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Lexington was the
first settlement on the shores of Lake Huron north of Port Huron in
1835.
According to the post
office archives, the name Lexington was chosen in 1846 by villager,
Reuben Diamond, whose wife was a cousin of Ethan Allen. The latter
fought at the Battle of Lexington during the Revolutionary War.
 The
first hotel built of logs in 1840 was located at the corner of M-25
& M-90 in downtown Lexington. It was destroyed by fire in 1859
and was rebuilt in 1860. It is still called the Cadillac House
Restaurant and Pub.
 In
1870 the first Lexington Bank opened in the Noble Building. It is
located on the north side of Huron Avenue just west of the Lexington
light. The Home/Garden/Lake style shop called Noble currently occupies
the premises.
 In
the 1850's, John Divine, the first attorney in Sanilac County, built his
home in Lexington (Currently Primrose Manor Bed & Breakfast).
He established his law office in 1858 which is currently the Lexington
Library.
Dr. Walter P. Brown
who came to Lexington in 1853, and who had a natural wit and philosophy
rarely equaled, was often heard to remark that "Nature has endowed
Lexington with more beauty than any place in Michigan. There will
be a perfect little town here some day."
The first sawmill was
built in 1846 and three permanent docks were kept busy loading lumber
and wood products on the schooners that came from the lower lakes region
for the industry in Detroit, Cleveland, and Chicago.
Shingles were the
currency in the early days of the settlement. The market price was
one dollar per thousand. One thousand shingles bought a barrel of
flour and 20,000 shingle bought a barrel of pork.
The
old fire hall on Main Street used horses and wagons to put the fire out.
Notice the bell to notify the firefighters. The building was used
by the Masons and was once the opera house
Joseph
Meyer with the old water pumper, which was purchased from the city of
Port Huron in 1859.
Merchant
Store (left) once owned by Samuel Tewksbury, John L. Woods, Nims, &
Rudolph Pabst. Colonial Hotel is next door. John L. Woods
built several homes in the area including the Tewksbury Home (Currently
Watson Manor AFC). Albert Sleeper was from Lexington and was the
nephew of Samuel Tewksbury and also the nephew of John L. Woods.
Albert worked as a clerk in the Merchant store before he became the
Michigan Governor in 1920. Ehardt's Pharmacy now occupies the land
. Buildings were located on the north side of Huron Avenue
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Huron
Avenue - North Side 1900's
Huron
Avenue - South Side 1900's
Cadillac
House Restaurant (Southeast Corner)
Bell's
Drug Store, Noble Bank, & Library (NW Corner)
Sheldon
Dock-Freighter coming to the Lexington dock prior to the 1913 storm that
destroyed the 3 docks. Freighters never returned to Lexington
again. Lexington built a harbor of refuge in the 1970's.
There are many boat slips, restaurants, park, picnic area, beach, and
pier for everyone to enjoy.
Bathing
Beauties at the beach/dock (before 1913)
Arial
View (prior to 1913)
Lexington
offers an appealing combination of sophistication and history, along
with a touch of nostalgia for a way of life of years gone by. It's
heritage homes and buildings are a site to see. Full of unique
shops, cultural entertainment, fine and family dining, cozy Bed &
Breakfasts and lakeside cottages, visitors may enjoy the best of modern
amenities while feeling like they stepped into the charming lifestyle of
100 years ago.
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