News & Fun in Michigan
We examine stories and events that shaped the history of the Upper Thumb and Michigan. While we focus on the Thumb region, other Great Lakes historical events are covered. Major events include the lumbering era and the 1871 and 1881 great fires. We cover major pioneers and personalities that shaped the region. To hear many of our best stories, visit and subscribe to our Podcast, “The End of the Road in Michigan.”
Our best Michigan history posts are found below.
At the turn of the 20th century, Bad Axe, Michigan, thrived with commerce, featuring horse-drawn wagons and the New Schrader House hotel. This era’s essence is captured in a postcard, highlighting community, travel, and civic pride, now replaced by modernity.
The historic photo depicts C. Haist and Company’s Store in Kilmanagh, Michigan, circa late 1800s. It highlights the store’s role as a community hub and features Italianate architecture typical of the era.
This vintage photograph of Caseville, Michigan, likely taken in the late 1930s or early 1940s, captures a slice of everyday life on Main Street during a quieter era. The image prominently features LeBlanc’s General Store, a recognizable storefront advertising, “We Sell …
The early 1900s Michigan Central Railroad Depot in Vassar, Michigan, a Romanesque-influenced structure, continues to serve as the operational office for Huron and Eastern Railway Company, linking its rich rail history to ongoing regional freight commerce today.
In the late 19th century, the Kennedy-McCoy Hotel thrived in Port Crescent, Michigan, before relocating to Kinde as the Grand Central Hotel, adapting through historical changes. It served as a community hub for over a century before closing in the 1980s.
In a small-town escapade, two couples elope, only to be thwarted by vigilant fathers who pursue them after a hotelkeeper alerts them. The incident highlights youthful rebellion and the challenges of escaping parental oversight.
This photograph from around 1900 showcases Kinde, Michigan’s Main Street, highlighting the brick and wood storefronts and a busy rural economy. It documents local businesses, transportation challenges, and the town’s role in agricultural development post-lumber boom.
Harbor Beach Resort Association in Michigan, founded in 1896, is a historic summer community with rustic cottages, active membership, and communal dining. It showcases Michigan’s elite vacation traditions, preserving family-oriented charm while providing various recreational amenities and maintaining exclusivity through selective membership.
