FeedsWhy they came to Canton
Author Gerald Van Dusen follows Canton Township during three separate growth spurts in his new book, due to be released Sept. 11.
“I think most people who…came to Canton recently think that Canton just sprung up, subdivision after subdivision, and that everybody here are first generation” said Van Dusen, “when in fact there are still residents here in Canton that are fifth-generation.”
In writing the book for Arcadia Publishing’s “Images of America” series, the author spoke with descendants of Michael Fischer, who arrived in Canton during the 19th century at the age of 14.
“His parents feared Prussian conscription. He would have wound up in the German military if they hadn’t shipped him over here,” said Van Dusen. “He suffered through a difficult ocean voyage, made his way up through the Erie Canal and settled eventually in Canton. He was one of the first businessmen in Sheldon Corners.”
Fischer’s livery near the intersection of Michigan Avenue, Sheldon and Geddes roads, dubbed the “Flatiron,” formed the nucleus of the early village.
“That story is really replicated throughout Canton Township,” said Van Dusen.
The township was officially formed in 1834 when it was split off from Plymouth Township, but Van Dusen said the growth of the area was organic.
“To really understand the character of Canton Township you can’t think of it as being the product of simply a legal creation.”
The village of Cherry Hill formed early on, too, and then farms filled out spaces in between. The last of the land was sold off by 1850.
“If you had money in those days, you could have bought Canton Township for $37,000,” said Van Dusen, laughing. “I’ve learned since that time that the land is worth a little bit more.”
The second wave of residents came in the 1920s, with the advent of the automobile.
“For the first time you could work in one place and live in another,” he said. As people moved to the inner-ring of suburbs, farmers there were under pressure to surrender their land. So, those farmers moved west.
That’s when Canton gained its reputation as the “Sweet Corn Capital” of Michigan.
The agricultural way of life in Canton was reaching its end by the 1970s, though, when Interstate 275 was built through Canton. The township, with two major intersections on I-275 at Ford Road and Michigan Avenue, is still seeing the consequences.
“No longer was Canton’s number-one business agriculture,” said Van Dusen. “Now, it was residential construction.”
Chapters on Canton homes, settlers and development are filled out with pictures from the Canton Historic District Commission. The book, which is due to be released Sept. 11, will be about 128 pages. It will be available online, in area bookstores and at the Canton Historical Museum.
