Timeline of Key Events

Introduction

This page has been prepared by the Flushing Area Historical Society to provide a concise, source-based timeline of key events in the history of Flushing, Michigan, and its immediate surroundings. Drawing on community histories such as the 1985 Flushing Sesquicentennial History, Volume One, the later local narrative and photo collection commonly referred to as Vol2, and C. O. Hart’s centennial compilations and notes, the table below brings together dates, places, and topics that are otherwise scattered across many different books and files.

The entries span from the first Euro‑American settlement in the 1830s through township and village organization, the coming of the railroad, the rise and decline of local mills and hotels, the development of schools and churches, the appearance of electric light and paved streets, and the long story of the Grand Trunk depot and its eventual restoration as a museum. Each row is tagged by category (such as “Bridge”, “Hotel”, “Education”, “Fire Dept.”, “Railroad”, or “Depot”) and anchored with an exact date whenever that information can be verified from the sources.

Because the Historical Society is committed to transparency about where our information comes from, every event is accompanied by a “Source” field naming the principal volume used (for example, Vol1.pdf, Vol2.pdf, Hart – Flushing & Clayton Historical Compilation, Centennial Chronicles 1835–1935, or Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol. 3) and a page reference to help researchers and family historians go back to the original context. Wherever different sources preserve different perspectives or related incidents for the same year, multiple rows are included rather than forcing the record into a single summary.

The Society intends this master table to serve as a working reference tool: it can be used to date historic photographs, interpret old business records, locate the original context of newspaper clippings, or simply follow how one small Michigan community grew from a river‑mill settlement into a modern town. As new research is completed and additional primary sources are examined, further rows and refinements may be added, but all updates will continue to follow this same documented, page‑cited format.

