News and Events in Flat Rock, Michigan
By Joe Pagano
Notice is hereby given that the City of Flat Rock Downtown Development Authority (DDA) will hold an Informational Meeting on Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. in conjunction with the 2020 Flat Rock Business Expo at the Stone Creek Banquet Hall in the Flat Rock Community Center, located at One Maguire, Flat Rock, MI 48134.
This purpose of this informational meeting will be to share goals and direction of the authority and discuss future plans in the DDA district.
The first Euro-American settlers in Flat Rock were Michael Vreeland and his five grown sons between 1811 and 1820. Michael had been captured by British Rangers during the Revolutionary War and released after American independence.
The family purchased 800 acres (3.2 km2). The town was called the Village of Vreeland until 1838 when the Vreeland family sold off the majority of the land and relinquished control of the area. The Vreeland families built the first grain and lumber mill, having brought the grinding stones from New York.
Descendants of Michael Vreeland still live in the town and attend Flat Rock public schools, being the seventh generation to reside in the town their family founded.