The History of Trout Creek Michigan – Sawmills, Railroads and Baseball
In 1912, Trout Creek had three operating sawmills. Each generated its own electricity. One company plant also supplied power to
Continue reading
Tag: Michigan Railroads
History of Sandusky Michigan – 9 Remarkable Changes That Built a Thumb City
Historic photographs trace Sandusky, Michigan, from its lumber-era roots into a busy county seat shaped by railroads, agriculture and local commerce. The account follows two depots, grain elevators, downtown hotels, the 1915 courthouse fire and the unusual Practical Institute of Pharmacy class photographed in 1929.
Continue reading
Sidnaw, Michigan History – Railroads, Logging and Roycroft Farms
Sidnaw, Michigan, began as a booming lumber town in the late 1800s. By the early 1900s, it had sawmills, factories, hotels, and a union depot where the Milwaukee Road and South Shore railroads crossed. Families arrived, stores opened, and farms replaced the forests.
Continue reading
The Quiet History of Concord Michigan – 1900s Postcards Show The River Mill, Depot and A Village That Kept Its Shape
Concord, Michigan grew from waterpower, rail service and farm trade. This story follows its old mill, Michigan Central depot, Main Street, schools, baseball team and rural roots to show how one Jackson County village kept its identity through change.
Continue reading
History of Fremont Michigan – How Gerber, and a Small Town’s Rise Helped Feed America – (1871- 1940)
The history of Fremont Michigan shows how railroads, local farms, and Gerber transformed a quiet town into a key player in early American food production, while its lakefront and Main Street life remained intact.
Continue reading
The History of Park Island Michigan – When Lake Orion Offered the Thrill of Coney Island in Michigan (1901-1933)
There was a time when thousands of people came to Lake Orion every summer, not by car, but by boat.
Continue reading
History of Reed City Michigan – Railroads, Oil Fields, and a Small Town That Grew Big
Railroads built Reed City. Lumber sustained it. Then a massive oil well briefly turned the town into national news. This story traces the surprising history of Reed City Michigan.
Continue reading
Armada Michigan History – Fair Week 1909, Trains, and a Carnegie Library
Armada’s early photos reveal a small town in motion—fair arches over Main Street, a rail depot linking farms to markets, and a 1915 Carnegie library that still serves readers. This is how a crossroads became a community.
Continue reading
Pere Marquette Engine 109 and Crew in Sandusky, MI (ca. 1910)
A 1910 portrait of Engine 109’s crew—Campbell, Cole and Giester—at the controls of a Pere Marquette branch locomotive in Sandusky, Michigan, capturing a vital chapter in local rail history.
Continue reading
Coal, Rails, and Community – Akron Michigan History Early 1900s Story – Video
Akron, Michigan, once an industrial center, thrived in the early 20th century due to coal and railroads. A video showcases its vibrant community, industry, and spirit, highlighting its historical significance in Michigan’s growth.
Continue reading