It was ten years ago this summer that I surveyed the entire Michigan Road, a project that contributed directly to a later project I co-led to have the road named a Historic Byway in Indiana. My wife and I wanted to re-survey the entire road this summer to document it as it is now. Given all that’s happened this year, we have yet to start. Other priorities continue to fill our summer. We will be fortunate to drive one or two segments of it this year. Perhaps we can finish it next year.

I drove the road to South Bend last Wednesday for a Historic Michigan Road Association board meeting. I noticed how much has changed just on that section of the road in ten years. It led me to think about changes I’ve noticed as I’ve driven other sections of the road over the years. I’m itching to start the new survey!

I made a quick pass through my 2008 photos and selected ten that pleased me as photographs. I was a beginning photographer then. Have a look.

NB Michigan Road

Madison, near the Michigan Road’s southern end.

Fairmount House

The Fairmount House, Madison.

Stone bridge, Michigan Road

Stone bridge, Ripley County.

Michigan Road, Decatur County, Indiana

A curvy section of road in Decatur County.

Dodge in Pleasant View

Old Dodge parked just off the road, Shelby County.

Waterman Hardware in Five Points

Waterman Hardware, one of Indianapolis’s oldest businesses.

Dunkin' Donuts

Brand new Dunkin’ Donuts preparing to open — it has since closed — Indianapolis.

Bar-B-Q Heaven

Bar-B-Q Heaven, Indianapolis.

1884 building

1884 building, Plymouth.

Approaching South Bend

Approaching South Bend. The Michigan Road is no longer US 31 here; a new-terrain US 31 was built nearby.

Kodak EasyShare Z730 Zoom


Comments

8 responses to “Ten years ago on the Michigan Road”

  1. Heide Avatar
    Heide

    Even as a self-described beginner, you still had “the eye.” Lovely collection, Jim — these images make me feel so wistful and nostalgic, somehow.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Thanks H! These 10 2008 Michigan Road photos are by far the best of the bunch.

  2. Photography Journal Blog Avatar

    It would be interesting to revisit this.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      I love then-and-now photography – it would be interesting to see how specific scenes have changed.

      1. Photography Journal Blog Avatar

        I agree. I’ve never really lived in an area long enough to set about a project like this. It’s nice that you have a base for it, I guess its just a question of if you have time to fit it in to your schedule.

        1. Jim Grey Avatar

          I’ve lived in Indiana my entire life, and in central Indiana for 24 years, so I do have some very real memories of how things used to look around here. Time for projects, of course, is always the question.

  3. M.B. Henry Avatar

    Wow clearly had an eye for it even from the beginning. Lovely shots.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Thanks! These are my favorites of the hundreds I shot on those trips.

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