Pleasant Walks and Drives About Ann Arbor
Drive "D" or State St. Drive
If any one wishes to see fine country scenery including beautiful farms, he can take the following route: Start anywhere on State Street, go directly south on State Street and the road connected with it, about four miles until you reach the celery farm and the south boundary of the farm of John F. Lawrence, then go east one mile then north until you strike the stone school house or the south Ypsilanti road to the city. The drive is about eight miles.
Drive "E" or North Main Street Drive
Barton Dam Scene from George Robert Swain
Photograph Series.
This is a long drive and one of the best of the long drives about Ann Arbor. Start at Mr. Beal's printing office on Main Street, go north across the Huron River on the Whitmore Lake road up the hill about two miles from the river. Turn on the first road turning to the left, keep on this road which is a bending road, usually called the Boyden Road, bending gradually to the north until you come to the Boyden farm. At the top of the hill north of the Huron River you pass the James C. Allen farm of several hundred acres lately purchased by Mr. Towar, of Detroit, who is extensively engaged in the milk business. This farm is to be made a stock farm for the purpose of supplying the Detroit market with milk. The scenery on the Whitmore Lake across the river and upon the high ground to the north is fine. After turning to the left between the Whitmore Lake road and Boyden's farm, you will pass through one of the finest farming sections of Washtenaw county. If one has time, the Boyden farm will repay a visit. It consists of about six hundred acres, the buildings are large and well equipped for all farm purposes and the stock kept by Mr. Boyden is of the best quality. After passing Mr. Boyden's residence, take the first road to the right, north, going about three-quarters of a mile, then the first road to the left, a short distance, then the first road to the right a short distance, then the first road to the left, and go about a mile until you reach the Webster Congregational church. Take the road passing in front of the church turning to the left; go about a mile south and take the first road to the left, a somewhat crooked road. Go about a half mile and take the first road to the right and go about a mile to Delhi Village. Cross the bridge at Delhi Village for the purpose of seeing the dam, which, especially in the winter time, with its small islands below and ice formations is very beautiful. But do not take that road back to Ann Arbor. After you have crossed the bridge and have seen the dam, return again to the north side of the river and take the first road near the old flour mill going down the river. This is a beautiful river road. Keep on this road about a half or three-quarters of a mile until you come to the first bridge crossing the Huron River. Cross this bridge, follow the winding road along the south side of the river along by the Osborne flour mill, whcih extends over the road, then on across the Michigan Central railroad until you come to a creek and a blacksmith's shop, when you turn square to the south and go about a half a mile through some woods. Keep on this road and it will bring you into Ann Arbor on Miller avenue and to your starting point at Mr. Beal's printing office. This drive is about fifteen miles.
There are some modifications of this drive. When you are at Mr. Boyden's farm, you can save about three miles by going right on west instead of going around by the Webster church, and then return from Delhi the same road as indicated above. This drive is about nine miles.
A still shorter drive may be taken. Leave the so-called Boyden road a little over two miles from the Whitmore Lake road, on the second road, turning to the left and go south until you reach Ann Arbor on the same road as described above. This drive is about nine miles.
A still shorter drive may be taken by leaving the Boyden road on the first road to the left, going south until you reach the Cornwell paper mill or Foster's station, then cross the river and the Michigan Central Railroad, take the first to the left and follow it until you strike Miller ave., which is in sight of Ann Arbor, and return to Ann Arbor on Miller Avenue. This drive is about seven miles.