Livingston Today

City of Linden issued the following announcement on Nov 16.

The Michigan SHPO and National Park Service welcome the City of Linden, Michigan- Administrative Offices as Michigan’s newest Certified Local Government (CLG) community! The CLG program is a preservation partnership between local, state and national governments focused on promoting historic preservation at the local level. This national program is jointly administered by the National Park Service (NPS) and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in each state.

Located in southwest Genesee County, Linden was first settled in 1835 by two brothers, Richard and Perry Lamb, and the Linden subdivision was platted a few years later. Linden was incorporated as a village in 1871 by an act of the Legislature. An early grist mill was established on the north bank of the Shiawassee River and a saw mill on the south bank of the river. In 1857, the railroad at the north end of town was laid, and as a result the Village of Linden grew and its economy flourished. Linden became a center for buggy and barrel manufacturing, cement production and foundry work. The Linden Mill, constructed in 1871, continued to operate until the 1950s. It was later purchased by the city and restored as a civic center. 

In 2021, the city celebrated its sesquicentennial, recognizing the history and special places in the community. The city is home to a central historic district, listed in the National Register and designated as a local history district, and notable individual resources such as the Linden Mill, which is listed in both the State and National Register of Historic Places and stands as a reminder of the community’s history, supported by the efforts of local organizations such as the Linden Mills Historical Society. The Linden Hotel, established in 1840, is believed to be the longest continuously operating business in Genesee County.

As the city plans for its future, it has made a commitment to making sure recognition and preservation of important heritage assets is a priority. “I thank city staff and the Historic District Commissioners for pursuing this opportunity to take our city’s historic preservation knowledge to the next level, to better serve our residents and businesses. It is an honor and we hope we have made our community proud,” said Linden City Manager Ellen Glass. “We are grateful for the CLG program resources available, such as additional training opportunities for our Historic District Commissioners and the public, as well as potential prioritized funding outlets that will benefit our community as a whole.”

We welcome Linden to the CLG program and look forward to working more closely together. To learn more about the CLG program, visit http://www.michigan.gov/CLGgrants.

Original source can be found here.