Village Incorporations
As population increased in Grosse Pointe, the need for more sophisticated local government became apparent, and incorporations began in 1879 with Grosse Pointe Village. It stretched from Cadieux Road all the way to Weir Lane, a remnant of which can be seen today at the end of Kercheval. Temperance sentiments were growing in almost every part of the country, and the division into two villages came in 1893, when residents northeast of Fisher Road objected to liquor sales at Termont's roadhouse at approximately Alger Place. They went their separate way as the Village of Grosse Pointe Farms.
In 1907, that portion of the Village of Fairview up to Alter Road was absorbed by the City of Detroit; the Alter-to-Cadieux portion then incorporated as the Village of Grosse Pointe Park. The Village of Grosse Pointe Shores was incorporated in 1911, encompassing all of its present area and Lake Township of Macomb County. The Village of Lochmoor, forerunner of Grosse Pointe Woods, incorporated in 1927, and annexed the Stanhope-Allard strip in 1931.
The Pointe's Roadhouses
Sometime before 1850 the popular roadhouse, Hudson House, was sold to people named Fisher, from whom the road takes its name. Later owners moved the business down Jefferson to where Notre Dame is now, and sold the old site to the forerunner of the Country Club of Detroit. Additional roadhouses soon were thriving on the patronage of local people, as well as that of city folks. The bill-of-fare at each featured strictly provincial foods from neighboring waters, farms and orchards. "Fish, frog and chicken" were the attractions. Locally made apple brandy (the habitants' favorite, calvados) and l'Europe (peaches basking in rum) were served with pride. Contemporary writers praised "frog fricassee" as well as the Pointe's strawberries and cherries.
The attitude that laws are made for other people was characteristic of some of the proprietors and some of their clientele; cockfights and heavy betting were common at several of the roadhouses. Some hotel hosts filled their tills in other questionable ways. At the other extreme, several of the establishments catered to families. Politicians had their favorite gathering place, as did people with Belgian roots, and other groups of friends.
