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.
Bay City’s story runs with the Saginaw River. After lumber waned, shipyards, cranes, sugar, and catalog homes drove growth. Fires reshaped downtown. Wenonah Park became the front door on the water.
Armada’s early photos reveal a small town in motion—fair arches over Main Street, a rail depot linking farms to markets, and a 1915 Carnegie library that still serves readers. This is how a crossroads became a community.
Lakeville Michigan history unfolds through rare photos. See how this Oakland County village shifted from mills to summer cottages, Echo Grove Camp, and lakeside tourism.
In the early 1900s, Birch Run, Michigan, transformed from a quiet rail stop into a bustling small town. The Pere Marquette line, interurban railway, and Main Street merchants powered its rise.
Explore the history of Emmett, Michigan — a railroad village born in the 1850s and shaped by faith, farming, and the Grand Trunk Railway. Discover how this small town grew into a symbol of rural Michigan life.
The Wallace Roller Mill was built in 1887 on the shore of Lake Huron. The mill was the first in the area to diversify from grindstone quarry and milling operations.
The stone structure stands today providing four vacation condos.
The Grindstone City Quarry powered a small Michigan town that shipped grindstones across the world. This straight-ahead story explains how it grew, why demand collapsed, and what visitors can still see on Lake Huron. A sharp look at a boom and a bust.
An 1842 map marked “Zappapoiton” and “Zappapoie River” at present-day White Rock. The stream is now Elm Creek. This piece explains the labels, the location, and why the names disappeared.
