CACHE: Park and grab. High traffic area at times, but safe parking at GZ.
HISTORY: This area was one of the first official settlements in Lapeer County, after that of Almont. It was also known as Belle Arbor, the Belle River flows through here. It was named and established around 1830 by the Reverend Luther Shaw who came here from Ohio, but was from New York. He came with a group from Vermont. It was said that as many as 25 families settled on the banks of the Belle River and lived in their covered wagons for a season while building makeshift shanties from wood they cut from the land. They formed a church in one of the homes in 1836 but merged their congregation with Almont Village by the mid-1840's. Malaria devastated the settlement and many of those who didn't survive are buried in a mass grave in Webster Cemetery. Those who did manage to persevere became successful farmers, one dairy farmer made cheese and delivered it as far away as Detroit and Windsor. There was also a small mill, a cooper and blacksmith in this area. The settlement didn't become a business hub because the river was easily navigated once it was cleared. Getting to Lesterville and Memphis to the east by boat was just as easy as it was to get to Almont by horse. They also interacted with settlements at Allenton and Berville. So although an official town didn't become of Shaw Settlement, it still left it's mark on Lapeer County History. Many of the elder children from the original families moved north into Imlay Township, creating what is the smaller of the two cities in the county. Almont has always remained a village.