The Cloverland Trail was the name of an early highway between the Upper Peninsula of Michigan counties of Iron and Gogebic.[1]
Etymology
editThe name of the trail came from Robert A. Douglas when he was serving as the editor of the Ironwood News-Record newspaper.[1]
History
editDuring the 1910s, a road was developed through Iron County running from Dickinson County through Crystal Falls and Iron River and on to Gogebic County.[2] Between Iron River and the county line, the road crossed three rivers: Cook's Run River, the Paint River and the Tamarack River. In 1915 the Michigan State Highway Department let out contracts to construct 50-foot (15 m) spans over each river; these bridges were designated Trunk Line Bridges 26, 27, and 28, respectively. Barnum and Counihan were awarded the contracts to build the bridges at Cook's Run and over the Tamarack River. The Tamarack River bridge was completed in 1916 at a cost of $2,826.10..[2]
The Forest Route 157–Tamarack River Bridge was the last link in the trunk line route and on July 21, 1916 was the site of the formal dedication of the route.[2][3] It was located near the Sans Souci flag railroad station on a Chicago and North Western line.[4] 1,500 people took part, although many of them were forced to arrive by train, alongside about 270 automobiles and motorcars. Food included 1,500 pounds (680 kg) of meat.[5]
In the 1920s the Cloverland Trail developed into US Highway 2, but by 1942 the segment crossing the Tamarack River had been realigned, and the old section re-designated as a Forest Road in the Ottawa National Forest.[2]
Public reception
editThe Cloverland Trail's construction and route were the subject of much praise after its opening.
Endnotes
edit- ^ a b Conlin, "The Original Cloverland Trail," 370.
- ^ a b c d Staff. "Forest Route 157–Tamarack River Bridge". Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ "Cloverland Highway Open". The Wisconsin Agriculturist. 40 (33): 22. August 17, 1916.
- ^ Marshall, R.B. (1914). Results of Triangulation and Primary Traverse, 1911 and 1912. United States Geological Survey Bulletin 551. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
- ^ "Cloverland Trail Formally Opened Last Saturday—274 Automobiles and 1500 People Present for Big Barbecue and Celebration". Ironwood News Record. Vol. 31, no. 21. July 29, 1916. p. 1 – via NewspaperArchive.
References
edit- Conlin, Thomas (July 1925). "The Original Cloverland Trail". Michigan History Magazine. 9 (3): 370–377.
Further reading
edit- Peters, Kenneth (1971). The Good-Roads Movement and the Michigan State Highway Department, 1905–1917 (PhD). The University of Michigan. OCLC 841622381. Retrieved May 2, 2022.