Tag: Bad Axe

Bad Axe is the largest city in Huron County, Michigan. Located near the center of the Thumb, it’s the county seat.

Remembering Don McGee – When the Bird Man Came to Bad Axe 1915

Posted on September 11, 2026September 11, 2026 by Michael Hardy

A century-old photograph can sometimes catch technology at the exact moment it still seemed impossible. This image, dated 1915, shows

Rainy Day Things to Do in Caseville & Michigan’s Thumb

Posted on August 19, 2026August 22, 2026 by Paul Austin

Weather patterns in Michigan’s Thumb are notoriously fickle. A sudden squall off Lake Huron can turn a Caseville beach day into a washout in minutes,…

Bad Axe, MI Travel Guide: History & Local Attractions

Posted on August 10, 2026August 13, 2026 by Paul Austin

In 1861, surveyor Captain Rudolph Papst stumbled upon a discarded, rusted tool at a deserted hunting camp and decided the site needed a name. He…

Before Michigan Had Towns: 10 Indigenous Villages, Fish Camps and Farm Earthworks

Posted on August 9, 2026August 9, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Long before Michigan had county seats and surveyed townships, Native communities had villages, fishing stations, sugar camps, farm fields, trade routes and ceremonial places across the Great Lakes. The record is especially rich around Saginaw Bay and the Thumb.

Huron Community Fair 2026 – Midway Changes Highlight Bad Axe’s Beloved 158th Fair

Posted on August 6, 2026August 6, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Huron Community Fair 2026 returns to Bad Axe Aug. 9-15 with livestock shows, rides, live music, ATV racing, truck races

15-Year-Old Killed in Early-Morning E-Bike Crash Near Bad Axe

Posted on August 3, 2026August 3, 2026 by Michael Hardy

A 15-year-old boy died after his e-bike struck a cable across a business driveway in Verona Township. Police said the riders had no lights and were traveling faster than 25 mph.

History of Bad Axe Michigan – How a Place With a Strange Name Became a Center of Huron County

Posted on May 9, 2026May 11, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Bad Axe grew from a rough lumber settlement into the center of Michigan’s Thumb. This Michigan Moments feature looks at the railroad era, downtown businesses, fairs, farming, and local legends.

Rails Into the Thumb – Cass City and the Detroit and Huron Railroad, 1913- Video

Posted on September 29, 2025September 29, 2025 by Michael Hardy

The Detroit and Huron Railroad opened in 1913, linking Cass City and Bad Axe. Once vital to Michigan’s Thumb, it ran its final train in 1951 before fading into history.

11 Spectacular Michigan Disc Golf Courses Found In The Thumb

Posted on August 22, 2025August 22, 2025 by Annette Hinshaw

Michigan disc golf is now solidly established in the Upper Thumb region. These eleven courses vary from practice to tournament caliber.

Farmers Delivering Beans to Bad Axe Grain Co., Bad Axe, Michigan (circa 1910s)

Posted on August 20, 2025August 16, 2025 by Michael Hardy

Photograph shows farmers bringing bean harvest by horse?drawn wagon to the Bad Axe Grain Company around the 1910s. Reflects the rise of grain elevator infrastructure that supported Michigan’s rural economy.