Roller coasters by the lake. Summer homes and resort hotels on the shore. If you’re picturing Cedar Point in Ohio, guess again. This was Haslett, Michigan more than 100 years ago. Current State examines the early days of Meridian Township with Jane Rose, executive director of the Meridian Historical Village and author of "Meridian Township."
Two hundred years ago, few Europeans had ever seen Michigan’s forest interior, inland from the Great Lakes. In 1836, driven by the prospect of cheap land, white settlers first arrived in mid-Michigan. Farming and fur trading flourished in what’s now Meridian Township. The region continued to grow after Michigan’s capital moved from Detroit to Lansing in 1847.
A new book due out next month chronicles the early history of Meridian Township. Jane Rose is the executive director of the Meridian Historical Village, and the author of a book simply entitled “Meridian Township.” It’s part of the “Images of America” series from Arcadia Publishing.
Current State talks with Jane Rose about the history of Meridian Township.
