Author: Michael Hardy

Michael is the owner of Thumbwind Publications LLC. It started in 2009 covering Michigan and the Upper Thumb. Today, his Michigan Moments series has established a loyal base of 110,000 followers.

All Huron County Beaches Reopen After E. Coli Retests

Posted on July 31, 2026July 31, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Caseville County Park, Port Crescent Day Use and Wagener Park were cleared Friday after follow-up water samples came back below

The History of Trout Creek Michigan – Sawmills, Railroads and Baseball

Posted on July 31, 2026July 31, 2026 by Michael Hardy

In 1912, Trout Creek had three operating sawmills. Each generated its own electricity. One company plant also supplied power to

Three Huron County Beaches Remain Closed After High E. Coli Readings

Posted on July 31, 2026July 31, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Bird Creek Bathing Beach has reopened, but three Huron County beaches remain closed after E. coli tests exceeded state safety standards.

2026 Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival – Returns Friday With Two Days of Food, Music and Family Events

Posted on July 30, 2026July 30, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Admission is free, and the weekend schedule includes live bands, vendors, historical exhibits, children’s inflatables, a petting zoo, a fun run, a car show, a cornhole tournament and Saturday night fireworks.

History of Sandusky Michigan – 9 Remarkable Changes That Built a Thumb City

Posted on July 30, 2026July 30, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Historic photographs trace Sandusky, Michigan, from its lumber-era roots into a busy county seat shaped by railroads, agriculture and local commerce. The account follows two depots, grain elevators, downtown hotels, the 1915 courthouse fire and the unusual Practical Institute of Pharmacy class photographed in 1929.

Famous Ontario Foods: 15 Canadian Classics in the Ultimate Provincial Guide

Posted on July 29, 2026July 30, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Ontario’s food identity stretches from Toronto sandwich shops and Windsor pizzerias to Thunder Bay bakeries, Niagara vineyards and Great Lakes fishing towns. These 15 dishes show what the province is known for and where each food fits.

A Local’s Guide to the Geography and Culture of Michigan’s Thumb

Posted on July 25, 2026August 9, 2026 by Michael Hardy

You might think you know exactly where the “Up North” feeling begins, but michigans thumb offers a different kind of magic that many travelers drive…

Sidnaw, Michigan History – Railroads, Logging and Roycroft Farms

Posted on July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Sidnaw, Michigan, began as a booming lumber town in the late 1800s. By the early 1900s, it had sawmills, factories, hotels, and a union depot where the Milwaukee Road and South Shore railroads crossed. Families arrived, stores opened, and farms replaced the forests.

Sikorsky S-38 Isle Royale Flight at Rock Harbor

Posted on July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 by Michael Hardy

A historic image shows a Sikorsky S-38 amphibious flying boat at Rock Harbor during Isle Royale’s early aviation era. The short video traces D. W. Wescoat’s 1932 Royale Line and the aircraft that connected the Lake Superior island with Houghton.

Michigamme Falls Ghost Town: One Photo of a Vanished U.P. Camp

Posted on July 22, 2026July 28, 2026 by Michael Hardy

One historic photograph may show a short-lived settlement near Michigamme Falls in Iron County. Log buildings, a dirt road and an early automobile survive in the image, but the camp’s identity and fate remain uncertain.