Dearborn Township Board Meetings and Members

On March 21, 1833, Peking Township was officially renamed to Redford Township, and about 2 weeks later, on April 1st, the 36 square mile area was divided in half. Using Joy Road as the dividing line, the Northern half remained Redford Township, while to Southern half was designated Dearborn Township. (With the exception of a period of almost 2 years, October 23, 1834 to March 26, 1836, when it was renamed, Bucklin Townhip).
The original boundary of this Dearborn Township was Northern Boundary: Joy Road; Southern Boundary: Van Born Road; Eastern Boundary: Greenfield Road; and Western Boundary: Inkster Road. The current area of Dearborn is approximately 11.45 square miles plus approximately 3.0 square miles of Wayne County Park area. Although the shape of Dearborn is no longer an exact square, the boundaries can be estimated as these: Northern Boundary: Tireman Avenue; Southern Boundary: Dartmouth Street; Eastern Boundary: Wyoming; and Western Boundary: approximately Telegraph Road or in other places, approximately Beech Daly.

The first township meeting was held on May 28, 1827 in a log cabin schoolhouse, known as the Wallaceville School. (the building itself is still located on 8050 North Gulley Road, as a historical site along with the Wallaceville Cemetery). The Township Board elected were: Marcus Swift, Supervisor; Joseph Hickcox, Clerk; and Aaron Thomas, Treasurer or Collector. The second meeting was held in the same building and Swift was again elected township Supervisor.
The third meeting was held at the Schwarzburg Schoolhouse (now located in Livonia), on April 6, 1829. Swift was again elected Township Supervisor.
April 4, 1831: meeting held at the residence of Amos Gordon, Township Supervisor, Conrad TenEyck.
April 2, 1832: meeting held at the residence of Benjamin F. Fox, Township Supervisor, George Ferrington.
April 4, 1833: meeting held at the residence of Conrad TenEyck, Township Supervisor, Conrad TenEyck.
April 1834: meeting held at the residence of Amos Gordon, Township Supervisor Conrad TenEyck..
From 1834 to April 6, 1856 the meetings were held in a log cabin schoolhouse located in Dearbornville, at this 1856 meeting, the board purposed a new school to be built with two storys. Using the second story for Township purposes. This became School District No. 7.
1857 and 1858 meetings were held at the residence of John Probert, while construction of the new school was in progress.
April 4, 1859 to April 1877: meetings held in the District No. 7 schoolhouse.
June 9, 1877 the board purposes to bid on the property of the Dearborn Arsenal to use for a new Township Hall and parking area. Board members were: John Cosbey, Supervisor; John W. Alexander, Clerk; Jacob Fox, Treasurer; and J.H. Thompson, Justice of Peace. The Saddler's Shop within arsenal walls, and Lot No. 17 were bought, and James Travis was hired to do repairs and alterations.
January 5, 1878: First meeting in the new Township Hall
January 19, 1878: Purposed bid for painting of the Township Hall, hired Stephen Delorum. Township borrowed $150 from E.D. Howe to purchase a table, chairs, and furniture.
April 1, 1878: First meeting in the newly redecorated Township Hall.
The meetings were held here until 1927.

Some Important Meeting Decisions

March 24, 1893: Dearborn Incorporates to the Village of Dearborn.
October 16, 1922: Southeast portion of Dearborn, annexed to Springwells Township.
April 6, 1925: Northeast portion of Dearborn, annexed to City of Detroit.
May 25, 1925: Central portion of Dearborn Township, annexed to Village of Dearborn
July 15, 1927: Dearborn is incorporated into a City.
June 12, 1928: Consolidation of the City of Dearborn with City of Fordson and the remaining area of Dearborn are all one City.
July 2, 1929: Board passed proposition of building a new Township Hall for the sum of $40,000 on Lots 24 and 25 on the corners of Michigan Avenue and Princess Ave. Architect: Harry C. Vicary. General Contractor: John H. Lukaszewicz.
May 13, 1930: First annual meeting in the new Township Hall (which is now Daly Elementary School 26807 Michigan Ave). Members of the board: William T. Kronberg, Supervisor; William G Querfeld, Clerk; Lotta Lee Bray, Treasurer; John L. Mokerski, Thomas A. Mead, Samuel Parsons and Benjamin Landsberg, Justices of the Peace.
November 12, 1952: Edwin Daly, then Township Supervisor, passes away in the Township Hall where he served as Supervisor since 1932. Other board members: William H. Thorne, Clerk; Walter L. Warner, Treasurer; George E. Wickland, William Fiedler, and John L. Morerski; Justices of the Peace. Lyle E. Miller was appointed Township Supervisor, at that time.
December 19, 1960: Township Administration building erected at 6040 Fenton Avenue, which today falls in the Township of Dearborn Heights. The City of Dearborn's Township Hall is located on Michigan Avenue and Schaefer Roads.

Contributed by Linda Ball