Gratiot Avenue and Macomb County have a great history. Here you can read all about it and how it became what it is today.

Early 1700's

Area now known as Macomb County is a wilderness of woods and water.

1805

The Territory of Michigan established

1818
Michigan's third county is created, named in honor of General Alexander Macomb, and comprised about one-third of the present state of Michigan

1828
A Congressional appropriation provides fund for the construction of a military road connecting Fort Detroit and Fort Gratiot (now Port Huron)

1831
Completion of the Gratiot Turnpike

1837
Orange Township is established and encompases the present cities of Eastpointe, Faser, Roseville, St. Clair Shores, and part of Warren.

1843
Orange Township changes name to Erin Township

1836
Dennison R. Rose was operating Rose's Tavern near what is now Gratiot and Eight Mile Rd.   Rose recieved a contract to trasport mail from Detroit to Mt. Clemens establishing the the Roseville Post Office, named after him.  His son, William, was named the first Roseville Postmaster.

1840
The government opened a Roseville Post Office on the corner of Bloss Road (now Frazho Road) and Gratiot.

1846
The State authorized the organization of plank road companies and construction began on Gratiot Plank Road between Detroit and Mount Clemens.

1895
The Rapid Railway Company laid tracks, parallel to Gratiot, from Detroit to Mount Clemens connecting the Rapid Railway to the Detroit Urban Railway.  The powerhouse and car-barns where on the site now occupied by the Ameritech building.  Gratiot was only graveled to the powerhouse and was not paved until 1918-1929

1899
This interurban railway was extended to Port Huron and became the longest electric railroad in the world.

1905
Electricity came to Roseville.

1911
Telephone service started in Roseville.

1914
Henry Joy and John Newberry of Packard Motor Company leased farm land on the notheast corner oif Frazho and Gratiot to use as an airfield.

1919
Joy and Newberry purchase the property and lease it to Hartun Aircraft Corporation.  Over the years the property (which was Michigan's first commercial airfield) was known by various names, such as Packard Field, Hartung Airport and Gratiot Airport.  Gratiot Airport was demolished in 1954 and is now the sit of the Eastgate Shopping Center.

1926
Roseville is chartered as a Village with police and fire service operating out of the old Erin Township Hall

1958
The Village and the remaining part of Erin Township merged to become the city of Roseville.  About this time, cruising was becoming more and more popular.

Present Day
Gratiot Avenue and the surrounding areas are still popular with car shows and cruise-ins.