Belle’s Box – 3–31, 3-38, 3-45, 3-50, 3-55, 3-59, 3-96, 3-101, 3-102, 3-118,

Read about this series of posts, regarding items in a box originally owned by Belle (Lamunion) Fellows Tinker here. The cast of characters is located here. And, there is an accounting of people about whom I have little information here.

The numbering of these posts had been modified to signify that I am posting items from my archival book three, a three precedes the item number.

These photos appear to be related to the road construction that Charlie Tinker was involved in. If you haven’t read the newspaper clipping from the box, it does relate to these photos.

I found the photos so interesting that I prevailed upon a acquaintance who shall remain anonymous, to find out more about the first paving of US 131 near Paris Michigan, and received this reply:

“I have found some records (from a 1974 road and bridge trunkline atlas) indicating that the original stretch of US-131 (20′ wide pavement) from the Osceola/Mecosta county line heading south to Big Rapids (approx. 7.3 miles) was constructed in 1928.

Not sure how accurate this information is since I have never really relied upon it before. Also not sure if it even lines up with the decade you were thinking, but I assume this was the first construction.

Some of the records are sketchy, especially from this time frame. It appears there was a bridge and small 0.10 mile segment just north of Paris constructed the year after in 1929.”

This appears to be about the time that Charlie Tinker was “Working on the Road”. As I am able, I will check the newspapers from that time period to see if I can find the actual article in a paper.

Now, the photos from the collection that appear to be connected with road construction. These are all small thumbnails to save load time on the blog page. You can click them to see larger versions. This is a real blast from the past if you have see any road construction equipment recently.