Year/Date	Category	Major event	Source	Page
1835	Settlement	First settlers arrive in Flushing (Rufus Harrison and Henry French).	Vol2.pdf	82–83
1836	Industry/Milling	Horace R. Jerome acquires water‑power site at future village.	Hart – Flushing & Clayton Historical Compilation, 1925_Part1.pdf	16–18
1837	Industry/Milling	First sawmill frame raised by Charles Seymour & Horace Jerome.	Hart – Flushing & Clayton Historical Compilation, 1925_Part1.pdf	17–18
1838-03-06	Government	Flushing Township created by Act of the Michigan Legislature.	Hart – Centennial Chronicles 1835–1935 pt1.pdf	31
1838-04-02	Government	First Flushing Township election held at the house of Ezekiel R. Ewings.	Hart – Flushing & Clayton Historical Compilation, 1925_Part1.pdf	16–17
1838-10-18	Education	First formal school district boundaries (Districts 1–8) recorded.	Vol2.pdf	15
1840	Bridge	Main Street wooden bridge across Flint River documented.	Vol2.pdf	20
1840	Industry	First grist mill built by Seymour & Bowers on future Hart Mill site.	Hart – Flushing & Clayton Historical Compilation, 1925_Part1.pdf	17–18
1842	Education	First framed school built on Chamberlain & Hazelton hill.	Vol2.pdf	14–15
1844	Education	Lyons School established on Lyons land in Clayton Township.	Hart – Flushing & Clayton Historical Compilation, 1925_Part1.pdf	120
1845	Education	First west‑side village school erected on high bank near Seymour Road.	Vol2.pdf	15
1846	Hotel	Exchange Hotel (Langdon’s) built at Main & Cherry.	Vol2.pdf	42, 85
1848-05-24	Civic	Federal road notice for Chamberlain Street mailed from Washington, D.C.	Vol2.pdf	16
1852	Industry	Hunter’s sawmill noted in county poor‑relief abstract.	Hart – Flushing & Clayton Historical Compilation, 1925_Part1.pdf	212
1854	Foundry	Flushing listed with an iron foundry in state gazetteer.	Hart – Flushing & Clayton Historical Compilation, 1925_Part1.pdf	101
1859	Education	Rural schools such as Kent, Hurd, and Paton appear on township maps.	Vol2.pdf	15
1863	Commerce	Early Niles & Co. mercantile activity documented in business lists.	Hart – Flushing & Clayton Historical Compilation, 1925_Part1.pdf	100
1866	Commerce/Niles Building	Arza Niles appointed postmaster at his Main Street store.	Vol2.pdf	17
1869	Education	Brick Union School era begins on Chamberlain & Hazelton hill.	Vol1.pdf	84
1871	Education	Two‑story brick schoolhouse completed for Union District No. 2.	Vol1.pdf	84
1872	Education	Brick high school constructed on Chamberlain & Hazelton hill.	Vol1.pdf	84
1875	Commerce	A.N. Niles & Co. general store active as major merchant.	Hart – Flushing & Clayton Historical Compilation, 1925_Part1.pdf	100
1875	Foundry	James Sammer’s foundry operating near west end of bridge.	Hart – Flushing & Clayton Historical Compilation, 1925_Part1.pdf	103
1877	Education	English School District votes building fund and reorganizes operations.	Vol2.pdf	93
1878	Hotel	Original wooden Laurel House burns; hotel later rebuilt in brick.	Vol2.pdf	43
1879	Hotel	Eggleston House brick hotel constructed at Main & Cherry.	Vol2.pdf	44, 86
1884	Fire Dept.	First brick fire hall built on Maple Street.	Vol1.pdf	41, 75
1886–1890	Education	Warner School constructed and operating on donated Warner land.	Vol2.pdf	72
1887	Industry	Niles & Cotcher, woolen factory, ashery, and foundry active in village.	Hart – Flushing & Clayton Historical Compilation, 1925_Part1.pdf	101
1888-12-20	Railroad	First passenger train of the Toledo, Saginaw & Mackinaw reaches Flushing.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	18–19
1889	Commerce	Chatters Block built at Main & Maple, replacing earlier stores.	Vol1.pdf	62, 70
1889	Industry	Ottaway Elevator at Terrace & Emily burns and is rebuilt.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	19
1890-09-21	Hotel	Major fire at Laurel House; building rebuilt as a 2‑story hotel.	Vol2.pdf	43
1891	Commerce	Kimmell/Corinthian Hall at Main & Cherry brick‑veneered.	Vol2.pdf	28, 138
1895	Utilities	Village replaces kerosene and gas lamps with electric streetlights.	Vol2.pdf	22, 104
1895	Bank	Peoples State Bank organized as an early local bank.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part2.pdf	376–377
1896	Utilities	Electric Light & Water Works plant dated “1896”.	Vol2.pdf	22
1901	Industry	West‑end Seymour sawmill ceases operation at dam site.	Vol2.pdf	42
1903	Infrastructure	Major flood surrounds Hart Mill and threatens its foundation.	Vol2.pdf	20
1904	Bridge	Ice pack destroys first railroad bridge east of downtown.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	27
1905	Library	Peoples Bank Building upper floor used as community library.	Vol1.pdf	85
1906	Bridge	New railroad bridge constructed to replace the 1904 span.	Vol2.pdf	27
1908–1924	Hotel	Eggleston House operated by several proprietors (Mundy, Arn, Bruner).	Vol2.pdf	27, 44
1912	Commerce	Six old wooden stores on north side 100‑block replaced by brick row.	Vol2.pdf	140–141
1913	Church	Baptist Church steeple at Elm & Beech destroyed by windstorm.	Vol2.pdf	94
1915-05-16	Commerce/Fire	Sayre Block Fire destroys six new brick stores between 117–137 E. Main.	Vol2.pdf	141
1916-02-??	Railroad	“Great Train Wreck” in the Moore Cut south of town; engines trapped in drift.	Vol2.pdf	69–70
1918-03-19	Industry	Hart Milling & Power Co. mill burns for the fifth time in 72 years.	Hart – Flushing & Clayton Historical Compilation, 1925_Part1.pdf	18, 133
1918	Industry	Former mill / auto garage at Main & Maple burns (“from grist to gasoline” site).	Vol2.pdf	32
1919	Auto Era	Central Gas & Oil station built at SW corner Main & Maple.	Vol2.pdf	32, 105
1921	Fire Dept.	First motorized fire engine (1921 Reo) placed in service.	Vol1.pdf	41
1922	Bridge	Concrete Main Street bridge completed; temporary Oak Street bridge removed.	Vol2.pdf	26
1922	Gas & Oil	Flushing Oil & Gas cement block station erected at 301 W. Main.	Vol2.pdf	93
1923	Auto	Arza Niles SW‑corner property at Main & Saginaw sold to Standard Oil; gas station planned.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	91
