Rails Into the Thumb – Cass City and the Detroit and Huron Railroad, 1913- Video
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.
Tag: Michigan History
This tag hints at articles and stories about Michigan history and the Michigan Thumb region. Michigan was part of the Northwest territory, and starting in 1815, the fur trade and influx of settlers and land speculators began.
By the time Michigan became a state in 1838, much of the southern third was already cris-crossed with improved Indian trails and initial roads. In a few short years, the lumbering era would begin, followed by the agriculture growth resulting from the cleared land.
History of Blaney Park, Michigan – From Lumber Camp to Resort and Its Fascinating Bebirth
Blaney Park Michigan History reveals how a 1900s lumber town became a 33,000-acre resort with golf, cottages, and celebrity guests — then faded into a quiet roadside hamlet.
Incredable Oxford Michigan History – From Deep Gravel Pits to the Lone Ranger
Oxford, Michigan’s history runs from gravel pits and railroads to bustling downtown streets and the Lone Ranger’s voice. A small town that helped build Michigan’s industry and culture.
History of Cass City Michigan – 7 Fascinating Stories That Shaped a Small Town
The history of Cass City Michigan traces its rise from a sawmill village to a thriving Thumb town. From wide Main Streets to Nestlé’s milk plant, Cass City shaped both local and national history.
History of Lexington Michigan (1830s–1950s) – Video
The history of Lexington Michigan spans lumber, fishing, and summer resorts. This Lake Huron village adapted to change, creating a legacy still seen in its harbor and streets.
Farmers Delivering Beans to Bad Axe Grain Co., Bad Axe, Michigan (circa 1910s)
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.
Hotel Heasty – Pigeon, Michigan’s 1895 Landmark
Built in 1895, the Hotel Heasty was a brick-front landmark in Pigeon, Michigan, offering travelers lodging, home-cooked meals, and a link to the community’s railroad-era growth.
Michigan Tourist Towers – 7 Forgotten Roadside Marvels That Once Ruled the Highways – Video
Michigan’s beautiful landscape of rolling hills, sparkling lakes, and thick forests inspired early 20th-century entrepreneurs to build scenic lookout towers to entice the new generation of automobile tourists. In the 1910s and 1920s, as motoring became popular, roadside observation towers sprang …