"Most people don't have strong opinions about roads ... unless they're complaining about potholes," said Ron Anderson, who lives on Wayzata's Bushaway Road.
While Anderson probably knows a couple of reoccurring potholes he could easily grumble about, he has chosen instead to speak out on a different aspect of his neighborhood street - its historical value. This year, Bushaway Road celebrates its 150th anniversary.
That's one old road, one of the oldest in the state. And actually, since the state is also commemorating its 150th year, that would mean Bushaway Road and Minnesota are kind of like twins. Almost.
Minnesota was granted statehood in May of 1858. Five months later, in October of that same year, the state officially surveyed the land. In November 1858, the new state gave its stamp of approval for Bushaway to be built.
For Anderson, this nugget of Minnesota trivia has served as a call to action, especially once he discovered Hennepin County had plans to widen and straighten Bushaway Road. The thin and curvy roadway begins south of Wayzata Boulevard and ends after the bridge over Grays Bay.
"After seeing the plans," Anderson said, "it became apparent the county was being really generous in helping itself to land so it could change the road."
"The county wants 8-foot shoulders, and then 2 feet for curbing and then another 10 feet for something called a boulevard, which would be extra space in case a car is swerving," Anderson said.
"Bushaway is heavily treed on both sides. Now imagine the road twice as wide as it is now. Hundreds, if not thousands, of trees would have to be removed, and the county agrees to that. They say they will replant, but replanting means tiny trees that will take a hundred years to grow back to what we have now," Anderson said.
Anderson is not the sole Bushaway resident concerned about the loss of trees. Since June, when the county's project was revealed, neighbors have been meeting to discuss and protest the upcoming construction. They have been meeting on an almost weekly basis to strategize and determine a course of action.
They have also been researching the history of Bushaway and the homes that line it. "I moved to Bushaway 18 years ago," Anderson said, "and until this year, I wasn't aware of the historical background of where I lived, of the cultural richness here."
The cultural richness to which he speaks includes fire pits on Locust Hill built by Native Americans. It also includes a small cabin built by French fur trappers, who worked the area in the 1700s. The cabin, although hidden from view while driving on the road, still stands on what is now private land.
Bushaway neighbors also learned that before their road was a road, it was part of a popular wagon trail that ran directly between Shakopee, which sits on the Minnesota River, and the town of Dayton, which sits on the Mississippi. This wagon trail bit of Bushaway's history is probably one of the key reasons the road was given its go-a-head by Minnesota so early on in its statehood.
In addition, many of the homes on Bushaway were designed by prominent architects of the time for important Minnesota families, like the Pipers.
Several of Bushaway's historic homes include stone fences along the roadway, and those fence owners are worried. If the current plans are allowed to go through, those fences may be destroyed.
Another structure in possible danger is the carriage house of what is known as the Brooks Estate. For those who don't live on the road and therefore aren't intimately familiar with its addresses, this carriage house is one of the most visible buildings along Bushaway. Its white stucco and heavy, overhanging roof give off the impression of an English countryside cottage.
This summer, once county officials had installed wooden stakes up and down Bushaway Road to plot their future construction course, Anderson got out there and trekked every inch of the street. He was joined by his neighbors and county engineers.
"The engineers said it would be no problem to preserve that carriage house," Anderson said, "but then we walked the road and looked at their stakes to identify what the future footprint of the road would be. The carriage house wouldn't go, but its stone fence would."
"That property is up for sale right now. If the road construction is allowed to go through and that fence is lost, it would leave the carriage house so exposed that I wouldn't be surprised if the future owners decided to do something else with the space," Anderson said.
One other house, the Morris house, also stands to loose its fence, which would bring the new road close to the home.
While Bushaway's residents are opposed to many of the county's construction plans, they do agree with portions of the project. For example, the plans call for the burying of all utility lines; residents would happily embrace this change.
Also, residents agree that the intersection at McGinty Road should be improved for safety reasons, and that as construction picks up in the Locust Hill development, a center turn lane should be installed.
They also agree that some additional guardrails along the Grays Bay Bridge would help keep walkers and bikers on track and out of traffic's way.
By and large, though, Bushaway residents have found they share a surprising passion for local history - their own.
Resident Irene Stemmer has headed the neighborhood's history efforts. Neighbors have volunteered details about their homes' ownership history and the legends they've heard about Bushaway's past lives. Several neighbors have even ventured forth and attended meetings of the Wayzata Historical Society.
On Nov. 1, Bushaway residents are hosting a public party at the Wayzata City Hall to celebrate their road and tell its story.
They hope that by sharing Bushaway's history, they will be able to gain more support for their efforts to protect the road. They especially hope that a room full of vocal residents will voice concerns at a City Council meeting scheduled for Dec. 1, when construction will be the topic of discussion.
Anderson plans to attend both the upcoming party and the City Council meeting, and he's trying to realistic about what changes he and his neighbors can affect.
"Construction is supposed to start in 2010," he said, "and we want to make sure there is no double speak, that they aren't telling us what we want to hear, but planning for something different."
"You know, plans get approved, but then they start to change, small little modifications here and there," Anderson said. "We need to stay on top of all the details."
"There is a prevailing belief in our country that development is good, whatever it may be," said Anderson, "but development doesn't always serve the right values, be they environmental values or cultural values."
