News History & Fun in Michigan
Falmouth, Michigan, had an early brush with county government, but its lasting story came from work. Rail service, lumber, dairy, farm tools, banking and general stores turned the Missaukee County town into a practical hub for rural families.
The Drayton Plains hatchery was not just a pretty pond. In 1918, it was part of Michigan’s push to raise fish, stock public waters and manage nature by hand.
Belding, Michigan, became one of West Michigan’s most unusual factory towns, built on silk mills, company boarding houses, rail traffic, iceboxes and a busy Main Street.
Watch rare photos and learn how Prudenville, Michigan transformed from a lumber settlement into a thriving Houghton Lake destination built on fishing, hunting, tourism, dance halls, and family vacations that shaped northern Michigan.
Caseville transformed from an industrial hub in the late 1800s, characterized by fishing and lumbering, to a modern tourist destination. Its economy shifted towards tourism, attracting visitors with beaches and events, while its industrial past remains evident in historical sites and buildings.
Caro, Michigan, became more than a county seat. Its growth came from sugar beets, railroads, hospitals, public offices, electric power and the Caro Fair. This look back shows how one Thumb town became a working center for farm families, merchants and travelers.
The 1908 Metz Fire destroyed the village of Metz, Michigan, and killed 37 people. Hundreds were left homeless. The most painful chapter came when a Detroit & Mackinac Railway relief train derailed after intense heat damaged the rails near Nowicki’s Siding.
Lake Gogebic resorts once gave Marenisco and the western Upper Peninsula a full summer economy. Cabins, tap rooms, dining rooms, boat landings, public parks and fishing docks turned a former timber region into a vacation place families returned to for generations.
