This historical image, titled “Carsonville, Michigan – Spring, 1919,” comes from the Laurene Alice Wallace photograph collection and provides a rare glimpse into small-town life in Sanilac County, Michigan in the early 20th century. The verso note mentions that the horse-drawn implement seen in the image is a snow-ice plow, a vital tool used in rural Michigan for clearing roads before the widespread adoption of motorized snow removal equipment. The presence of both horse-drawn and early automobiles highlights the transitional period between traditional and modern transportation.
The wooden storefronts and two-story buildings reflect a typical small-town business district of the era, featuring a general store, local businesses, and a restaurant or parlor. The brick building on the far right is the only structure still standing as of 1954, indicating significant changes to Carsonville’s streetscape over the decades. The muddy, unpaved street is another reminder of the time before modern road infrastructure. This photograph captures a moment of daily life in a Michigan Thumb community, showing the blend of agriculture, commerce, and evolving technology that shaped local economies in the early 20th century.
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