Michigan Roadside Attractions: Stockbridge Town Hall
Michigan Roadside Attractions on Travel the Mitten highlights our attempts to explore the many interesting things that can be found on the highways, byways and back roads of Michigan, ranging from the interesting to the unusual.
As we travel through Michigan we often find ourselves stopping to check out older buildings with unique architecture. That was the case in May as we were driving on M-52 and passed the Stockbridge Town Hall. It’s always great to see historic buildings like this still standing, and this one was the centerpiece of a downtown block with lots of greenspace and several other monuments.
The Michigan historical marker in front of the hall reads: “Designed by Elijah E. Myers, the Stockbridge Town Hall was constructed by Mitter & Heuderlong in 1892. This stately Romanesque structure was built to house local township offices and a community center. In addition to local township business, the hall has also been the setting for lectures, musicals and numerous social gatherings. It was listed on the National Register of Historic places in 1980. A federal grant and local taxes provided the money for the massive restoration that was completed in 1982.”
Stockbridge is a village that is home to around 1,200 people. The town hall is located at the intersection of M-52 and M-106 in Ingham County, about 35 miles from Lansing. The small town feel here was great, and we liked seeing a few families having picnics on the lawn on a quiet weekend. Upcoming special events here include the Harvest Fest on September 30, which features vendors at the town square, a 5K, and family activities.
There is a veterans memorial in the northwest corner of the block, a gazebo in the northeast corner, and a cannon in the southwest corner.
