Our History

Holly's roots go back 150+ years, to the arrival of its first settlers in 1831. Many followed, and by 1843, one of these, Ira C. Alger, had dammed the Shiawassee River and constructed a sawmill to provide lumber for homes and schools. A year later he built a gristmill to process the grain from the surrounding agricultural land. With these assets, Holly was able to attract the railroads, and in 1855, the first train rolled into town, marking the beginning of Holly's growth era, and the development of downtown Holly as its hub.

The 1860's saw more rail lines completed through Holly, and the town became the site of the first rail junction in the state. Hotels sprang up near the depot north and south of the tracks along Broad Street, so-named for its wide expanse prior to the railroad tracks being laid. Business established themselves on Broad Street, where bustling activity promised success, and spread up Martha to Saginaw Street.

Holly's early commercial buildings were frame structures built with the readily available supply of local lumber. In 1875, a fire that threatened the whole downtown was fought by bucket brigade, but all of the buildings on the east side were destroyed. Soon after (1877-79), these buildings, and most of the remaining frame structures in the downtown area were replaced with brick structures that remain today.

With the advent of the automobile, the railroad declined importance, especially for passenger transportation, and many businesses sprang up to cater to rail travelers found themselves with fewer customers. The center of business activity shifted away from the railroad tracks to Saginaw Street, where automobiles access was easier.

Many buildings fell into disuse, and some, like the old "Balcony Block" on Broad Street, were eventually torn down and replaced with structures of more modern construction.The automobile and other elements of progress brought many changes to the downtown: gas stations and parking lots, street lights and traffic signals, signs sized and lit to attract passing motorists, new businesses selling new products growth and change have altered the appearance of the downtown that has stood for over 100 years.