Edward N. Hines
Encyclopedia
Edward N. Hines was a member of the Wayne County
, Michigan
, Road Commission from 1906 to 1938. He is one of the most important innovators in road development.
As a cyclist in 1890, Hines formed a Good Roads organization in Michigan which advocated for the development of county roads. This led to the passage of the County Road Law in 1893 and a change to Michigan's Constitution in 1894. During this time, Hines was president of the Detroit Wheelmen cycling club, chief consul of League of American Wheelmen's Michigan Division. He also served briefly as vice-president of the League of American Wheelmen in 1901 while fellow Detroiter Horatio Earle
served as president.
Hines was appointed to the Wayne County Board of Roads at its inception in 1903, along with Henry Ford
and Cass R. Benton. In 1909, Hines (in conjunction with Horatio Earle
) was responsible for the construction of the first full mile of concrete road pavement in the world, the stretch of Woodward Avenue between Six Mile and Seven Mile Roads in Detroit.
Hines originated the concept of painting a line down the center of a road to separate traffic in opposing directions. The idea came to him after watching a leaky milk wagon leave a trail down the street. Painted center lines were first used on River Road, in Trenton
, in Wayne County, in 1911. By 1922, all major roads in Wayne County had center lines. This simple idea has since been recognized as one of the most important single traffic safety devices in the history of highway transportation.
Snow removal
from public roads was another of Hines' innovations.
Hines was a national leader in the concept of landscaping highway rights-of-way. He was instrumental in movements to beautify highways by eliminating power lines and billboards. In the 1920s Hines was a leader in the movement to acquire land along the Huron River
and the Rouge River
, for the purpose of converting them into parks. In 1937, the Middle Rouge Parkway was renamed the Edward N. Hines Parkway, in his honor. The nearly 20 mile long park surrounding this road is also named Edward Hines Park in his honor. The park passes thru the municipalities of Dearborn
, Dearborn Heights
, Westland
, Livonia
, Plymouth Township
and Northville Township
, Michigan.
In 1935, Hines was awarded the George S. Bartlett Award, for outstanding contribution to highway progress.
In 2011, Hines received the Paul Mijksenaar Design for Function Award.
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, Road Commission from 1906 to 1938. He is one of the most important innovators in road development.
As a cyclist in 1890, Hines formed a Good Roads organization in Michigan which advocated for the development of county roads. This led to the passage of the County Road Law in 1893 and a change to Michigan's Constitution in 1894. During this time, Hines was president of the Detroit Wheelmen cycling club, chief consul of League of American Wheelmen's Michigan Division. He also served briefly as vice-president of the League of American Wheelmen in 1901 while fellow Detroiter Horatio Earle
Horatio Earle
Horatio Sawyer Earle is known as the "Father of Good Roads" or simply Horatio "Good Roads" Earle.-Early life:Earle was born February 14, 1855 on a farm in Mount Holly, Vermont. He married Agnes Lincoln in 1874 and they had a son, Romeo Horatio Earle in 1878...
served as president.
Hines was appointed to the Wayne County Board of Roads at its inception in 1903, along with Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
and Cass R. Benton. In 1909, Hines (in conjunction with Horatio Earle
Horatio Earle
Horatio Sawyer Earle is known as the "Father of Good Roads" or simply Horatio "Good Roads" Earle.-Early life:Earle was born February 14, 1855 on a farm in Mount Holly, Vermont. He married Agnes Lincoln in 1874 and they had a son, Romeo Horatio Earle in 1878...
) was responsible for the construction of the first full mile of concrete road pavement in the world, the stretch of Woodward Avenue between Six Mile and Seven Mile Roads in Detroit.
Hines originated the concept of painting a line down the center of a road to separate traffic in opposing directions. The idea came to him after watching a leaky milk wagon leave a trail down the street. Painted center lines were first used on River Road, in Trenton
Trenton, Michigan
Trenton is a small city in Wayne County in the southeast portion of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,853...
, in Wayne County, in 1911. By 1922, all major roads in Wayne County had center lines. This simple idea has since been recognized as one of the most important single traffic safety devices in the history of highway transportation.
Snow removal
Snow removal
Snow removal is the job of removing snow after a snowfall to make travel easier and safer. This is done by both individual households and by governments and institutions.-De-icing and anti-icing:...
from public roads was another of Hines' innovations.
Hines was a national leader in the concept of landscaping highway rights-of-way. He was instrumental in movements to beautify highways by eliminating power lines and billboards. In the 1920s Hines was a leader in the movement to acquire land along the Huron River
Huron River
Huron River may refer to:*Huron River in southeast Michigan that empties into Lake Erie*Huron River or Big Huron River in the northern Upper Peninsula of Michigan that empties into Lake Superior...
and the Rouge River
River Rouge (Michigan)
The River Rouge, also known as the Rouge River, is a river in the Metro Detroit area of southeastern Michigan. It flows into the Detroit River at Zug Island, which is the boundary between the cities of River Rouge and Detroit....
, for the purpose of converting them into parks. In 1937, the Middle Rouge Parkway was renamed the Edward N. Hines Parkway, in his honor. The nearly 20 mile long park surrounding this road is also named Edward Hines Park in his honor. The park passes thru the municipalities of Dearborn
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
, Dearborn Heights
Dearborn Heights, Michigan
Dearborn Heights is a city in Wayne County, in the Detroit metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 57,774 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Westland
Westland, Michigan
Westland is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located about west of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,094.-Politics:...
, Livonia
Livonia, Michigan
Livonia is a city in the northwest part of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods connected to the metropolitan area by freeways. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest...
, Plymouth Township
Plymouth Township, Michigan
The Charter Township of Plymouth is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 27,524 at the 2010 census...
and Northville Township
Northville Township, Michigan
Northville Township, or The Charter Township of Northville, is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb in Metro Detroit. The population was 28,497 at the 2010 census....
, Michigan.
In 1935, Hines was awarded the George S. Bartlett Award, for outstanding contribution to highway progress.
In 2011, Hines received the Paul Mijksenaar Design for Function Award.
External links
- MDOT-Edward N. Hines (1870-1938)
- "The Sunday Drive" from The Detroit News
- Detroit's Edward Hines: cyclist and road doctor
- "Chronology of Auto Safety Firsts" in: Book Doctor Gwen