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.

Inside Camp Jeanette – A 1930s Waterford Summer for Detroit Kids

Posted on January 26, 2026June 13, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Boys crowd around a long worktable inside Camp Jeanette in Waterford, Michigan, a children’s camp tied to the Good Samaritans

Cabins and Supplies on U.S. 2: Miller’s at Little Hog Island (1958)

Posted on January 26, 2026February 23, 2026 by Michael Hardy

A 1958 glimpse of U.P. travel: Miller’s General Store at Jim and Mort Miller’s Cabins near Little Hog Island, where U.S. 2 drivers stopped for gas, supplies, and a night near Lake Michigan.

The Littlest Doctor’s House Call (Goebel’s Malt Extract)

Posted on January 25, 2026February 23, 2026 by Michael Hardy

This is an early 1900s advertising postcard for Goebel’s Malt Extract, showing kids playing “doctor” — a little “patient” resting

Linkville Michigan History (1890–1930) A Small But Viberent Thumb Farming Town that Vanished – Video

Posted on January 25, 2026February 23, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Linkville, a small unincorporated village in Michigan, thrived between 1890 and 1930 as a farming community and key railroad stop. However, post office closures and improved transportation led to its decline, leaving St. Paul Lutheran Church as its enduring landmark.

History of Berne Michigan – A 1900 Snapshot of this Forgotten Ghost Town

Posted on January 25, 2026February 23, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Berne, Michigan was a quiet farming hamlet in 1900. This report covers daily life—farming, schoolhouses, church gatherings—and the families who helped build this rural Thumb-area village.

Amazing History of Walled Lake Michigan – 16 Old Photos Showing a Lakeside Boomtown

Posted on January 22, 2026April 18, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Once a quiet farming village, Walled Lake became one of Michigan’s busiest summer destinations. Dance halls, amusement rides, and lakeside crowds reshaped the town between 1890 and 1940.

The Extraordinary History of Greenville Michigan – (1900-1950)

Posted on January 21, 2026February 23, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Greenville, Michigan transformed from a logging settlement into a major industrial center between 1900 and 1950. Refrigerator factories, truck manufacturing, and a rare World War II glider project funded by local students placed this small town firmly on the national map.

Michigan Salt Industry History – 1800s Thumb Production, Decline & What Remains Today

Posted on January 14, 2026January 14, 2026 by Michael Hardy

The production of salt from the deep brine wells around the Upper Thumb propelled the fishing industry to national prominence because they could preserve fish.