Chelsea

Settlement of Chelsea started in 1830 when Cyrus Beckwith of Ann Arbor, who owned the east half of section fourteen of Sylvan township, brought several families to the area. Chelsea is located in section 12 of Sylvan Township, and section 7 of Lima Township, Washtenaw County. Beckwith brought more families to the area in the summer of 1831, and families from Vermont also moved into the area, where it began to be called the “Vermont Territory”. In 1834, The Congdon brothers Elisha and James from Connecticut, bought land in section 12 and built farms. The April of that year Sylvan Township was officially established. The Congdon brothers saw a future for the land and convinced the Michigan Central Railroad to build a freight station after their Davison Station, two miles west of Downtown Chelsea, burnt down. In December of 1849 the land was surveyed and in March of 1850 the city was plotted. (Baldwin, page 1)

Michigan Central Railroad built a freight depot in 1850, strategically placed with a post office, attracted people to Chelsea. Many people came from New England, New York, and Europe, specifically Germany. Chelsea became one of the top shipping points for agricultural products, “Beans, grains, eggs and beets were among the leading crops shipped through Chelsea”; Chelsea was the leading shipper of wool in the state for many years, due to a large number of sheep farms (Baldwin, Page 1).

“All of these developments would provide a solid opportunity for merchants, millers, shippers, and small scale manufacturers seeking to create a market in the region” (Baldwin, page 1). Chelsea in its early days was a busy city with many things which drew people to it.

In the late 1870s, a few newspapers were established in Chelsea, such as the Chelsea Standard, The Chelsea Herald, and the Chelsea Tribune. The Chelsea Tribune was eventually sold to the Chelsea Standard (Reynolds, Our Hometown, p 64-65). An issue of the Chelsea Standard from 1879 writes about a Children's day sponsored by the Methodist Evangelical Church, writing "On last Monday, at the dead of night and the early morning, the inhabitants of our usually quiet village were awoke from dreamland by the sound of beautiful music. We supposed that we were transformed earth to heaven, and with the angels. But on gathering our few scattered thoughts together, we found that it was our Chelsea Cornet Band serenading their friends. Ye editor was remembered, for which he thanks, and hope they may come again" (Reynolds, Our Hometown, p 68-69)

“After the civil war, a town was considered well-established if it had four professional classes, a doctor lawyer, minister, jeweler. By 1865, Chelsea had all four” (Reynolds, Our Hometown, p 63) By the year 1865 the town had peace, land farms, mills, shops, entrepreneurs, street patterns, and residential opportunities. More and more stores, such as grocery stores and tailors, and farms were established in Chelsea (Reynolds, Our Hometown, p 63). In 1895, The Michigan Central Railroad promoted Chelsea in a magazine, calling it “one of the most pleasant and enterprising small towns along the line of the M.C.R.R” (Reynolds, Our Hometown, p 63) “In 1891 Frank P. Glazier, along with other people organized the Glazier-Strong stove company” (Church, p 68) Within two years Glazier bought out strong and other partners. In 1905, the taxes payed by the company, Glazier, and other stockholders were equal to one half the Chelsea Village revenues (Church, p 68). By 1907, it was reputedly largest oil stove company in the world, with 18 buildings in Chelsea. In 1907, Glazier was sentenced to 10 years in prison for embezzling state funds as Michigan State Treasurer, and died ten years later at the age of 59. (Church, p. 68) In 1907, one of the signature symbols of Chelsea, the clocktower, was constructed by august and the clock installed in September, and in 1911 the streets began to be paved. (Church. p.74) After the Great War, Or World War One, many men of Chelsea served, some died and some returned. Due to the German population in Chelsea, and the unrest caused by Wilson declaring war on Germany in WWI, no Democrat won Washtenaw county in a presidential election, from Wilson in 1912, until Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, 52 years. (Reynolds, Our Hometown, p 107-109) In the 1930’s the depression hit Chelsea very hard. (Reynolds, our hometown, p 141). In 1934, Chelsea celebrated its centennial on October 6^th and 7^th. The Ann Arbor daily news reported that it was a “Community-wide” affair, in which surrounding townships joined in. (Reynolds, Our Hometown, p. 145-146) However, there was a positive aspect to the depression. The first sewerage treatment plant in Chelsea was built for 40,000 dollars, the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC paved and levels roads, planted trees in rural areas, and helped make the Waterloo Recreation Area. (Reynolds, Our Hometown, p 149-150)

When the United States entered into World War Two, even Chelsea had a part to play. Dwight E. Beach, a four-star general, who served in World War Two came from Chelsea. He participated in many pacific campaigns in Australia, New Guinea, The Philippines, and Japan. (Reynolds, Our Hometown, p 171-172) Chelsea even participated in manufacturing for the war. Central Fibre Products manufactured antiaircraft gun parts and tank parts, and as many as 100 towns passed through the town every day. (Reynolds, Our Hometown, p 184-185) Time passed and along came the 60s and 70s. On September 21, 1970, the Chelsea Community Hospital was opened, improving the quality of life of the town, which was needed as the nearest was 30 minutes away. (Reynolds, Our Hometown, p. 208)

In the 1986, the actor Jeff Daniels moved hometown from New York City to Chelsea, and in the early 1990’s he opened the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in order to “promote midwestern actors and playwrights” (Reynolds, Our Hometown, p. 237-238).

After the turn of the millennium Chelsea still remained a busy city. As the land gets developed, farmers get pushed to the side. Interstate 94 cut through Washtenaw county and divided farms. As more and more buildings were put up in Chelsea, there was less room for the farms. (Reynolds, Our Hometown, Page 251).