Surveyors work to uncover Indiana-Michigan border

by John Paul (jpaul@wsbt.com)

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Indiana-Michigan border

Nearly 180 years ago, surveyors used hundreds of miles of posts to identify the border between Indiana and Michigan. Today, surveyors are on a quest to find those posts. (Photo courtesy John McNamara)

By WSBT News1

SOUTH BEND — Portions of the Indiana and Michigan state line are missing. The line was originally surveyed more than 100 years ago. Now, the search is on to find hundreds of miles of posts identifying the state's original border.

For surveyors, searching for the posts is a difficult job, and expensive too. Volunteers are helping to find many of the original posts that mark the states' natural borders, but the project is still estimated to reach the million dollar mark for work that is expected to last five years in all sorts of terrain.

Some people told WSBT News they think they'd be able to find the Michigan-Indiana border while driving on Route 31 or Interstate 94, but they would have a difficult time finding the border on farmland or in the forest.

Surveyors from the two neighboring states face a similar problem. They hope to find 105 miles of border set back in 1827.

"We have done a lot of research to find where the corner was originally set," said John Kamer, a Berrien County surveyor.

Surveyors from both states are working together. Over the years, they have found dozens of the original posts which were staked into the ground. Some were found in a variety of places in and around rivers, lakes, forests and farms.

St. Joseph County Surveyor John McNamara believes the location of the missing line benefits the public especially regarding property taxes, state jurisdictions and crimes that happen along the border. He said, "If you prosecute in the wrong state, you can't then correct it in the future. It would be double jeopardy."

During the Berrien County commissioners meeting Thursday morning, a resolution was supported by the board calling for state legislatures to move closer to having licensed surveyors from both states to replace lost posts along the border.

Tuesday, Aug 5 at 11:33 AM YTOWN FAN wrote ...

I just love John Paul -- what a treat for South Bend and a tragedy for Youngstown! Go JP!!!

Saturday, Jul 26 at 9:46 AM Jim from St. Joseph wrote ...

I believe the survey is being done to see who has the right to any oil mineral rights, especially south of US 12. I have lived in this area all my life and have seen many oil wells drilled in the '60's and '70's that have since been capped off but still produce enough to fuel this area for a long time.

Saturday, Jul 26 at 9:33 AM Reggie wrote ...

Any state would be blessed to have Granger in it as Grangerites actually pay there taxes! If you're so jealous of Granger a) get educated to earn a better paying job, b) pretend to be a foreign exchange student to witness how it is to live on the "other side," or option c) win the lottery (sad to say but this is the only likely chance you'd ever have to be a Grangerite).

Friday, Jul 25 at 9:16 PM Willis wrote ...

You joke, but just wait till them 'ganders' start coming across our border stealing our jobs! We can't just FIND the border, we need to fence it, patrol it and send anyone who comes across back where they belong!

Friday, Jul 25 at 8:09 PM LmNo wrote ...

Boundaries are important, whether a state boundary or a personal space boundary. All crime can be boiled down into refusing to accept boundaries. Selfish people let their dogs roam, park in other people's spaces, make noise at all hours, take things that aren't theirs and figuratively walk all over others. Perhaps it doesn't matter to most people where M ends & I begins, but it might be good for society to start thinking about boundaries-but TJ is right. Start w/ the US/Mexico border.

Friday, Jul 25 at 7:25 PM Jack wrote ...

The federal government directed the original surveyor to mark the line with wood posts, known to rot fairly fast 180 years ago. The posts as set define the line. The PA/MD border used granite posts in 1767 and they're still in good shape. The Indiana line doesn't vary by more than 600 feet north and south from end to end. Send in the GPS coordinates from 1827 and they will be used.

Friday, Jul 25 at 5:50 PM dumb wrote ...

Waste of time and money.

Friday, Jul 25 at 3:39 PM Easy wrote ...

Wait til Sunday then drive around the general area looking for liquor store parking lots full of cars with Indiana plates, draw a line between them and there's yer border. IN residents just love donating sales tax to other states!

Friday, Jul 25 at 10:19 AM MM wrote ...

why is it the state can move their property line but we the people can't?statue of limitations should apply to govt too.

Friday, Jul 25 at 9:37 AM ELKHART wrote ...

what a waste of money and time.

Friday, Jul 25 at 9:12 AM Harry wrote ...

Please oh please tell me Granger is not in Michigan. We have heard nothing but how rude those people are.

Friday, Jul 25 at 8:55 AM Anonymous wrote ...

You mean it's possible the property I bought five years ago might be in Michigan, and I can avoid paying Luecke all this tax money!!!!!!!!!

Friday, Jul 25 at 8:48 AM Anon wrote ...

This is a waste of time and money that could be put towards more important things. We've made it this long without knowing for sure. This should not rate in the high priority column.

Friday, Jul 25 at 7:42 AM TJ wrote ...

How about putting that money and time into finding the border between Mexico and the U.S.A.

Friday, Jul 25 at 7:26 AM What the wrote ...

What is this job security work for our surveyor? 100 years later and now we worry? If I'm not mistaken there are coordinates to tell where the line/border is (or should be) and if the county was keeping with their records and doing their job this shouldn't be such a difficult task. Use the known coordinates and GPS and voila - there you have it. And if that's too difficult google it DUH

Friday, Jul 25 at 7:22 AM Politico wrote ...

Maybe Granger is really in Michigan!

Friday, Jul 25 at 6:11 AM doesn't matter wrote ...

a million dollars and five years of effort? Just leave it alone and spend that money on other things they are cutting back on due to lack of property taxes.

Friday, Jul 25 at 12:15 AM Goshen wrote ...

Pretty good, when a surveyor can't tell you for sure what state he's standing in...

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