M-83 is a Michigan State Trunkline which is currently is located solely in Saginaw County. The Trunkline begins concurrent with M-54 from Interstate 75/US Route 23 in Birch run and extends 14.672 miles northward to M-15. The current M-83 is the third iteration of the Trunkline number and was designated in 1927. Much of the current mileage M-83 has was added via an extension between near Reese and near Cilo in 1928.
M-83 passes through the community of Frankenmuth which is located on Cass River. The community (nicknamed "Little Bavaria") was founded by German settlers in 1845. M-83 in Frankenmuth passes by the site of Bronner's Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth. Bronner's is billed as being the "world's largest Christmas store."
Pictured as the blog cover is northbound M-83 approaching the city limit of Frankenmuth near Dead Creek. On the left the Willkommen Frankenmuth gateway sign over M-83 can be seen. On the right the 1907 era Black Bridge formerly of Dehmel Road can be observed.
Part 1; the history of M-83
Frankenmuth is located along the Cass River in eastern Saginaw County. The community was founded in August 1845 by settlers from the Franconia region of Germany. Frankenmuth would incorporate as a village in 1904 and as a city in 1959.
The current iteration of M-83 was designated on May 15, 1927. The then newly designated Trunkline consumed what was M-31 from Harbor Beach west to M-24 near Reese. The M-31 corridor had been adopted mostly during 1913.
The routing of M-31 between Saginaw and Harbor Beach can be seen in detail on the 1924 Rand McNally map of Michigan. The map displays Frankenmuth being served by the east/west running M-38.
On June 28, 1928, M-83 was extended from Reese southward to US Routes 10 and 23 near Cilo via Frankenmuth. The new 15.7 miles of M-83 was originally aligned southward through Frankenmuth via Main Street over the Cass River, Jefferson Street and Weiss Street.
The extended M-83 running from near Cilo to Harbor Beach can be seen on the 1931 Clason's Road Map of Michigan.
During July 1939 M-83 was truncated to M-15 (formerly M-24) southwest of Reese. The impedes for the truncation of M-83 was the relinquishment of 5 miles of Bradyville Road between M-81 (Caro Road) and M-138 (Fairgrove Road) in Tuscola County. The bisected portions of what was M-83 was spun off into various other Trunkline designations (mostly M-138 and M-142).
M-83 can be seen as a fully north/south Trunkline spanning from M-15 south to US Routes 10 and 23 on the 1944 State Farm Road map of Michigan.
The original alignment of M-83 in Frankenmuth using Main Street, Jefferson Street and Weiss Street can be seen on the 1954 United States Geological Survey map of Flint.
During November 1962 the southern terminus of M-83 was realigned to Birch Run via Birch Run Road to Interstate 75/US Route 23. The new alignment to Birch Run was made concurrent with the third iteration of M-54 west from Gera Road to Interstate 75/US Route 23.
During December 1969, M-83 was aligned south of the Cass River in Frankenmuth via an extension of Main Street. The new alignment bypassed older portions along Jefferson Street and Weiss Street.
The current alignment of M-83 south of the Cass River in Frankenmuth can be seen on the 1984 United States Geological Survey map of Flint. The same map displays the southern terminus of M-83 concurrent with M-54 to Interstate 75/US Route 23 in Birch Run.
Part 2; a drive on M-83
Northbound M-83 and M-54 southbound both begin at Interstate 75/US Route 23 Exit 136 in Birch Run. The multiplex of M-83 and M-54 in Birch Run is an example of a wrong-way concurrency. Frankenmuth is signed as the control city as both highways begin along eastbound Birch Run Road.
M-83 and M-54 follow Birch Run east to Gara Road. M-54 turns right to continue south whereas M-83 turns left to continue north towards Frankenmuth.
M-83 passes the Wilderness Trails Zoo. A guide sign notes Frankenmuth is 5 miles away.
M-83 enters the city of Frankenmuth at Dead Creek and transitions to the 1969-era extension of Main Street. A large overhead sign displays "Willkommen Frankenmuth" in German. The rough translation of the sign to English is "Welcome Frankenmuth."
Immediately east of the Willkommen Frankenmuth sign the grounds of Zehnder Farm can be seen. The Black Bridge can be seen crossing Dead Creek whereas the Hart One Room School can be found just to the south near Townline Road.
