The trolleys made it easy to travel through the lakes of Oakland County. In the early 1900s people got off or waited at platforms that were built for access to the track. The Detroit United Railway (DUR) bought land from local farmers for the track and waiting platforms, but taxes on this property forced the railway to charge high fares that later contributed to the demise of the trolley system. Here, where Long Lake Road crossed over the parallel Grand Trunk and DUR tracks, are stairs like those that people used to get on and off the trolleys.
Wayside Sign – Waiting for Trolleys and Riding Between the Lakes
Object ID: 2013-070-005
Date: 2013
Collection: Orchard Lake, TransportationSubjects: Wayside Sign
Wayside Sign – Gateway to Nature at the Orchard Lake Beach Trolley Stop
Object ID: 2013-070-004
Date: 2013
Collection: Orchard Lake, TransportationSubjects: Wayside Sign
Many Detroiters escaped to nature on the trolleys of the Detroit United Railway (DUR) in the early 1900s. The Orchard Lake Beach stop was located here where the parallel Grand Trunk Railroad and DUR trolley tracks crossed Orchard Lake Road. It was a very popular stop for people enjoying day trips to Orchard Lake for swimming and picnicking. The DUR highlighted local attractions by building trolley stops at lakes, resorts and amusement parks. Over time, the trolley cars became more luxurious, featuring ornate interiors and dining cars. Fares averaged a penny a mile and the electric trolleys could reach fifty miles per hour.
Wayside Sign – Settling the Dust: The Countryside Improvement Association
Object ID: 2013-070-003
Date: 2013
Collection: Transportation, West BloomfieldSubjects: Wayside Sign
The lakes and landscapes of Oakland County weren’t ready for the automobile in the early 1900s. Weekend visitors, in noisy “self-propelled” vehicles, churned up dust on unpaved roads and trespassed on private property. To address these difficulties, women from Pine and Orchard Lakes formed the Countryside Improvement Association in 1911. Their early fundraising paid to settle the dust by spraying oil on roads. Further efforts improved the region’s roads and signs, and defined road rules and property rights. Countryside fundraising continues to support charities and scholarships.