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.
Madison, near the Michigan Road’s southern end.
The Fairmount House, Madison.
Stone bridge, Ripley County.
A curvy section of road in Decatur County.
Old Dodge parked just off the road, Shelby County.
Waterman Hardware, one of Indianapolis’s oldest businesses.
Brand new Dunkin’ Donuts preparing to open — it has since closed — Indianapolis.
Bar-B-Q Heaven, Indianapolis.
1884 building, Plymouth.
Approaching South Bend. The Michigan Road is no longer US 31 here; a new-terrain US 31 was built nearby.
Kodak EasyShare Z730 Zoom
Even as a self-described beginner, you still had “the eye.” Lovely collection, Jim — these images make me feel so wistful and nostalgic, somehow.
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Thanks H! These 10 2008 Michigan Road photos are by far the best of the bunch.
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It would be interesting to revisit this.
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I love then-and-now photography – it would be interesting to see how specific scenes have changed.
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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.
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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.
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Wow clearly had an eye for it even from the beginning. Lovely shots.
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Thanks! These are my favorites of the hundreds I shot on those trips.
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