Fairgrove Michigan History – A Look Back at Small-Town Life in the 1900s
This Michigan Moments video looks at Fairgrove, Michigan, through historic postcards showing village streets, the railroad depot, grain elevator and local businesses.
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.
The Vibrant History of Harrisville Michigan – A 1900s Stroll Down Memory Lane
Historic photos tell the story of Harrisville, Michigan, during the early 1900s. From the D&M Railroad depot and MacDonald Hotel to Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, Harrisville State Park and Main Street stores, the images show a Lake Huron town shaped by work and travel.
The Amazing History of Alabaster Michigan – 14 Powerful Scenes From a Ghost Gypsum Town
Alabaster, Michigan, grew around gypsum, rail cars and Lake Huron shipping. These early photos show the U.S. Gypsum quarry, the aerial dock, the school, the hotel and the 1910 mill fire that nearly stopped the town’s main source of work.
The Charming History of Standish Michigan – 16 Rare Postcard Views Show Rails, Stone Depot and the Road North
Standish, Michigan grew from a railroad stop into a farm-market town, highway stop and oil-era community. Old images show the depot, Main Street, fishing docks and Halloween pranks.
Falmouth Michigan History Reveals 13 Rare Photos From a Forgotten Farm Town
Falmouth, Michigan, had an early brush with county government, but its lasting story came from work. Rail service, lumber, dairy, farm tools, banking and general stores turned the Missaukee County town into a practical hub for rural families.
History of Belding Michigan – Soft Silk, Iceboxes and a River Town That Worked – (1871 -1940)
Belding, Michigan, became one of West Michigan’s most unusual factory towns, built on silk mills, company boarding houses, rail traffic, iceboxes and a busy Main Street.
History of The 1908 Metz Fire Michigan – The Shocking Day a Railroad Village Burned
The 1908 Metz Fire destroyed the village of Metz, Michigan, and killed 37 people. Hundreds were left homeless. The most painful chapter came when a Detroit & Mackinac Railway relief train derailed after intense heat damaged the rails near Nowicki’s Siding.
Resorts of Lake Gogebic, Michigan: The Era That Turned Timber Country Into a Vacation Destination (1899 – 1940)
Lake Gogebic resorts once gave Marenisco and the western Upper Peninsula a full summer economy. Cabins, tap rooms, dining rooms, boat landings, public parks and fishing docks turned a former timber region into a vacation place families returned to for generations.
History of Milan Michigan – 13 Amazing Photos Reveal How The Wabash Railroad Built a Working Town
Milan, Michigan, began as a small farm settlement along the Saline River. By the early 1900s, it had become something more complex. It was still a place of fields, mills and Main Street trade. But it was also a railroad junction, …
History Of Grand Haven Michigan – 20 Rare Photos Showing How This Lake Port Became A Beloved Beach Town
The History of Grand Haven Michigan is more than a beach story. Early images show a working Lake Michigan port shaped by factories, railroads, passenger steamers, fishing tugs, courthouse business, public ceremonies and a downtown built for trade.