August 22, 2026

A Muddy Problem – Poor Roads During The Early Days of the Automobile – c1915

An Early Automobile Sits Deeply Rutted In A Muddy Unpaved Road While A Man Stands Beside The Car And Appears To Push Or Work On It.

An early motorist struggles with an automobile sunk into deep ruts on an unpaved road in this circa-1915 photograph. The man appears to be pushing or working to free the car after its wheels dropped into the soft roadway.

Scenes like this helped explain Michigan’s growing demand for better highways. The Michigan State Highway Department had been created in 1905, and state highway leaders openly campaigned to get motorists and farmers “out of the mud.” Michigan completed the nation’s first mile of rural concrete highway on Woodward Avenue in 1909.

Look for more about this photo in the comments below.

#MichiganHistory #GoodRoads #VintageAutomobiles

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Michaela Nolte

Michaela is a history buff and loves to export historical markers and old buildings and seeks stories about Michigan and Great Lakes history. When she is not writing, you can find her with a good book sipping wine on the beach.

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