Category: History

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.

Short History of the Bad Axe Chicory Plant and the Muller Coffee Substitute Era, c. 1909–1912

Posted on August 17, 2025January 9, 2026 by Michael Hardy

An early-1900s photo captures the Bad Axe chicory plant tied to the railroad and regional farms. Operated by E. B. Muller & Co., it supported Michigan’s coffee-substitute trade in the first half of the 20th century.

Huron Milling Company in Harbor Beach – A Glimpse into Michigan’s Industrial Past

Posted on August 14, 2025August 13, 2025 by Michael Hardy

This historic photograph captures the sprawling Huron Milling Company complex in Harbor Beach, Michigan, a major employer and economic driver in the early to mid-20th century. With its multi-story brick structure, water tower, and rail connections, the mill played a central role in processing grain and feeding regional markets.

Michigan Tourist Towers – 7 Forgotten Roadside Marvels That Once Ruled the Highways – Video

Posted on August 7, 2025October 5, 2025 by Michael Hardy

Michigan’s beautiful landscape of rolling hills, sparkling lakes, and thick forests inspired early 20th-century entrepreneurs to build scenic lookout towers

History of Gilford Michigan – From 1800s Pioneer Settlement to Agriculture Powerhouse – Video

Posted on July 31, 2025October 5, 2025 by Michael Hardy

From steam trains to sugar beets, the history of Gilford, Michigan reveals a remarkable journey of a rural town shaped by railroads, farming, faith, and lasting community spirit.

The History of Caseville Harbor – Evolution of Ship Building, Industry, Fishing and Tourism

Posted on July 29, 2025July 29, 2025 by Michael Hardy

Historical pictures that shows Caseville Harbor from about 1941. This offers a glimpse of the history of Caseville Harbor. Looking out to Saginaw Bay, the only building that remains today is the Huron Yacht Club.

Ora Labora Michigan – A Little Colony in the Wilderness of Wild Fowl Bay – Part 1

Posted on July 28, 2025July 28, 2025 by Michael Hardy

Located near present day Bay Port, Ora Labora known as “Christian German Agricultural and Benevolent Society of Ora et Labora” (Pray and Work), where it’s parishioners could combine work with prayer, and live according to the Methodist Church Discipline. Founded in 1862 on Michigan’s Wild Fowl Bay, the colony disappeared in 1867.

Rich History of Bach Michigan – One of the Thumbs 3 “Sister Hamlet’s” in the Early 1900s – Video

Posted on July 27, 2025December 9, 2025 by Michael Hardy

Once a vital railroad and farm hub in Michigan’s Thumb, Bach’s history reflects the hopes of its founder and the harsh turns of the Great Depression. Explore its German-American roots, boom years, and quiet fade into rural obscurity.

It’s 1913 – Ladies Who Puff? Get Cuffed — Grand Rapids Cops Arrest a Smoker

Posted on July 27, 2025July 27, 2025 by Michael Hardy

In 1913, Grand Rapids police arrested a woman for smoking a cigarette in a public park. The case sheds light on outdated norms and how public behavior was policed.