The Fading Days of Michigan’s Bach General Store
The Bach General Store, long since closed. Once the center of the community, these shops were common in the days before Walmart and Dollar General.
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.
The Lucky History And Amazing #1 Power of the Caro Michigan Dam
The history and story behind the 115 year old Caro Michigan River Dam. It’s been a home to Native Americans and early Michigan settlers.
The Dam is falling into significant disrepair. If it fails the Cass river would become a mere creek which would greatly impact recreational boating and fishing.
Fortunately there is interest in refurbishing the historic structure.
A Lost Lumber and Company Town – New River Michigan
On the shores of Lake Huron near the tip of Michigan’s Thumb is a well appointed cottage community that used to be a thriving company lumber town. New River Michigan as been almost erased by time and nature.
A Short History of The Saginaw Bay Fishery
Historically, Saginaw Bay supported Lake Huron’s largest commercial walleye fishery and was second in the Great Lakes to only Lake Erie.
The earliest commercial fisheries dated to the 1830s, and walleye were specifically noted in catch records as early as 1858.
36 Months of The Flint Michigan Water Crisis Timeline
As a result of the corrosive nature of the Flint River water and mismanagement by all of the appointed emergency managers, the Flint city government and by Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality an unknown number of children in Flint, Michigan (estimates are in the 1000’s), were exposed to dangerous amounts of lead in their drinking water over a period of 18 months.
1909 Bad Axe Postcard Looking Down Sand Road
We take a postcard street view of Bad Axe from the early 1900s and compare it to today.
Its an interesting peek on how much changes over 100 years. But some elements remain.
Port Austin Street Scene Postcard from 1951
A colorful postcard view of Port Austin Michigan in 1951
4 Historic Views of Bay City, Michigan in 1908
1908 was a year of growth and expansion of Bay City Michigan. The lumber boom had ended and the city was growing into an industrial powerhouse.