Era: 1898
Location: Washington and Main Streets
In 1898, Washington and Main Streets were paved with clay bricks containing lead, each weighing nearly 8 pounds. These streets were built to last decades—craftsmanship that puts modern construction to shame.
A story passed down through generations tells of a remarkably strong Black worker who laid bricks with such speed that onlookers made bets on how many he could lay in 8 hours. Legend has it that no one won the bet—because he laid 5,000 bricks.
The 100 block of North Washington Street held another piece of Owosso history: the second floor of one building housed the YMCA—the first place in Owosso to offer indoor showers.