History of…….Sylvester Walker’s Brick Tavern~
Passing through kettle lakes and rolling hills, two Irish Hills roads
meet at Cambridge Junction. One road, a worn Indian trail surveyed
in 1825, joins Detroit with Chicago (now Hwy US-12); the other the
La Plaisance Bay Pike (now M-50) joins Monroe on Lake Erie to Alto
in west Michigan.
Sylvester Walkers’ Grand Ballroom, 1853
Snell’s
Lee’s Stagecoach
Tavern
Hewitt
Master
Suite, 1922
Kitchen, 2008
Culver
Suite,
1892
High traffic on these two roads in the 1830s created the need for a
wayside tavern where people traveling by stage, wagon or foot could
rest, take a meal or stay the night. Cost for a meal and lodging was 50
cents — the cost for an acre of land was $1.25. Most travelers on the
two roads were looking for farms to purchase.
Nearing
Suite, 1864
Sherman Suite, 1887
Burton Suite, 1900
Dewey Dining Room
Miller’s Grill
Cambridge
Post Office
Sylvester &
Lucy Walker
‘The Rustic’
Antique Barn
Brick Walker Tavern
11705 US Hwy 12
Brooklyn, MI 49230
517-358-3201 [email protected]
www.brickwalkertavern.com
One of the early settlers to realize the full economic potential of the
crossroads was Sylvester S. Walker (b1795-d1868). Sylvester and his
wife Lucy came to Michigan from Cooperstown, New York, in the late
1830s. Walker had been an innkeeper in Cooperstown and desired a
location to reestablish his business in Michigan. He was a man
looking for an opportunity.
BrickWalkerTavern
A frame structure had been built at the crossroads in 1836 and was
being operated as a wayside inn by Calvin Snell. In 1843, Walker
purchased the site from Snell. In 1853, Walker built the three-story
brick building across the road from the original frame structure and
moved his tavern operation to this new location.
Railroads built in the 1850s turned Cambridge Junction from
stagecoach hub to community gathering place. The inns became a
gathering point for area residents. Not only were the inn-keeping and
stagecoach businesses brisk, but Walker's popularity allowed him to
become the local postmaster, to win a seat in the Michigan State
Legislature, to become a bank president and to become involved with
several plank road companies. His name continues to be associated
with the crossroads today.
The Hewitt Family
Frederick & Edna
with children
Jim & Jeanne
In 1922, the Rev. Frederick Hewitt purchased the old frame tavern,
once owned by early settler Sylvester Walker, as well as its
counterpart, the brick tavern he built across the road in 1853. Hewitt
loved the Irish Hills as a place to hunt and fish, and now he saw
opportunity to follow his passion for antiques. Opening the taverns
as antique store, hotel, restaurant and museum, Hewitt capitalized on
the automobile tourism that brought a boom to the Irish Hills
economy.
A day’s ride by car from Detroit, the Irish Hills drew thousands of
vacationers, who came to enjoy the lakes, hills and other tourist
attractions.
As the years passed, US 12 became a beacon for summer tourism and
antique shops. As the area boomed in the 50’s, more modern
attractions were being created and continued as a destination spot
thru the 1970’s. Shortly after that, larger and more popular attractions
located afar, took away from the many local vacation spots such as
the Irish Hills. Once businesses closed their doors and attractions
became ghost towns, the roads only led travelers from the cities to
their cottage homes on one of the 50 lakes there are within 15 minutes
of the crossroads.
Now into the 21st century, interests of restoring our historic buildings
throughout this beautiful country became ever so desirable. In 2008,
Thomas Lee purchased the 1853 brick building and over the next 7
years he and a small handful of creative and talented people help
restore this 28 room, 4-story, 4-brick thick building. The Tavern
facility now features 14 rooms total. Tom’s original vision included a
restaurant and gathering place, however, after the result of deceitful
contractors and additional building codes to satisfy, that reality
would have to rest. In the meantime Tom settled on a bed and
breakfast-style historic hotel, and the second floor quickly became reengineered to include 5 bedroom suites each with private bath. He
later decided it was a perfect venue for vintage weddings, especially
rustic barn weddings. It’s also a perfect location for the local
community to use for meetings and special event. The S. Walker’s
Grand Ballroom makes a great gathering place for a larger group. In
2011 the hip roof barn began major reconstruction by the Amish and
then transformed into a very rustic 2-story wedding venue known as
‘The Rustic’ Antique Barn.
Thomas
Lee
(current owner)
2008
It’s time for the next generation to create great memories at this
brilliantly restored stop over and gathering place that offers so much
history. You do feel like you are back in time when you walk
throughout. The other historic buildings and complex across the
street also stand still in time, which adds to the feel. A great place to
reflect on all that has taken place at these crossroads over the last 180
years.