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.
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 Meandering Michigan Shiawassee Trail
This another series of converging Native American trails in Michigan that roughly ran parallel to the famous Saginaw trail. An 1825 map of Michigan clearly details this minor trail. Starting near Detroit west of Fort Shelby and the Côté des Pays, ( County Side) road. The trail stops at stop at Kechewondaugoning and Shigemasking
The Snowshoe Priest – Frederic Baraga’s Powerful Impact on Michigan
Bishop Frederic Baraga was the first bishop of Marquette. For 37 years he was a missionary priest among the Indians and settlers in the Upper Great Lakes.
His presence shaped the region and he is revered for his defending Native American lands during treaty land acquisition by the U.S. Government in the 1800s.
Local Accounts of the Great Michigan Fire of 1881
Shocking firsthand accounts of the Great Michigan Fire of 1881 from residents of Minden and Ubly. They were first published by the Minden Post soon after the fire and reprinted by many newspapers nationally. These accounts have never been published online before. Courtesy of the Minden City Herald
USS Michigan – A High Tech Warship Patrolling the Great Lakes In 1844
The USS Michigan was the United States Navy’s first iron-hulled warship. Commissioned in August 1844, USS Michigan was considered a technical experiment using new techniques and materials as a working experiment for the U.S. Navy.
Ubly Michigan’s Foundation Is As Strong in 2022 Has It Was In 1900
We take a look at how Ubly Michigan has changed, or not, over the past 120 years.
Early History of Michigan State University’s WKAR – AM 1917-1939
Long before podcasts and streaming media, WKAR helped shape public broadcasting in Michigan. From early radio experiments at Michigan State University to trusted television programming across Mid-Michigan, this story traces the station’s lasting impact on education, news, and culture.
Pigeon Michigan Amusement Parlor c1900
This picture of a street scene in Pigeon, Michigan is thought to be taken right around 1900. The amusement parlor or penny arcade was popular in the 1890s through the early 1900s. These storefront shops were stocked with slot machines, phonographs, …
Then and Now – Platts Drugstore Port Sanilac
This historical Drugstore is deemed as being Michigan’s longest family owned continuously operating pharmacy in Michigan. It stands today as a boutique shop in Port Sanilac.
Two Views of Cass City in 1930 & 2020 – A Amazing Transition of Time
f Cass City Road in Cass City has stayed somewhat unchanged for the past 90 years. Some of the buildings remain, many have been remodeled. However, the ornate trim and front facades and balconies are long gone.