Road 46

Rustic Road 46, 7/10/2011

We ended our Lake Michigan Rustic Road tour this day on this short country lane. 

Rustic Road 46 is only 1.3 miles long, and is just off Hwy 57 on the southern boundary of the city of De Pere.  This road is characterized by large old trees and a narrow road surface.  RR46 is also known as Old Plank Road and dates back to Civil War times when it was used to carry supplies to the Fox River.

 

 

Until next time...

Road 9

Rustic Road 9, 7/10/2011

This road is located in Door County, just north of Sturgeon Bay on the eastern coast.  This day was a bit overcast, lending a darker feel to forest lining both sides of the road.  This road is 6.7 miles long and is paved the entire length.

You can see the dense vegetation to the edge of the road.

We spotted this forest beauty watching us watching her just off the road.

A lovely babbling brook along the way.

A very lovely modern log home.



One more road remains on our Lake Michigan Rustic Road tour this day.  We'll visit RR46 next week.

Road 7

Rustic Road 7, 7/10/2011

We found ourselves in Kewaunee County on this day, continuing our Lake Michigan Rustic Road tour.  Our next leg of the trip was a drive in the country along Rustic Road 7, just south of State Hwy. 29.  This road is 3.5 miles long and wanders through wooded and farmland areas.

This portion of the road is the epitome of a "rustic" road, with vegetation all the way to the road.

I love this shot of the old, abandoned farm equipment on the hill.  It speaks to me very strongly of the past.

 

More next week as we travel yet another road along Lake Michigan.

 







Rustic Road 16, 7/10/2011

This day we took a drive to one of our favorite places, Door County.  We went by way of Hwy. 10 east out of Appleton, to Manitowoc and Two Rivers, then up the lakeshore through Kewaunee County, and finally to Sturgeon Bay.  We visited four Rustic Roads on that day.  Rustic Road 16 is the first one we drove.


Rustic Road 16 is located in Manitowoc County and runs for 5.2 miles along Lake Michigan just north of Two Rivers.

 Trees to almost the edge of the road.

 Wild flowers on the forest floor.

A vignette featuring old farm implements.

 

More next week as we continue our Lake Michigan Rustic Road tour.

Road 17

Rustic Road 17    7/3/2011

Rustic Road 17 is a short, 2.7 mile road in Portage County, just south of the Village of Amherst.  The most picturesque spot is where the road crosses a boulder-strewn section of the Tomorrow River.  The Rosin Century Farm is also along this road.  This farm was begun in 1891.

 

 

 

 

Road 57

Rustic Road 57  6/18/11

Rustic Road 57 is located in Waupaca County.  One terminus is at it's junction with Hwy 10, the other with Hwy 54.  The Ice Age National Scenic Trail follows this road.  It was overcast this day, making the forest seem darker than usual.

The road is narrow in places, with foliage to the edge of the roadway.

 I find these driveways intriguing, as they seem to disappear into the woods.

I like how the road seems to undulate in the distance.

A Little Village Named Rural (Wisconsin)

As promised last week, here is a little more about the little village named Rural, Wisconsin.  We were pleasantly surprised that June day in 2011 when we happened upon Rural while exploring Rustic Roads 23 & 24.  It is a cute little settlement that is very proud of its history and heritage.  So proud, in fact, that the village was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.  It is one of two Yankee districts in the state.

The village was begun in the spring of 1852 when James H Jones built his home, now known as Halfway House (below) because it is located halfway between Stevens Point and Berlin. The name "Rural" was derived from what Mr. Jones called his "Rural Holdings". 

Almost all the settlers that joined Mr. Jones in Rural were Yankees of British descent.  They were mainly merchants and farmers from the Eastern United States. 

Most of the homes were of the Greek Revival architectural style and were built6 along the Crystal River that runs through the village.  Many of the original homes are very well preserved and bear plaques denoting the year it was built and the original owner.

 

 Sam Ashmun House 1854

 Aaron Hyatt House 1855

 Rural School House

Rural Store 1989 

Crystal River

 

Back to our Rustic Roads adventures next week.