Situated in southern Saginaw County, Oakley, Michigan would straddle the borders of Brady Township and Chesaning Township if the township borders had not been adjusted to designate the village as being in Brady Township.
The Shiawassee River flows through the southeastern corner, while Mickles Creek flows through the southern part of the village, and Deer Creek forms most of its northern boundary.
M-52, also known as Oakley Road, passes north-south through the center of the village, where it is known as Main Street, intersecting Sharon Road and Ridge Road (Brady Street). Most of the village's homes and commercial areas are south of Brady Street and Sharon Road.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Oakley include Chesaning, Owosso, St. Charles, New Lothrop, Corunna, Elsie, Montrose, Vernon, Ashley, and Ovid, while Parshallburg, Henderson, Five Points North, and Brady Center are unincorporated communities within ten miles of the village.
With a population just under three hundred, Oakley is roughly the same size today as it was when it first appeared on a census roll in 1880. Its peak population was 418 in 1970, and its lowest population was 201 in 1920.
Agriculture is an important part of the village's economy, particularly soybeans, corn, and wheat. Otherwise, the village is mostly residential, with a few commercial businesses serving residents of Oakley and people passing through on M-52.
The village was first known as Mickleville, for Philip Mickle, who opened a tavern in 1842, and operated the first post office from his tavern, beginning on March 12, 1856. On April 18, 1860, the post office was moved to Havana, a small hamlet two miles to the northeast, and renamed Havana.
However, after the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad came through, establishing a depot in 1867, the Havana post office was moved back to Mickleville on June 12, 1868, but renamed Oakley, for Judge Oakley, the uncle of one of the major landowners. That year, Andrew Huggins was engaged by Philip Mickle, Isaac Bockee, and Henry Parshall to plat and record the village as Oakley.
As Oakley was the only railroad station in the area for a time, it was used to ship lumber and farm products to market. By 1887, when Oakley was incorporated as a village, it included more than two general stores, a blacksmith shop, a brickmaker, a masonry shop, stone crushers, a carpet weaver, a wood engraver, and a stave and hoop factory.
In the 1870s, Reverend Horatio Allen Baker came to Oakley to begin a mission that resulted in a non-denominational Christian church that continues to serve the village as Oakley Community Church.
The focus of this part of our guide is on the village of Oakley, Michigan. Appropriate topics include websites representing the village government, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, and recreational opportunities.
Recommended Resources
The civil township in Saginaw County was organized in 1856. The official township website publishes monthly township meeting schedules, as well as schedules for the board of review and the planning commission, telephone and email contacts, and a guide to township programs and services. Hall rental policies and fees are posted on the site, which includes budget data, contacts for the township cemeteries, Ridge Road, Oak Grove, and Griffus, and links to other local resources.
https://bradytownship.org/
Also known as Oakley Bike N Trike, the Oakley, Michigan business is a dealer for California Sidecar (CSC) and Champion Trike Conversions, and Trailers, as well as a service center and installer for Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Victory, and Harley conversions. The shop can also provide service and maintenance on non-triked bikes. Its inventory is highlighted on the site, which includes an overview of its services, machining capabilities, tools, and photos of things made by Cad to Chrome.
http://www.cadtochrome.com/
Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church & School
Affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), the church meets at its facilities on West Brady Road in Oakley, Michigan. The church, as well as its PK-8th-grade Christian school, are featured, with schedules, calendars, and contacts. An overview of available Bible studies and other classes and curriculum are presented, and an introduction to the pastor and the Synod are included, along with a photo gallery, audio/video downloads, and a secure giving feature.
http://www.christ-oakley.org/
Mid Michigan Old Gas Tractor Association
MMOGTA is a non-profit organization created to preserve and restore antique farming methods and machinery, as well as producing an annual show featuring both. Held in March, the three-day events are featured here, with schedules and contacts, and other events are held at the Showgrounds from time to time throughout the year, as indicated on its calendar of events. Meeting schedules, photos from past shows, educational programs, feature articles, and items available for sale are displayed here.
http://www.mmogta.org/
The independent, non-denominational Christian church meets at its facilities on South Main Street in Oakley, Michigan. The history of the church, a statement of beliefs, leadership introductions, and a calendar of upcoming programs and events are published on the site, which includes a gallery of photographs, an overview of its ministries and supported missions, and links to a video archive of past sermons. Directions, a map, a telephone number, and an online contact form are available.
http://oakleycommunitychurch.org/
