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.

Downtown Port Huron’s Bank Corner, Then and Now

Posted on February 8, 2026February 23, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Huron Avenue in Port Huron is captured here in the streetcar era — rails in the street, a web of

Port Huron Ferries on the Black River 1911 – Getting to Sarnia Before the Bridge – Video

Posted on February 8, 2026February 23, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Before bridges spanned the St. Clair River, the Port Huron ferry carried thousands across the border. Three wooden steamers tell the story of a risky, vital crossing.

History of Belleville Michigan – A Day in 1910 Shaped by Trains, Mills, and Main Street

Posted on February 7, 2026February 23, 2026 by Michael Hardy

In 1910, Belleville, Michigan ran on schedules, not nostalgia. This feature examines daily life before Belleville Lake, when trains, mills, schools, and Main Street defined how the town worked.

Huron Shores Club House, Forester: A Thumb-Era Gathering Spot

Posted on February 2, 2026January 30, 2026 by Michael Hardy

A vintage postcard view shows the Huron Shores Club House in Forester — a big, bright building with a long screened porch and room for a crowd. What memories do you have of Huron Shores or Forester back in the day?

Souvenir of a Deadly Disaster: The Haakwood Branch Wreck (1912)

Posted on February 2, 2026February 23, 2026 by Michael Hardy

A Michigan Central freight train lies wrecked on the Haak Branch in 1912 — and the note on the back says the writer jumped clear while the engineer had to be pulled out.