The land that would eventually become the village of Tecumseh was one of the first pioneer settlements in the Michigan Territory and the first in Lenawee County. This area was endowed with natural resources, including water power from the River Raisin and a nearby creek, rich soil, and plentiful timber mixed with natural clearings in the forest.
The first pioneer settlers came from Jefferson County, New York, and consisted of 15 men, 11 women, 6 children. They arrived in 1824. The year prior, Musgrove Evans had located the land and persuaded General Joseph W. Brown and the others to make the move with him. Austin Eli Wing was another early settler who purchased land there.
The city of Tecumseh was named after a well-respected and powerful Shawnee Native American leader of the same name. The name Tecumseh translates into “Shooting Star” in English. Chief Tecumseh was a talented and inspirational orator who fought to unite the many tribes of his people against the advancement of European settlers into Native American lands. Legend has it that he addressed the local Pottawattamie who inhabited the area along the River Raisin years before the area was named after him, in an attempt to gain their support against European settlement. Although the land did become settled by the European pioneers, the pioneers held great respect for the noble Chief Tecumseh and he is well-known as a celebrated Native American leader.
To learn more about the history of Tecumseh, visit the Tecumseh Area Historical Society, located in the Saint Elizabeth’s Church, also known as the “Old Stone Church,” on E. Chicago Blvd in downtown. The church itself is a piece of local history and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
An early timeline traces some of the major developments of Tecumseh that forged the thriving city it has become today.
1820s
In 1822, Territorial Governor Lewis Cass laid out the boundaries of Lenawee County.
The first settlement in Lenawee County and one of the first in the Michigan Territory, Tecumseh was founded in 1824.
The founders of Tecumseh appealed to Governor Cass to locate the Lenawee County seat in Tecumseh in 1824 as well.
The first frame house in Tecumseh (and Lenawee County), known as the Green Tavern, was built in 1825 by General J. W. Brown.
1830s
In the spring of 1830, the first stagecoach route was established, its route going from Tecumseh to White Pigeon.
In 1835, Stillman Blanchard built the Globe Mill, the largest of its time. It was primarily a flour mill.
In 1837, Tecumseh became a village. Tecumseh was the county seat of Lenawee County until 1838 when it was moved to Adrian.
1838-1851, Tecumseh had one of the University of Michigan’s four branches.
1840s
In the 1840s, the E&K’s Tecumseh Railroad Branch came through town. It was later absorbed by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern and renamed the Jackson Branch for its new terminus to the north.
1850s
In 1853, Brookside Cemetery was set aside as the area’s primary cemetery.
In 1858, William Hayden, an experienced miller, bought the Globe Mill and it became Hayden Milling Company, a very successful company that produced flour and animal feed.
1860s
A famous racehorse named Don Juan, that once belonged to General George Armstrong Custer, is buried in Tecumseh. The horse was given to friend and fellow soldier Lieutenant Elliott Gray after Custer’s death.
1880s
The Detroit, Toledo & Milwaukee rail line came through Tecumseh in the 1880s on their line from Allegan to Dundee.
1890s
In 1898, the Hayden Mill was destroyed by a fire, but it was quickly rebuilt and regained its prosperity.
1900-1910
In 1907, the Tecumseh baseball club was the champion of the Southern Michigan League.
1910-1920
In 1911, Uncle Sam’s Macaroni Company was built. The plant went out of business and was sold to Quaker Oats, and later the plant was retrofitted to manufacture cardboard boxes for the Tecumseh Corrugated Box Company.
1930s
In 1934, Raymond Herrick founded Tecumseh Products Company. Building on what he learned about mass production while working for Henry Ford, Herrick applied what he knew to the assembly of refrigeration compressors.
In 1935, auto industry magnate Henry Ford bought Hayden Mill and used it to process the soybeans he grew on farms he owned in the area. He also added a machine shop where auto parts were made.
In 1939-40, Tecumseh Municipal Airport was established by airman Al Meyers. Meyers went on to design the Meyers OTW (Out to Win) and Meyers 200 Series airplanes.
1940s
During World War II, Hayden Mill manufactured parts for B-24 bombers.
In the 1940s, Perry Hayden undertook the Dynamic Kernels tithing project. He started with a tiny plot of planted wheat and ended several years later with an exponentially larger plot and crop of wheat. Every year, he donated 10% of the harvest to his local Quaker church. Henry Ford also became involved in this project by donating land and farming equipment. The project gained national attention and was featured in Life magazine on July 24, 1944.
In 1947, Tecumseh Products Company designed and manufactured the compressor for the first window air conditioning unit.
1950s
After the war until 1951, Hayden Mill again processed soybeans. Then from 1956 to 1961, Universal Button Company and Talon, Inc. used the building to produce zippers and fasteners.
In 1953, Tecumseh became a city.
1960s
In the 1960s, Tecumseh Products Company had become the largest producer of compressors in the United States.
In 1961, Ray Herrick bought the Hayden Mill building, renovated it, and donated it to the community. Since then, it has been the Tecumseh Community Center, serving the community and also housing the Parks & Rec. Department, Senior Citizens Center, and a fitness center.
In 1964, Skydive Tecumseh was founded and used the airport in Tecumseh as a drop zone. Still called Skydive Tecumseh, they are currently located in a new, more central location in Napoleon, MI.
1970s
In 1975, Tecumseh Municipal Airport was renamed Al Meyers Airport. The airport is still privately owned and is used for transporting manufactured goods and for the restoration of all types of airplanes, especially the Meyers plane.
1980s
In 1981, the Tecumseh Center for the Arts was given as an anonymous gift to the community. Originally called the Tecumseh Civic Auditorium, it seats 572 guests, and no matter where you sit, you have a full view of the stage.
In 1986, Brookside Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Many of Tecumseh’s early settlers are buried there.
1990s
In the mid-1990s, Tecumseh Products Company had revenues of about $2 billion and 15,000 employees. The company was creating versions of the new, energy-efficient scroll compressors that were beginning to replace traditional compressors in the air conditioning industry. The company headquarters are currently located in Ann Arbor and it has facilities all over the world.
2000-2010
In 2009, Tecumseh Products Company completed a move from Tecumseh to Pittsfield Township, near Ann Arbor.
2011-2020
In 2015, new owner Andy Alto banned skydiving at Meyers Airport, wishing to focus on maintaining a safe and accessible airport for the general aviation and local community.
In 2017, Tecumseh was honored with the distinction of being included in USA TODAY’s 10 Best Fall Road Trips in Michigan.
Tecumseh Today
The city of Tecumseh is now a thriving community with a variety of small businesses, beautiful historic buildings, delicious restaurants, outdoor recreation, and the arts, including Art Trail Tecumseh, our free outdoor sculpture exhibit. For history buffs, Tecumseh has a residential area listed as a National Historic District, and the downtown district consists of four blocks of buildings, dating as far back as 1852. As for outdoor activities, you will find over 360 acres of parkland within Tecumseh, brimming with green space, wildlife, waterways, and hiking/biking trails. The River Raisin and two millponds are prominent physical water features located in the city, providing opportunities for paddle sports like kayaking and canoeing, in addition to natural beauty.
Sources:
http://historictecumseh.org/history/city-of-tecumseh/
https://www.mytecumseh.org/residents/our_city.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tecumseh,_Michigan
http://historictecumseh.org/history/haydens/
http://www.michiganrailroads.com/stations-locations/110-lenaweecounty-46/1266-tecumseh-mi
http://www.migenweb.org/lenawee/history.html