This historical image, titled “North Branch, Mich.”, is part of the Postcard Collection at the Bentley Historical Library and offers a rare look at North Branch, Michigan, during the 1890s. The verso note indicates that this image captures a key point in the town’s development, with the North Branch Railroad being built to Rose City. This railroad was instrumental in linking the community to regional trade and transportation networks.
The image prominently features the North Branch Hotel on the left, a simple two-story wooden structure with a sign reading “HOTEL HOTEL.” To the right, another wooden commercial building housed a saloon, where Owen Trumbull lived in the upper quarters, according to the inscription. The photograph shows a group of men and women standing in front of the businesses, dressed in typical late 19th-century attire, likely including local business owners, workers, and residents. The railroad tracks in the foreground emphasize the town’s connection to rail transportation, which played a major role in economic growth. Unfortunately, all the buildings depicted in this photograph were lost to fire over the years, making this image a valuable historical record of North Branch’s past before modern development.
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