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.

Sebewaing Cider and Jelly Factory was a Sweet Treat

Posted on July 3, 2022July 3, 2022 by Michael Hardy

In the late 1800s families were setting up many businesses in Michigan’s Upper Thumb. We take a look at one interesting enterprise in Sebewaing.

1881 Great Michigan Thumb Fire Is the Setting for Author’s Debut Novel

Posted on May 4, 2022May 4, 2022 by Michael Hardy

Debut novelist Carol Nickles announces Thumb Fire Desire’s international release, a fictional historical romance set in Parisville, the first Polish-American settlement in Michigan. The story begins in the Spring of 1881, and draws the reader through the hot, dry summer, climaxing during the Great Thumb Fire of 1881. The event is the state’s most significant natural disaster but ends with a note of optimism in the final month of the year.

These 12 Vintage Postcards Of Michigan Small Towns Tell Amazing Stories

Posted on April 27, 2022December 27, 2023 by Michael Hardy

Postcards are a window into the past. In the early 1900s, sending a postcard was like sharing a Facebook post. It seemed like everyone was doing it. We found some great examples of vintage postcards of Michigan small towns worth a quick peek.

2 Short Stories Of Anishinaabeg History In Saginaw Valley

Posted on April 21, 2022March 25, 2024 by Michael Hardy

This is a story by Ephraim Williams of the Anishinaabeg history (aka Ojibwa) of hunting and gathering in the land of the Sauks. The Ojibwa believed that misfortune was due to the bad spirits that the Sauks had left behind.

Michigan’s Interurban Railways – A Great Transport System That Was Ahead of Its Time

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Michael Hardy

It seems we have rediscovered what electric service can do. Many of our Great-Great Grandparents envisioned and used an advanced transportation system using electric trains. These small city-to-city or city-to-beach routes will mirror the services that autonomous vehicles are anticipated to do.

The Mystery of the 2 Holes at Rush Lake In Huron County

Posted on April 16, 2022January 30, 2025 by Michael Hardy

Mysterious holes are found by kids on the north side of Rush Lake State Game Area. Years later they are determined to be from the 1800s quarry operations.

The Amazing Life of Alexander Henry – An English Fur Trader (And Pirate) On The Upper Great Lakes

Posted on April 9, 2022March 19, 2026 by Paul Austin

Alexander Henry was a fur trader, merchant, militia commander, and novelist who lived during the American Revolutionary War. His exploits were legendary during the war between France and England over control of the Great Lakes region.