The Black Bridge is a Pratt Through Truss structure which was built in 1907 and located on the Cass River along Dehmel Road. The structure was relocated to Zehnder Farm during 1982 when a new bridge was constructed at the Cass River. The structure is very similar to the derelict Gugel Bridge (constructed in 1904). also located on the Cass River on Beyer Road.
The Hart One Room school was constructed in 1860 near the intersection of Frankenmuth Road (former M-38) and Hart Road. The structure was originally designated as the Tuscola County School District #2 and was active until 1921. During 2000 the building was donated and relocated to Zehnder Farm.
North of Dead Creek M-83 intersects the original highway alignment at Weiss Street.
M-83 continues north on Main Street and intersects Christmas Tree Lane where Bronner's Christmas Wonderland (Bronner's) can be found.
Christmas Tree Lane is a frontage of M-83 and essentially serves as an entranceway to Bronner's. Bronner's has an address posted as "25 Christmas Tree Lane" in keeping with the festive theme of the store.
Bronner's Christmas Wonderland was opened in 1954 by Wally Bronner in downtown Frankenmuth at 121 East Tuscola Street. The original building was not large enough to accommodate expansion which led to a purchase of a nearby bank building in 1966 which became Bronner's Tannenbaum Shop. The Hungarian Grocery store building was purchased in 1971 to make room for Bronner's Bavarian Corner.
All three stores were relocated and consolidated into the current building at 25 Christmas Tree Lane in 1977. The current Bronner's Christmas Wonderland has been expanded in 1991, 2000 and 2002. The store is billed as the largest Christmas store in the world.
M-83 continues north and crosses the Cass River into downtown Frankenmuth where it intersects Covered Bridge Lane.
Covered Bridge Lane can be used to access Zehnder's Holzbrücke (German for wooden bridge). The structure is currently part of the Bavarian Inn complex. Eddie (the Zehnder's of Frankenmuth family) and William Zehnder (Bavarian Inn family) originally began to explore the prospects of installing a covered bridge in 1962. Both brothers owned portions of land along the eastern half of the Cass River. The purpose of a new bridge was to serve as a tourist attraction and expand the parking capacity for the Bavarian Inn south of the Cass River.
By 1979 the Zehnder brothers hired Milton Grade which was one of the last construction firms which specialized in building authentic covered bridges. The 239-foot-long structure was completed during 1979 but had to installed at the Cass River. Beginning during 1980 a team of oxen was used to pull the structure into place on the Cass River. The bridge was dedicated on September 9, 1980.
In 1985 the first phase of the Bavarian Inn Lodge complex completed east of the Cass River. Much of the attractions south of the river were either built or purchased by Eddie Zehnder's family during the remaining balance of the 1980s. During 2015 ownership of Zehnder's Holzbrücke was transferred to Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Incorporated.
Zehnder's Holzbrücke is located immediately east of M-83 in Frankenmuth along Covered Bridge Lane. The structure is located next to the Covered Bridge Shop west of the Cass River.
Zehnder's Holzbrücke facing east over the Cass River from a stylized pedestrian bridge.
Zehnder's Holzbrücke facing northeast from the Bavarian Belle Riverboat
Zehnder's Holzbrücke facing was along Covered Bridge Lane. The structure is rated for 10 tons and has an overhead clearance of 13'8 feet.
Facing northeast on the Cass River from one of the pedestrian walkways on the bridge.
Zehnder's Famous Chicken Dinners is located on M-83 immediately north of Covered Bridge Lane. The building was originally opened in 1856 as the Exchange Hotel which was operated as Henry Reichie. William Zehnder Senior purchased the structure in 1928 and remodeled the facade to resemble that of Mount Vernon. The business would reopen on Mother's Day 1929 as restaurant which sold chicken dinners for $1.00. The Zehnder's neon sign is believed to date to 1936 and likely is one of the oldest such signs to see continuous use.
M-83 follows Main Street into downtown Frankenmuth and intersects Tuscola Street where the original location of Bronner's can be found. The location is now the site of Star of the West Milling Company.
M-83 continues north on Main Street and intersects former M-38 at Genesee Street. M-38 was relinquished as a State Trunkline during August 1961.
M-83 continues north from Frankenmuth along Gara Road towards a northern terminus at M-15. The Trunkline intersects M-46 in Blumfield Township approximately 1.6 miles south of M-15.
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