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.

Black-and-white photo of a crowded downtown street with many early cars parked and large American flags hanging overhead, with storefronts lining the block.

History of St. Johns Michigan – The Secrets of Mint City When it Ran on Rail Time (1890-1940)

Posted on March 7, 2026March 7, 2026 by Michael Hardy

St. Johns, Michigan, has long been the place in Clinton County where the official business gets done. It is the

History of Cheboygan Michigan – A River Town Between Timber and the Great Lakes (1840 – 1940) – Video

Posted on February 20, 2026April 14, 2026 by Michael Hardy

These early postcards capture Cheboygan when the riverfront did the heavy lifting. Steamships tied up at the dock, a canning plant and paper mill hummed nearby, and Main Street stayed crowded day after day. It’s a snapshot of a town built to move goods, not commuters.

History of St. Helen Michigan – From Logging Boom to Beautiful Lakeside Village (1870-1940) – Video

Posted on February 15, 2026February 19, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Learn how St. Helen, Michigan transformed from a bustling lumber town into a peaceful lake community and even the boyhood home of Charlton Heston.

Port Huron Ferries on the Black River 1911 – Getting to Sarnia Before the Bridge – Video

Posted on February 8, 2026February 23, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Before bridges spanned the St. Clair River, the Port Huron ferry carried thousands across the border. Three wooden steamers tell the story of a risky, vital crossing.

History of Belleville Michigan – A Day in 1910 Shaped by Trains, Mills, and Main Street

Posted on February 7, 2026February 23, 2026 by Michael Hardy

In 1910, Belleville, Michigan ran on schedules, not nostalgia. This feature examines daily life before Belleville Lake, when trains, mills, schools, and Main Street defined how the town worked.

John Jacob Astor’s American Fur Company Headquarters 1817 – The Robert Stewart House – Video

Posted on January 27, 2026April 14, 2026 by Michael Hardy

The American Fur Company headquarters on Mackinac Island once controlled trade across the Great Lakes. Built in the early 1800s, it shaped Michigan’s economy, society, and role in early American capitalism.

Linkville Michigan History (1890–1930) A Small But Viberent Thumb Farming Town that Vanished – Video

Posted on January 25, 2026February 23, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Linkville, a small unincorporated village in Michigan, thrived between 1890 and 1930 as a farming community and key railroad stop. However, post office closures and improved transportation led to its decline, leaving St. Paul Lutheran Church as its enduring landmark.

History of Berne Michigan – A 1900 Snapshot of this Forgotten Ghost Town

Posted on January 25, 2026February 23, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Berne, Michigan was a quiet farming hamlet in 1900. This report covers daily life—farming, schoolhouses, church gatherings—and the families who helped build this rural Thumb-area village.