In 1917 the city of Detroit negotiated the purchase of eight farms in Northville Township and began development of a 900 acre TB sanatorium. William H. Maybury, a Detroiter played an important role in the development of the sanatorium. Owned and operated by the city of Detroit, it became internationally acclaimed and visited by dignitaries from around the world. The sanatorium named after Maybury is no longer in existence; however, the name Maybury lives on with the Maybury State Park that occupies the property of the old sanatorium.

  William H Maybury was a well-to-do bachelor who had retired from a successful real-estate business at the age of 37.

  It was Maybury whom almost single handedly supervised the construction of the sanatorium. He borrowed a team of horses from Howard Whipple, a local farmer. Whipple hitched the team to a plow with Maybury leading the way on foot. Together they wandered up and down the land plowing a single furrow. That furrow marked the roads that were built in Maybury back around 1918. The roads still exist today in the interior of the park and are used for the trails. Maybury was boundered by Seven and Eight mile road and Beck and Napier Roads. Maybury Sanatorium was opened in 1921, at that time it was called Detroit Municipal Tuberculosis Sanatorium. Later the name changed to Spring Hill Sanatorium. And finally to Maybury Sanatorium until it shut down.

  Sometime in the fall of 1931 Maybury grown seriously ill, having been infected ironically with the same disease for which the sanatorium was created. His was a terminal case and Maybury spent his last days on the farm he loved so much. On November 4, 1931, Maybury who created Maybury sanatorium and after whom today's first state park in Wayne County is named died in the Maybury farmhouse.

  Improved technology in TB treatment resulted in a decline of patients, and in 1963 the city of Detroit began considering phasing out the sanatorium. The facility finally shut down on August 4, 1969.

  On February 11, 1971, the Michigan Natural Resource Commission authorized the Department of Natural Resources to negotiate with the city of Detroit to purchase the Maybury property. On March 14, 1972, the Parks Division took possession of the property. Following two years of demolition and rebuilding, Maybury State Park officially opened on May 1, 1975.

  Maybury State Park located and developed to provide people in the metropolitan area an opportunity to engage in outdoor recreation activities in a state park setting. Special emphasis is given to introducing people to the natural features of our environment who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience it. This is accomplished by a design that encourages visitors to explore the park interior, and by providing a variety of facilities for school groups and various youth organizations.

  Today the park has 945 acres of gently rolling terrain, open meadows, mature forest, a small pond, a variety of wildlife, and abundant wildflowers. It has several picnic areas, a farm, a day camp building, a riding stable, cross-country skiing and over 31 miles of trails.

   Information for this page was provided by Maybury State Park. Thank You!

Always Remember Them!