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Building, Brownstown Charter Township, since 1812

Hull's Trace North Huron River Corduroy Segment

Photographed standing in 2010

Remains of Corduroy Section of Hulls Trace, southern Wayne County MI, 2010 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1812
Style
Corduroy road
Standing
214 years

Designed by William Hull

Hull's Trace North Huron River Corduroy Segment has stood on W. Jefferson Ave. in Brownstown Charter Township since 1812, 214 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of Hull's Trace North Huron River Corduroy Segment

Remains of Corduroy Section of Hulls Trace, southern Wayne County MI, 2010 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Remains of Corduroy Section of Hulls Trace, southern Wayne County MI, 2010 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Remains of Corduroy Section of Hulls Trace, southern Wayne County MI, 2010 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Standing

We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 24, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

In 1812, when Michigan was still a young state of farms, mills and river landings, Hull's Trace North Huron River Corduroy Segment opened in Brownstown Charter Township.

Credit the design to William Hull, working in Corduroy road.

It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

Next time you are nearby, stop at 36000 W. Jefferson Ave and look up.

The Hull's Trace North Huron River Corduroy Segment is a portion of Hull's Trace (also called Hull's Trail), a military road running from Urbana, Ohio, to Detroit. Hull's Trace was one of the first federal and military roads in the United States.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Timeline

  1. 1812 Built Designed by William Hull
  2. 2010 Listed on the National Register December 13, 2010
  3. 2026 Today 214 years and still standing

Where it is

36000 W. Jefferson Ave., Brownstown Charter Township

On this map

  1. Hull's Trace North Huron River Corduroy Segment This place
  2. Jefferson Avenue, Huron River and Harbin Drive, Silver Creek Canal Bridges 430 ft

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

William Hull
Photo: James Sharples Sr. (1751-1811), public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

William Hull

American soldier and politician, 1753 to 1825. Designed Hull's Trace North Huron River Corduroy Segment (1812)

Around the block

Photo credits

Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.

  1. Remains of Corduroy Section of Hulls Trace, southern Wayne County MI, 2010 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Remains of Corduroy Section of Hulls Trace, southern Wayne County MI, 2010 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Remains of Corduroy Section of Hulls Trace, southern Wayne County MI, 2010 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Remains of Corduroy Section of Hulls Trace, southern Wayne County MI, 2010 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.