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HISTORICAL CONTEXT <br />• The town of South Bend was originally platted in 1831 along the St. Joseph <br />River at the confluence of several paths <br />which preceded occupation by white <br />settlers, the Sauk, Chicago, and Dragoon trails. Sections of these trails had <br />been incorporated into the path of the Michigan Road which had been authorized <br />by the U.S. Congress to connect the established settlement along the Ohio <br />River to Lake Michigan in 1827.(1) <br />The primitive period of road construction which coincided with the period <br />of pioneer development in St. Joseph County found most roads and streets to be <br />simply cleared paths of dirt. Some sections of highway were paved with logs or <br />boards. Streets in the city were likdwise unpaved or had roadbeds of gravel <br />from a source northwest of the city. In the.early city, sidewalks were <br />constructed of wood plank, later superseded by cobblestone and/or brick <br />• sidewalks, especially at alley crossings.(2) The early industrial development <br />of the city included the Studebaker Brothers wagon business which experienced <br />tremendous growth during the Civil War leading to a special local emphasis on <br />non -rail surface transportation which was to affect the major local industries <br />to the present day. <br />t <br />In 1865, the first systematic grades of city were established by the city <br />engineer, Rufus Rose. These benchmark elevations were henceforth referred to <br />as "Rose Grades". In the same year the first paved street in city was improved <br />with cobblestone at the intersection of Michigan and Washington Streets. (3) <br />-------------------------------- <br />(1) Howard, Timothy Eugene. History of St. Joseph Countv. Indiana: 2 <br />vols. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company. 1907. p234 <br />(2) ibid, p.369 <br />• (3) ibid <br />page •1 <br />