South Lyon, Michigan: Difference between revisions

Three rail lines once passed through South Lyon. In the summer of 1871, the [[Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad|Detroit, Lansing, and Northern Railroad]] waswere built west from [[Plymouth, Michigan|Plymouth]] on the way to Lansing and [[Ionia, Michigan|Ionia]]. In 1880, the predecessor to the [[Ann Arbor Railroad (1895–1976)|Ann Arbor Railroad]] built a line into town from Ann Arbor. This line's goal was to continue towardstoward [[Pontiac, Michigan|Pontiac]], but that did not occur under the original owners. The line was pulled up around 1890. In 1883 the [[Grand Trunk Western Railroad|Grand Trunk]] built their Jackson Branch from Pontiac to [[Jackson, Michigan|Jackson]], which crossed the [[Pere Marquette Railway|Pere Marquette]] at South Lyon. The GTW branch line continued to serve South Lyon until the early 1980s. The branch line is now a paved bicycle trail through town, and Reynold Sweet Parkway follows the original route. Today, South Lyon hosts the [[CSX Transportation|CSX]] main line from Detroit to Grand Rapids, and a passing track is located there.

South Lyon has a council-manager style of governance. The current mayor is Daniel L. Pelchat, an information technology specialist for South Lyon Community Schools.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wright|first=Ed|title=South Lyon's write-in mayor Pelchat anything but a career politician|url=https://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/2018/07/26/south-lyons-write-mayor-excels/825954002/|access-date=2022-01-10|website=Observer and Eccentric Newspapers and Hometown Weeklies|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to South Lyon, MI|url=https://www.southlyonmi.org/government/mayor_s_office/index.php|access-date=2022-01-10|website=www.southlyonmi.org|language=en}}</ref> The current city manager is Paul C. Zelenak, who has been serving since 2018, when he was hired from [[Linden, Michigan|Linden]], Michigan.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wright|first=Ed|title=South Lyon council plucks Linden city manager Zelenak as its new city manager|url=https://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/south-lyon/2018/08/24/south-lyon-hires-new-city-manager/1081993002/|access-date=2022-01-10|website=Observer and Eccentric Newspapers and Hometown Weeklies|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to South Lyon, MI|url=https://www.southlyonmi.org/government/city_manager/index.php|access-date=2022-01-10|website=www.southlyonmi.org|language=en}}</ref> The city council convenes bimonthly at City Hall, and is currently composed of Lisa Dilg, Alex Hansen, Stephen Kennedy ([[Mayor Pro-Tem]]), Glenn Kivell, Margaret Kurtzweil, and Lori Moiser.<ref>{{Cite web|title=South Lyon MI City Council List|url=https://www.southlyonmi.org/government/city_council/index.php|access-date=2022-01-10|website=www.southlyonmi.org|language=en}}</ref>

South Lyon's McHattie Park (on the west side of Pontiac Trail between 9 Mile and 10 Mile Roads) is a nearly 15 -acre park whichthat includes "playground equipment, little league ball diamonds, sand volleyball courts, sledding hill, along with plenty of open spaces for picnics and outdoor fun."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to South Lyon, MI|url=https://www.southlyonmi.org/departments/parks_and_recreation/index.php#about|access-date=2022-01-10|website=www.southlyonmi.org|language=en}}</ref> It is also the location of the Witch's Hat Depot Museum and Historic Village.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to South Lyon, MI|url=https://www.southlyonmi.org/residents/community/witch_s_hat_depot.php|access-date=2022-01-10|website=www.southlyonmi.org|language=en}}</ref> The historic village consists of six buildings: Washburn School (built 1907), Queen Anne Depot (aka the Witch's Hat, built 1909), the Caboose (circa 1926), the Little Village Chapel (built 1930), the Freight House (built 1984), and the Gazebo (1990). With the exceptions of the Freight House and the Gazebo, constructed on-site, the historic buildings were moved to the park from their original sites starting with the Witch's Hat in 1976. All of theseThese buildings are open to the public at various times, and the Little Village Chapel is available for wedding rentals of 75 guests or lessfewer wedding rentals.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to South Lyon, MI|url=https://www.southlyonmi.org/departments/parks_and_recreation/little_village_chapel.php|access-date=2022-01-10|website=www.southlyonmi.org|language=en}}</ref> The South Lyon Historical Society is attempting to add a 100-year -old barn, currently located in [[Salem Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan|Salem Township]], to the site, with an estimated cost of $200,000.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bromley|first=Susan|title=Historical society hopes to move a 100-year-old barn to South Lyon. It won't be cheap.|url=https://www.hometownlife.com/story/life/community/hometown/south-lyon/2021/12/09/south-lyon-historical-society-plans-move-save-100-year-old-barn/8809840002/|access-date=2022-01-10|website=Observer and Eccentric Newspapers and Hometown Weeklies|language=en-US}}</ref>

Volunteer Park is a 130-acre park located on Dixboro Road between 8 Mile and 9 Mile roads.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to South Lyon, MI|url=https://www.southlyonmi.org/departments/parks_and_recreation/index.php#about|access-date=2022-01-10|website=www.southlyonmi.org|language=en}}</ref> It features a variety of sports fields, baseball diamonds, and a volleyball court, along withand a picnic structure. It, too, is connected to the Huron Valley Rail Trail.

== PumpkinfestNotable people ==