The lumbering era in Michigan’s Upper Thumb from 1860-1880 resulted in booming towns all along the shoreline. Sebewaing was no exception. While it did not benefit from proximity of being on Lake Huron like Sand Beach, (later named Harbor Beach), or having a deep river outflow like Caseville, it’s historical spot as a rich hunting area by native Americans and natural outflow to Saginaw Bay by the Sebewaing River predestined it as a natural gathering spot.
While researching another topic. I ran across these rare pictures taken in the Sebewaing river area in the late 1800’s. I was surprised such large ships could enter as the early plat maps show only a narrow river entrance into the town. It turns out that Sebewaing was a bit of a ship building and repair site. It’s yet another bit of history to savor. If only for a moment.
Schooner Viola in Sebewaing harbor. Source: Ralph K. Roberts
Schooner G.R. DURKEE, 1887, attributed to being taken in Sebewaing. (Doubtful) Dowling Collection, University of Detroit – Mercy
Steambarge J.C. Liken 1873, taken in Sebewaing. Source: Ralph K. Roberts
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The discovery of coal in Sebewaing, was made by Russell Brothers; well diggers based in Unionville. By the early 1900’s Sebewaing had three coal mines in operation. The Whittier, Sebewaing Coal Company and the Saginaw Bay Coal Company collectively employed about 100 men. Coal was brought to the surface on small mule driven cars on wooden tracks.
Coal mining was successful for only a few years. It seems that initially the coal was of high quality however as operations continued it seems that the extracted coal contained so much sulfur its was deemed too explosive to be used as a fuel. Thomas Whitter, a chemist from Saginaw inspected the coal vein and found it an excellent source of pyrite and comparable with the pyrite sources then being imported from Spain. Changes were made to the operation that expanded mining capacity to 400 tons per day. Pyrite ore is an excellent material in which to make sulfur.
Below is a sketch map of the location of the mines in and around Sebewaing.
Photo Credit: Historical Society of Caseville , Lower Peninsula, 1896-1900, Volume 7, Parts 1-3, By Michigan. Geological Survey
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Lewis Milford: Michigan Renewables Cheaper than Coal: Another State Success Story.
From 2012 – Report on effectiveness of Michigan’s requirement for 10% of energy to be achieved through renewables showed:
- Generated over $100 million in investments in the state, spurred manufacturing, and created jobs.
- Created more than 100 megawatts of new renewable capacity in the state, putting it on track to meet its 10% requirement.
- Cost of these new renewable projects — including, wind, solar and hydro — is less than the cost of a new coal plant.
- Both DTE and Consumers Energy anticipate exceeding the laws target requirements for renewal production.
Lewis Milford is the President, Clean Energy Group (CEG). The full article can be found at the Huffington Post.
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Festivals, History, Food, Sites, Sailing, Music and Fun in the Upper Thumb and Saginaw Bay of Michigan
