This historical postcard captures a view of Port Hope, Michigan, likely dating from the early 1900s. The unpaved main street is lined with wooden sidewalks, utility poles, and commercial buildings typical of small rural towns in the Thumb region during that era.
On the right side, a horse-drawn wagon is parked in front of a two-story wooden structure bearing the painted sign “One Price Store”, a term used at the time to indicate fixed pricing rather than haggling. To the right of it is a brick building with striped awnings, likely another general store or business. The photograph is labeled “SMITH PHOTO 113”, indicating it may have been part of a larger series of locally produced photo postcards.
Port Hope was a key lumbering town in the late 19th century. The town grew around the logging operations of William R. Stafford, who established mills, docks, and a company town that shaped the area’s development. The photo reflects a time when horse-drawn transportation was still common, and towns like Port Hope were transitioning into more established communities as Michigan’s lumber boom began to wane.
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