On September 5th, 1881 a massive devastating fire swept through Michigan’s Thumb Region. It burned over a million acres and killed 282 people. The fire burned for several days and destroyed most of Sanilac, Lapeer, Tuscola, and Huron counties. The important thing to remember is not only the fire but the response to the fire.
Clara Barton was a nurse during the Civil War and started the American Red Cross in 1881. The Thumb Fire was the organization’s first relief effort. Just as it is now, it was the first responders and the medical community has always stepped up in times of need. Michigan has endured some tragic hardships, but Michiganders have always persevered.
This is the part where I am supposed to write something profound and inspirational but words elude me. I like to tell my stories with photos that I have taken but with the current travel restrictions, I figure it is best if I stay home. I feel like I should be doing something more. Maybe I should learn how to sew and start making masks for the dedicated men and women at the hospitals. All I can say is thank you to them and all the first responders. I figure for now the best thing I can do is just continue with my daily posts and hope they bring you a moment of entertainment and distraction.
P.S. I am not exploring Michigan right now, but I do have a lot of photos in my archive that I can post for a while.
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