Rochester Regional Chamber - Important Dates

Important Dates

1817- The first settlers in Avon Township were James and Mary Graham and their sons Alexander and Benjamin.
1818- John Hersey is the first person to purchase public land in Avon Township
1819- The first saw mill in Avon Township was built by John Hersey, William Russell, Benjamin Woodworth, and Alexander Graham on Paint Creek
1823- The first school in Rochester was held in a log building on James Graham’s Farm
1824- The first post office in Stony Creek was held in the home of Nathaniel Millard. The Pontiac and Paint Creek Turnpike Company was authorized to build a road from Detroit to Pontiac that Woodward follows today, with a branch from Royal Oak to Rochester that became Rochester Road. The first Baptist Church in Avon Township was built
1826- Rochester was surveyed and laid out by territorial government Lewis Cass, Austin Wing, and Charles Larned
1827- The Congregational Church was built and is the oldest of its denomination in the state
1835- Avon Township was separated from Oakland Township and the first town meeting was held with Avon Township’s first supervisor is William Price
1847- Avon Lyceum, public school, was built on the site of the present Rochester Community Schools Administrative building
1848- State legislature authorizes a plank road from Rochester to Royal Oak, the present Rochester Road
1857- Rochester Paper Company was the first paper mill in Oakland
1863- Yates Mill was constructed
1866- Rochester Sun published the first newspaper in Rochester
1869- The first President of Rochester was Jesse E. Wilson, and Rochester became a village
1872- The Detroit and Bay City Railroad was the first railroad to come to town
1873- Rochester’s first baseball team was established
1874- Joshua Van Hoosen builds the largest barn (101 ft) in Oakland County
1879- Michigan Airline Railroad reaches Rochester
1880- Avon Township’s first town hall was built at Pine and 4th Street
1881- The first telephone was installed in Norton’s Drug Store at Main and 4th Street
1884- Oil burning street lamps were installed in Rochester
1895- The first fire department was formally organized in Rochester
1897- Electricity was supplied in Rochester by water powered generators
1899- The Detroit United Railway was established and ended in 1931
1917- Main St. was paved with brick
1921- Rochester’s Woman’s Club organized the Avon Township Library
1924- Rochester Village Council created a one-man police force to enforce state laws
1938- Leader-Dog League for the Blind was organized in MI as a non-profit corporation
1951- Rochester’s first Christmas parade was held and North Hill subdivision was the first in the community
1953- Most of Avon’s school districts were consolidated into the Rochester Community School District
1955 - Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce is established
1957- Oakland University was established
1958- The North Central Christian College, presently known as Rochester College was established
1961- The YMCA was established in Rochester
1964- The last passenger train pulled out of Rochester
1967- The Village of Rochester became the City of Rochester, and the branch of Crittenton Hospital was established in Rochester
1979- The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm was established
1984- The City of Rochester Hills was established

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