1882 Coughran School House was moved from Conway Township to the Livingston Centre Historical Village. The school was donated by the Fyrciak Family.
1990s
In 1990, the holiday parade called “Christmas in the Ville” began. This annual parade has grown into a grand event that draws residents and visitors into downtown to celebrate.
In 1990, the 1859 Kirkland House was moved from Iosco Township to the Livingston Centre Historical Village, donated by George Kirkland III.
In 1991, the 1910 Hartland Barber Shop was donated by the Cannerat Family and moved to the grounds of the Livingston Centre Historical Village.
In 1991, the Iosco Methodist Episcopal Church was moved from Iosco Township to the Livingston Centre Historical Village. The church was donated by the L. Johnson family.
In 1992, the 1870 Clinton Shoe Repair & Harness shop was moved from the Village of Pinckney to the Livingston Centre Historical Village. The shop was donated by the Pinckney Library.
In 1996, the Pere Marquette Depot from 1872 was moved from Howell to the Livingston Centre Historical Village. This building is the home of several model train displays.
In 1998, Centennial Field became known as Centennial Park. This park offers a paved walking trail, playground equipment, basketball courts, and a covered pavilion.
2000s
In 2008, Walmart opened a store in Fowlerville. There was some speculation about whether a small community could support a department store as large as Walmart, but the business has been successful there and continues to be a staple in the community today.
In 2008, the Fowlerville Post Office was relocated outside of the village of Fowlerville, to the corner of Cemetery Road and Grand River Avenue.
2010s
In 2010, eight hot air balloons joined the growing Christmas in the Ville parade. Their presence was such a hit that hot air balloons have become a regular part of the festivities. There are now over 40 hot air balloon pilots that take part in this event.
In 2018, the Fowlerville District Library moved to a new location on Grand Street. On the first day, they were open, they had a record 570 patrons come through the door.
Fowlerville Today
Fowlerville is a village that offers a high quality of life to its residents. With excellent schools, pleasant parks, and events like the Fowlerville Fair and Christmas in the Ville, residents can enjoy a close-knit community and small-town life. The larger cities of Lansing, Howell, and Brighton are within easy driving distance, while downtown Fowlerville has a slower pace, with unique small businesses and restaurants. The charm of a small community makes this village a great place to raise a family and be a part of a thriving community.
Sources:
http://www.fowlervillehistory.org/
https://99wfmk.com/fowlerville-michigan/
http://fowlerville.blogspot.com/2017/03/1936-centennial-field.html
https://www.handytownship.org/
http://fowlerville.blogspot.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fowlerville,_Mi chigan
https://www.whmi.com/news/article/fowlerville-handy-library
http://www.rrshs.org/MI.Co.RR/livingston.htm
http://fowlerville.blogspot.com/p/pioneer-sketch.html
https://thelivingstonpost.com/ten-things-you-probably-didnt-knowabout-livingston-county/
http://www.fowlervillehistory.org/people_2/the_starkey_family.html
https://cms2files.revize.com/handytownshipmi/zoning/Handy%20 Township%20Master%20Plan%202017.pdf
https://www.fowlervillefamilyfair.com/historical-village.html
https://thelivingstonpost.com/an-illustrated-history-of-livingston-countydepartment-stores-heres-when-each-of-them-opened/
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https://www.loc.gov/item/sn79002679
http://michigannewspaperhistory.pbworks.com/w/page/20854481/Livingston%20County
https://fowlerville.blogspot.com/search?q=fowlerville+review
https://fowlerville.blogspot.com/2011/06/1939-village-well.html