Jackson County’s Mill Street Bridge, Brooklyn: Built by Henry Ford
Another of Jackson County’s Historic Sites is the Mill Street Bridge that runs over the River Raisin (or Raisin River, whichever name you prefer) in Brooklyn, Michigan.
The original bridge on this site was built sometime around the turn of the 20th Century. This first bridge was constructed near a mill that stood next to the river. It didn’t go unnoticed by Henry Ford, who thought about it - for not very long – and bought the mill in 1921. Ford figured with his prowess, he could make something of this location.
His purchase of the bridge was part of his village industries program which would bring increased traffic. Therefore, a new bridge was deemed necessary and was constructed in 1925.
The new bridge was not ALL new - the stone facing was left over from the original bridge.
Even so, the anticipated traffic didn’t happen for a number of years. The mill site was seemingly abandoned and vacant for twelve years. Finally, in 1937, the mill site breathed some new life when it began manufacturing automobile distributors, horns, and starters.
Now a piece of Jackson County history, the bridge became a listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
