Manchester is a village of about 2,160 in Washtenaw County.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Manchester Township Library

In 1838, one year after Michigan attained statehood, Manchester Township established its library, one of the first township libraries in Michigan.  During the early years the township clerk maintained the collection.  In 1900 the township decided to rent quarters for the library and to hire a librarian.  It was housed in various locations including the Mahrle Building on Adrian Street.  In 1934 the township purchased the former James A. Lynch house as a permanent location."

 

 

"Saint Mary Church

The first Catholic church in the Manchester area was built by German settlers in Freedom Township in 1839 and dedicated to Saint Francis de Borgia.  In 1863, Father Edward Van Lauwe was appointed pastor of Saint Dominic in Clinton, and Manchester was one of his missions.  In 1870 thirty-five Irish families built the Church of Assumption on Macomb Street in Manchester.  Father Edwin Fisher, pastor of Clinton and its missions, became resident pastor at Manchester in 1909.  In 1911 local craftsmen built this Neo-Gothic-inspired church from fieldstones collected by farmers and salvaged from the foundation of the hotel that stood on the site.  It was dedicated in January 1912.  Father Fisher designed the church and created similar fieldstone churches at his missions in Blissfield, Tecumseh and Brooklyn."

 

 

 

 

 

"The German Church

Many of Manchester's early settlers came from Wittenberg, Germany.  Since there was no Evangelical church in Manchester, the immigrants worshipped at Bethel Church in Freedom Township.  In 1862 the Reverend J. G. Hildner established an Evangelical congregation in Manchester.  Services were conducted in German and held in houses until the congregation purchased an unused school in the 1870s.  The Reverend S. Edelstein became the first resident pastor.  In early 1882 the congregation purchased an entire city block and the present Gothic Revival church, designed by Detroit architect Carl Schmid, was built and named The Immanuel United Evangelical Church.  In 1936 the congregation joined the Evangelical and Reformed Church and it became part of the United Church of Christ in the early 1960's."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep 'em commin!!!

Great stuff! Looks like an interesting historic town, and the church built of fieldstone is pretty unusual.

I love those little Michigan villages.

Even the gray skies make me homesick.

Thanks, I love the stone church!

Love the stone church, and that last house, which reminds me of the Henry Ford Estate in Dearborn. 

 

You forgot to mention that Manchester is home to The Chicken Festival ;)