Holly's roots go back 150+ years, to the
arrival of its first settlers in 1831. Many followed, and by 1843, one of
these, Ira C. Alger, had dammed the
Shiawassee
River
and constructed a sawmill to provide lumber for homes and schools. A year
later he built a gristmill to process the grain from the surrounding
agricultural land. With these assets, Holly was able to attract the
railroads, and in 1855, the first train rolled into town, marking the
beginning of Holly's growth era, and the development of downtown Holly as its
hub.
The 1860's saw more rail lines completed through Holly, and the town became
the site of the first rail junction in the state. Hotels sprang up near the
depot north and south of the tracks along
Broad Street
, so-named for its wide
expanse prior to the railroad tracks being laid. Business established
themselves on
Broad Street
,
where bustling activity promised success, and spread up Martha to
Saginaw Street
.
Holly's early commercial buildings were frame structures built with the
readily available supply of local lumber. In 1875, a fire that threatened the
whole downtown was fought by bucket brigade, but all of the buildings on the
east side were destroyed. Soon after (1877-79), these buildings, and most of
the remaining frame structures in the downtown area were replaced with brick
structures that remain today.
With the advent of the automobile, the railroad declined importance,
especially for passenger transportation, and many businesses sprang up to
cater to rail travelers found themselves with fewer customers. The center of
business activity shifted away from the railroad tracks to
Saginaw Street
, where automobiles
access was easier.
Many buildings fell into disuse, and some, like the old "Balcony
Block" on Broad Street, were eventually torn down and replaced with structures
of more modern construction.The automobile and
other elements of progress brought many changes to the downtown: gas stations
and parking lots, street lights and traffic signals, signs sized and lit to
attract passing motorists, new businesses selling new products growth and
change have altered the appearance of the downtown that has stood for over
100 years.
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