Fascinating Loosemore Point Legend – The Driftwood Castle and “Indian Gold” Myth in Michigan’s Thumb
We examine a local legend of Indian gold and a hermit who made a castle at Loosemore point near the tip of Michigan’s Thumb.
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.
Defunct Michigan Automakers – 8 Tough Lessons from the Michigan’s Lost Car Companies
Defunct Michigan automakers once filled Detroit, Lansing and Kalamazoo with factories, jobs and big promises. This feature profiles Packard, Hudson, AMC, REO, Hupmobile, Detroit Electric and Checker, and explains how each tried to stand against the Big Three before finally closing the doors.
November 11, 1911 Cyclone at Owosso, Michigan- The Night the City Never Forgot – Video
The History of November 11, 1911 Cyclone at Owosso Michigan begins like many Midwestern stories, with an ordinary Saturday that turned strange. The day was unseasonably warm. Families in Owosso, a factory town on the Shiawassee River, went about their business …
History of Chesaning Michigan – Big Rock Beginnings
Chesaning grew along the Shiawassee with mills, farms, rail service, and Main Street parades. See how a Chippewa place-name and early industry shaped a Michigan river town between 1900 and 1930.
History of Saginaw Michigan – 9 Essential Turning Points That Built a Proud River City – Video
See how a river, a merger, and a shift from lumber to factories shaped Saginaw, Michigan. Bridges, phones, and the Hoyt Library mark a city learning new trades—and planning for the next season.
History of Bay City Michigan – Streetcars, Sugar, and Shipwrights: A Very Busy River Town – Video
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 Michigan History – Fair Week 1909, Trains, and a Carnegie Library
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 – Early Days of Resorts, Camps, and Cottage Life (1880-1940) – Video
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.