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.
Lakeville Michigan history unfolds through seven rare photos. See how this Oakland County village shifted from mills to summer cottages, Echo Grove Camp, and lakeside tourism.
Before automobiles, Michigan’s interurban electric railways addressed transportation challenges in small towns, offering reliable, affordable travel and freight services, thus connecting communities, enhancing local economies, and transforming daily life until the rise of cars in the 1920s.
Attica, Michigan, founded in 1851 around a sawmill, grew with the arrival of the railroad. The town developed modestly, fostering community life, where logging and lakeside recreation shaped its lasting identity despite economic challenges.
This rare photo shows a busy moment at the Huron Canning Company in Port Austin, Michigan, established in July 1910 with $20,000 in capital. The factory processed a range of produce grown across Michigan’s Thumb, including peas, kidney beans, sauerkraut, red …
The photograph depicts the now-collapsed rock arch at Loosemore Pointe, Michigan, a former attraction eroded by natural forces, preserved in this postcard as a record of the region’s geological history.
Clio, Michigan transformed from a farming outpost to an industrial hub in the early 20th century, marked by a vital railroad, local trade, and evolving community institutions, reflecting its enduring spirit and history.
Michigan discovered coal near Jackson in the 1830s. Further north coal operations started near Saginaw in the 1850s. Peaking during WWI, Sebewaing had coal mining operations up until the early 1900’s. The last coal mine was closed in 1952.
In the late 1800s, Elkton, Michigan, emerged as a frontier village, thriving on agriculture and the railroad. Post-fire in 1930, the community rebuilt its school, showcasing resilience. Elkton symbolizes small-town life shaped by farming, local businesses, and social events.
