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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Pontiac Oxford and Northern Railroad and the Legend of The Polly Ann
Pontiac, Oxford & Northern Railroad (P.O. & N) ran from September 1889 until the last service run of the full length of the line on February 9, 1984.
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Michigan’s Interurban Railways – A Great Transport System That Was Ahead of Its Time
It seems we have rediscovered what electric service can do. Many of our Great-Great Grandparents envisioned and used an advanced transportation system using electric trains. These small city-to-city or city-to-beach routes will mirror the services that autonomous vehicles are anticipated to do.
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Pointe Aux Barques Resort Noted in the Standard Guide to Mackinac Island & Northern Lake Resorts 1899
Excerpt on the Pointe Aux Barques Resort taken from the Standard Guide to Mackinac Island and Northern Michigan Resorts 1899.
The Standard Guide; Mackinac Island and Northern Lake Resorts. It is a visitors handbook written in 1898 detailing early tourism to Mackinac Island. For 25 cents it gave the potential visitor a glimpse of what to expect at Michigan’s premier tourist destination. However, the ads and descriptions of the other northern Michigan resorts of the day are fascinating.
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