Meridian Township was established by act of legislature on February 16, 1842.
To learn more about Meridian Township's history, check out the digital copy of A History of Haslett-Lake Lansing Area by Evelyn Huber Raphael. This book was digitized by Capital Area District Libraries (CADL).
After the State of Michigan Capitol was moved from Detroit to Lansing, The Village of Hamilton (now Okemos) became the stopping point for people to eat, stay overnight and relax before continuing on their journey. The roads were rough and overnight stays between Lansing and Detroit were needed for travelers.
The farming community in Haslett experienced huge growth for farmers. The tracks were a logical gathering point for farmers to ship their harvest and animals to markets. A small railroad station was soon joined by a post office and general stores. The Babbitt family constructed a store at the location. The development of plank roads and railroads played a major role in the development of the area.
In 1887, James Haslett, a wealthy businessman from Port Huron, moved to the area purchasing property at the southwest corner of Pine Lake. He used his wealth and enthusiasm for spiritualism to serve fellow believers. The goal was to offer a resort for those interested in Spiritualism in a beautiful spot. As many as 2,000 to 4,000 visitors came to the spiritualist camps each weekend during the summer. Upon James Haslett’s death in 1891, interest waned, and his widowed wife Sarah sold the property in 1898 to the Haslett Park Association.
