The village of Reese, Michigan is mostly in western Tuscola County, with a small portion extending into eastern Saginaw County.
The village is bordered by Blumfield Township to the west, and by Denmark Township to the north, east, and south.
The chief routes to and from the village include East Washington Road (West Saginaw Street), West Caro Road (East Saginaw Street), South Van Buren Road, South Reese Road (which forms a portion of its western border), and West Dixon Road (which forms a portion of its northern border). Cities and villages within twenty-five miles of Reese include Vassar, Frankenmuth, Fairgrove, Saginaw, Zilwaukee, Bay City, Caro, Millington, Essexville, Akron, Birch Run, Mayville, Clio, Unionville, Otisville, and Otter Lake.
Reese's downtown district is centered on the crossroads of two Huron & Eastern Railway lines.
Just under twenty-five percent of the land area in the village is residential, the majority of it being single-family residential. Meadows Mobile Home Park occupies close to twelve acres of residential land, but there is very little mobile home development outside of this area. Commercial development accounts for less than three percent of the village's land area, most of it along M-81 or the railway lines nearby. There are no heavy industrial land areas in Reese, and light industry accounts for less than one percent of its land area. Nearly sixty percent of the land area in Reese is vacant or agricultural, these areas being largely in the north and the south, with the developed areas of the village mostly along M-81 (Saginaw Street), or within a few blocks north or south.
The elementary, middle, and high school campuses and grounds of Reese Public Schools comprise more than seventy acres, or more than nine percent of the land area in the village.
Like many other Michigan communities, the railroad had much to do with the early development of the village of Reese.
Although Robert K. Rogers made the first land purchase in the area in 1865, with the intention of settling, Mrs. Louisa Woodruff and her son, Daniel, built the first home in Reese. Mr. Rogers moved to the area the following year.
In 1871, the Saginaw-Watrousville plank road was opened, improving access to the area. Mr. A.W. Gates, a stagecoach operator, was instrumental in the construction of the plank road. He secured a post office for the community, which was named Gates, for himself. Robert K. Rogers was the postmaster. At that point, the community has a hotel operated by Joseph Stark, who had come to the area with his brother, William B. Stark, in 1873. Mr. Gates operated a mail and stage route along the plank road, with express and stage offices in a hotel operated by Robert Rogers. Daniel Woodruff ran a grocery store across from the hotel, and a blacksmith shop was opened by George Melatt and Archie Scott.
In 1873, the Detroit & Bay City Railroads were built, and Hudson B. Blackman platted a tract of land adjoining Gates, and named it Reese, for Alvin H. Reese, the railroad superintendent who brought the railroad to the area. On April 30, 1874, the Gates post office was renamed Reese, and the two communities merged. Reese was incorporated as a village in 1887.
Until the 1940s, the west end of the village was locally known as Gatestown.
Although never a large town, Reese grew with the addition of the railroad, as it was a railroad and trading point for a large section of the surrounding agricultural region. The railroad would transport people, as well as timber, limestone, and produce to markets elsewhere in Michigan. Hogs and cattle were shipped from Reese to Chicago, Illinois in the early 1900s. At the same time, a stage line ran from Saginaw to Caro, stopping in Reese.
The Reese railroad depot served both the Pere Marquette Railway, which ran east-west, and the north-south route operated by the Michigan Central Railroad between Denmark Junction and Bay City. Both lines were acquired by the C&O Railway in 1946, becoming CSX Transportation in 1985, and the Huron and Eastern Railway in 1988, which is still in operation today.
Despite its proximity to Saginaw, much of the land in and around Reese is agricultural, and Reese area farmers are one of the railroad's major shippers, growing corn, soybeans, navy beans, and sugar beets.
As of the 2020 census, the population of Reese was 1,261. Its peak population was 1,645 in 1980. Despite a slight increase in 2010, its population has declined since 1980.
The focus of this part of our guide is on the village of Reese, Michigan. Online resources for the village, any other governmental entities within the village, and local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
The congregation meets at its facilities on South Reese Road in Reese, Michigan. The address, office phone, and fax numbers, and an online contact form are provided, along with church officer contacts. Sunday and Wednesday service schedules, a calendar of events, the church bylaws, a mission statement, and a newsletter are provided, and the most recent sermon may be viewed online. A photo gallery depicts various services, programs, activities, and church members.
https://www.clcreese.com/
Situated on Gates Street in Reese, Michigan, the store is a dealer for Milwaukee tools and accessories, and also carries other lines of tools, hand tools, paint, electrical and plumbing supplies, cleaning supplies, beer, wine, food, pet foods, and other items. The business is also a propane refill station, can provide key-cutting services, and is a DNR license station. Its location, hours of operation, contacts, announcements, and special offers are published on the site.
https://www.dunnreese.com/
Located on East Washington Road in Reese, Michigan, the automotive shop offers car and truck care, electronic services, heating and cooling services, engine and transmission repair and services, under-car services, and miscellaneous automotive repair and maintenance services, such as brake services and oil changes. Open Monday through Friday, its hours of operation are posted, and its location is shown on a map. Appointments may be requested online, and repair tips are offered.
https://www.hessautomotive.com/
Specializing in pizza, the Reese, Michigan restaurant also serves fish dinners, hamburgers, and salads, as well as breakfast on Sundays. Offering dine-in, take-out, and delivery services, its location, hours of operation, and contacts are posted, and orders may be placed online. Its menu, daily specials, and special offers are highlighted, and a gallery of photographs features several of its menu items. A mobile application is available for download from the App Store and Google Play.
https://www.pompeipizzafactory.com/
St. Elizabeth Catholic Faith Community
Founded in 1872, the Catholic parish is a member of the Diocese of Saginaw. Originally in Blumfield Township, the church was physically moved across the county line into Reese twelve years later. Its history and information about Mass services, baptism, faith formation, and church events and activities are set forth, along with church bulletins, council members and staff contacts, and access to various forms and schedules. Its child care and school are also featured.
http://www.stelizabethreese.org/
Established in 1921, the school is a ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Accredited by the National Lutheran School Accreditation (ALSA), the Christian school provides a PK-8th-grade curriculum, as well as a sports program and a variety of curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular choices. Enrollment information, fees, and rates are stated, along with student supply lists, staff contacts, and a school calendar.
https://www.trinityreese.com/
