The village of Grass Lake, Michigan is situated on the southeastern banks of the body of water for which it was named.
Grass Lake is a 126-acre, shallow body of water, named for the marsh grass that it supported. Its maximum depth is four feet.
In central-eastern Jackson County, the village is surrounded by Grass Lake Township. The chief route through the village is Michigan Avenue, which runs generally east-west through the downtown area. Other routes include Burtch Road, Mount Hope Road, and Wolf Lake Road.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of the village include Jackson, Brooklyn, Chelsea, Stockbridge, Manchester, and Cement City. The larger city of Ann Arbor is about twenty-five miles to the east, Lansing is fifty miles north-northwest, Battle Creek is fifty-five miles west, and Toledo, Ohio is seventy miles to the south-southeast.
Although Grass Lake has some light industry and commercial activities, many of its residents are dependent upon neighboring urban areas for employment, shopping, and cultural activities. Most of the real estate within the village is single-family residential, although there are some two-family homes, and a few multi-family buildings scattered throughout the village.
George Long Elementary School is in the southeastern part of the village, and the largest concentration of parks and recreational land within the village is associated with the elementary school. Grass Lake Middle School and Grass Lake High School are located just outside the village limits to the east and south, respectively.
The first European-Americans to settle the area that was to become Grass Lake were David Sterling and his family, squatters who live in a small cabin. It is believed that the Sterlings came in the late 1820s, as they were there when George C. Pease, his son, William H. Pease, and William's cousin, David Thayer, came from New York in the fall of 1829. Daniel Walker came from Vermont in 1830. Other early settlers included Ralph Updike and John Ritchie, who came in 1831. Others soon followed and, by 1835, most of the available government land had been claimed.
On December 30, 1839, a post office was established, with Lorenzo D. Hale as postmaster.
In 1842, the Michigan Central Railroad bypassed the original townsite, building a railroad depot a mile and a half to the west. Before long, many of the village buildings were relocated to be closer to the railroad. In 1887, the original depot was replaced by a stone depot designed by Spier and Rohns, built from stone taken from the same quarry as the Ann Arbor station.
Grass Lake was incorporated as a village in 1871.
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Recommended Resources
Family owned and operated, the landscape supply company and nursery feature nursery stock, a garden store, and supply yard, with an inventory of rocks, mulches, sands, soils, compost, and small and large boulders in Grass Lake, Michigan. Its products and brands are featured, and the greenhouse carries hanging baskets, annuals, vegetable starter plants, perennials, fruit plants, and specialty trees. A gallery of photographs allows prospective customers to view the yard, garden, and nursery.
http://www.landscapingmichigan.net/
Affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America youth organization, Pack 4326 meets on Tuesday evenings at the Grass Lake Middle School in Grass Lake Township, Michigan. Email addresses for the Cubmaster and Den Leaders are posted, and an introduction to Scouting is provided, along with its policies for members and non-members wishing to attend a meeting of the group. Other resources include registration information, a pack roster, an event calendar, photo albums, and support information.
https://www.grasslakecubscouts.org/
Serving Grass Lake Township, the public school district provides a PK-12 curriculum through the Little Warriors Preschool and Child Care, George Long Elementary School, Grass Lake Middle School, and Grass Lake High School, although only the elementary school is situated within the boundaries of the village. General information about the district, a district calendar, informational videos, a staff directory, enrollment and registration schedules, and employment opportunities are posted.
https://www.grasslakeschools.com/
Formed in 1994, the Grass Lake, Michigan sportsman's club offers a variety of programs for its members and the public, with the goal of advancing the cause of the environment and conservation, promoting the scientific management of natural resources, promoting educational programs, as well as the enjoyment of outdoor activities, and to protect and defend the rights of citizens to own, keep, and bear arms. A membership application may be downloaded, and scheduled events are posted.
https://grasslakesportsmansclub.org/
The interurban railway museum highlights the early 1900s of Grass Lake, Michigan, when more than six railways intersected Jackson County and delivered visitors to and from Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Jackson, and Lansing. The museum features tracks, rail cars, the Ford Model T, and other exhibits and collections, and Car #29 will take visitors back in time, using digitally enhanced historical footage. Membership levels and fees are stated, and facility rental policies are discussed.
https://www.lostrailwaymuseum.org/
Michigan's Military Heritage Museum
The non-profit museum tells the stories of the state's service members through interpretive displays of artifacts, pictures, and both written and oral histories. Located in Grass Lake, the museum is open weekly on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission rates and policies are presented, and contacts are provided. An overview of the facility is set forth, including its history and a calendar of events. Photos and descriptions of exhibits on display are provided.
http://mimhm.org/
The official municipal website for the Grass Lake Township village, in Jackson County, Michigan, presents a community profile, an introduction to the village staff and administrators, village council, and planning commission, as well as a guide to municipal departments, community organizations, local events, and points of interest, such as area schools, parks, and historical places. Other resources include a map, items for sale, phone and fax numbers, and a contact form.
https://www.villageofgrasslake.com/
Whistlestop Park & Grass Lake Depot
The restored 1887 railroad Depot and Whistle Stop Park, as well as the adjoining gardens and gazebo, are available for graduations, weddings, receptions, showers, birthday parties, holidays, funeral luncheons, and other events. Depot rental information, including services and amenities, is put forth, along with rental rates and deposits. A calendar of events is published on the site, which includes a gallery of photographs, a map showing its location, a telephone number, and an email address.
https://grasslakedepot.com/
