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.

Side Wheeler Steamboats – Exploring Their Impact on Michigan’s Saginaw River

Posted on January 9, 2025January 9, 2025 by Michael Hardy

Side-wheeler steamers were used across the Great Lakes well into the late 1800s. The East Saginaw and Bay City line ran on Michigan’s Saginaw River.

The 1901 Wabash Railway Disaster – Michigan’s Deadliest Train Wreck at Seneca

Posted on January 9, 2025February 7, 2026 by Michael Hardy

The 1901 Wabash Railway disaster in Seneca, Michigan, resulted in over 90 deaths, largely among Italian immigrants. A collision caused by engineer miscommunication highlighted severe railway safety failures, sparking public outrage and demands for improved protocols to prevent future tragedies in early 20th-century rail travel.

Tragedy Over Lake Michigan – DC-4 crash remains the longest unsolved commercial aviation disaster in U.S. history

Posted on January 6, 2025 by Michael Hardy

The crash of a Northwest Airlines DC-4 into Lake Michigan on June 24, 1950, remains in the top 20 of

1925’s Historic Aerial Newspaper Delivery: How Planes Connected Michigan’s Thumb During a Blizzard

Posted on January 4, 2025January 29, 2025 by Michael Hardy

In January 1925, the Port Huron Times launched Michigan’s first winter air delivery to the isolated Thumb region during a severe blizzard. It was likely the first time a military aricraft was used to delver newspapers.

113 Years Ago – A Quirky Week in News In Michigan’s Upper Thumb in 1912

Posted on January 4, 2025January 4, 2025 by Michael Hardy

113 years ago, the Harbor Beach TImes kept everyone up to date. No news was too obscure, strange, or quirky that it didn’t warrant a few lines in the paper.

The Bay Port Hotel – A Top Luxurious Michigan Resort of the 1800s

Posted on January 2, 2025January 30, 2025 by Michael Hardy

The story of the luxurious Bay Port Hotel and the railway resort era in the late 1800s was short lived.

Was the untimely demise of one of its guests the cause if its downfall?

Remembering the Blizzard of 1967 – A Historic Snowstorm in Chicago

Posted on December 20, 2024January 29, 2025 by Michael Hardy

The Blizzard of 1967, a monumental snowstorm in Chicago, left 23 inches of snow and paralyzed the city on January 26-27. It prompted community resilience and vividly marked everyday life, with many personal stories reflecting struggle and camaraderie amid the challenges and chaos of the storm.

Remembering the Blizzard of 1978 – West Michigan’s Worst Winter Storm

Posted on December 19, 2024January 30, 2025 by Michael Hardy

The Blizzard of 1978, termed the “Storm of the Century,” severely disrupted West Michigan, causing 15-foot snow drifts and isolating communities. Despite challenges, the community exhibited remarkable resilience, ultimately highlighting the importance of preparedness and fostering unity during adversity.