1924	Auto	Gordon Bedford purchases 90 E. Main and builds oil station (later Hart garage).	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	91
1924	Auto	Fire at 103–105 N. Maple drives Ransom & Reid Buick agency from building.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	91
1924–1926	Roads	Paving of Main Street, Flushing Road, and Seymour Road completed.	Vol2.pdf	43
1928	Golf	First Flushing Valley 9‑hole course started on former Davie farm.	Vol2.pdf	43, 120
1928	Hotel	Laurel House hotel building demolished; lumber reused locally.	Vol2.pdf	43
1929	Education	Caldwell School expanded with second classroom and new foundation.	Vol2.pdf	58–59
1931	Railroad	Rails removed from Main Street; only spur to lumberyard retained.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	27
1934	Church	Presbyterian steeple destroyed in storm after 70 years on skyline.	Vol2.pdf	43
1935-07-21	Industry	Flushing Manufacturing Service / Beck Sprayer building burns at Lynn & Emily.	Vol2.pdf	39
1935	Events	Centennial celebrations with Ferris wheel on Cherry and major parades downtown.	Vol2.pdf	41
1936	Hotel	Eggleston House demolished and replaced by a service station.	Vol2.pdf	44
1937	Fire Dept.	Second story added to Maple Street fire hall for caretaker’s apartment.	Vol1.pdf	41, 75
1938-06-28	Fire Dept.	Group photograph of Flushing Volunteer Fire Department taken.	Vol2.pdf	41
1940s	Theatre	Dawn Theatre extensively remodeled on north side of Main.	Vol2.pdf	71
1941-10	Commerce	East and west additions at Central Distributors (90 E. Main) completed.	Vol2.pdf	105
1943	Golf	Flushing Valley 9‑hole course closed during World War II shortages.	Vol2.pdf	120
1944-05-24	Golf	Local group purchases Davie farm to revive Flushing Valley Golf Club.	Vol2.pdf	120
1946	Industry	Plant at Lynn & Emily rebuilt and occupied by Flushing Manufacturing Service.	Vol2.pdf	39
1951	Commerce	McNally dealership relocates sales from downtown to East Main.	Vol2.pdf	122
1953	Education	Central Elementary School opens as first consolidated grade school.	Vol2.pdf	90
1954	Commerce	McNally dealership moves to new Pierson Road facility.	Vol2.pdf	122
1955	Business	Bueche Brothers grocery expansion era begins on Main Street.	Vol2.pdf	104
1957	Education	Elms Elementary built on Elms Road with initial six‑room wing.	Vol2.pdf	92–93
1958	Parks	Riverview Park improvements begin along river and former millpond.	Vol1.pdf	36–43
1959	Commerce	Bueche’s new supermarket opens at 226 W. Main west of bridge.	Vol2.pdf	104
1960s	Civic	Library transitions into county system; major downtown improvements.	Vol1.pdf	84–85
1962	Education	Elms Elementary northeast wing (Unit A) added for lower grades.	Vol2.pdf	93
1964	Water	Flushing joins Flint water system; local wells and plant phased out.	Vol2.pdf	22
1965	Commerce	Luce Pharmacy relocates from downtown to Bueche Shopping Center.	Vol2.pdf	121
1966	Church	Brick St. Robert’s Church (1922) on North Cherry demolished.	Vol2.pdf	36
1966	Civic	Flushing joins the Genesee County Library System.	Vol1.pdf	85
1971	Commerce	Staley family purchases Cherry Street building and expands plumbing & heating.	Vol2.pdf	107
1972	Lighting	Overhead alley lights installed in reconstructed north alley of 100‑block.	Vol2.pdf	38
1973	Railroad	Grand Trunk sells depot and property (except main line) to Herman & Myers.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	33
1974	Fire Dept.	New fire hall built on East Main, replacing Maple Street facility.	Vol1.pdf	75
1975	Depot	Depot converted to “Depot Restaurant”; FAHS holds first awards dinner there.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	33
1976	Railroad	Bicentennial Walkway created; one old railroad pier preserved as monument.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	23
1978-12-06	Railroad	Major freight derailment in front of depot; sidings later removed.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	33, 35
1979	Recognition	Depot named to State Register of Historic Sites; Harrison homesite & Halfway House also recognized.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	34
1979	Archives	Flushing Observer microfilmed from 1882 forward by Clarke Historical Library.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	34
1980-03	Industry	Duramold plant at 120 N. Maple expanded from 3,200 to 7,600 square feet.	Vol2.pdf	118
1980-04-20	Depot	Grand Trunk depot heavily damaged by night fire starting in kitchen.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	34–36
1981	FAHS	Historical Society membership passes 100; meetings rotate among local venues.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	36
1982	Commerce	Cherry Street pharmacy becomes Value‑Rite agency.	Vol2.pdf	105
1983	Business	Staley’s Plumbing & Heating enters third‑generation family era.	Vol2.pdf	107
1984-02-27	Depot	Deed for depot recorded; building becomes property of Flushing Area Historical Society.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	38
1984-07	Depot	First debris‑removal and arch‑stabilization contracts let for depot restoration.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	38–41
1985	Civic	Sesquicentennial History Volume I (Vol1) published by FAHS.	Vol1.pdf	front matter
1993-06-06	Depot	Second depot dedication for memorial case, plaques, and donor sign.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	59
1993-09-17	Depot	Automobile crash destroys southwest corner of depot; restoration completed that fall.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	60
1994	Parks	Concrete bandshell with roof completed at Riverview Park.	Vol2.pdf	140
1995-11-05	Depot	First craft show held on new depot floors; interior floor system completed.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	70
1996-06-02	Depot	Open house marks completion of basic depot reconstruction; about 200 visitors.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	62, 64
1997-06-07	Depot	Grand opening of FAHS museum in depot; over 200 visitors first weekend.	Flushing – Sesquicentennial History Vol 3_Part1.pdf	72–74