Category Archives: small towns

Dollar Settlement

Posted on by Posted in small towns, upper peninsula .

I previously shared a post about an intriguing railroad car located in Dollar Settlement, near Brimley. Thanks to the kindness of several commenters, I’ve uncovered some fascinating details about its history. Thank you to Steve and Pauline.
Dollar Settlement owes its name to Joseph “Joe” Dollar, a local legend who navigated the waters of Lake Superior, delivering essential mail and supplies to the region’s inhabitants. His modest log cabin stood on the lakeshore, just north of the railroad car’s current resting place.
The railroad car arrived as a hopeful replacement for Louise’s Hamburger Stand, a beloved local eatery. The plan was to transform it into a new dining destination, carrying on the legacy of Louise’s famous, secret hamburger sauce recipe. Unfortunately, this dream was never realized.
Carol Eccleston and her son John, Louise’s granddaughter and grandson, were the driving force behind this ambitious project. However, Carol’s declining health and limited resources hindered their efforts. Despite facing zoning challenges from the local township, which they ultimately overcame, the extensive restoration required for the rail car proved too daunting. Today, the car remains a silent testament to a dream deferred, serving only as a storage space for the family.

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Lost In Hell

Posted on by Posted in small towns .

I drove through Hell the other day and it’s not a bad place to visit, at least the small town in Michigan not the one with fire and brimstone. The little town near the Pickney Recreation Area is mostly a tourist destination with an ice cream store, miniture golf, a gift store and saloon.

There are a couple of intriguing theories about how the town acquired its unique name. According to Walter Romig’s Michigan Place Names, the frequent drunken brawls that occurred in the area may have inspired the moniker. However, a more colorful tale suggests that the name originated from the local gristmill owner, George Reeves. It seems Reeves had a habit of paying farmers with homemade whiskey, leading their wives to exclaim, “He’s gone to Hell again!” when inquiring about their husbands’ whereabouts during harvest time. This humorous anecdote eventually led to the town’s official name in 1841 when the post office was established.

The town located about 15 miles northwest of Ann Arbor and its a nice place to visit when its not froze over during the Michigan winter.

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Downtown Winn

Posted on by Posted in small towns .

The small town of Winn, located west of Shepherd, traces its roots back to 1867. Its original name remains a subject of debate, with potential origins linked to either Mr. Winn or Wynn England. Wiley Dush, the town’s plotter, renamed it Dushville in 1898. However, following Dush’s passing in the same year, the town’s historical name of Winn was reinstated. This big old building stands in downtown. It looks as if it has seen many customers back in the day but not so much now.

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The Old School In Norwood

Posted on by Posted in Schools, small towns .

 

Situated in the center of the charming community of Norwood, south of Charlevoix, stands an old schoolhouse, a relic of the town’s vibrant past. Founded in 1866 by Orvis Wood, Lucius Pearl, and Orwin Adams, Norwood thrived as a bustling lumber-shipping center. The town’s strategic location on the shores of Lake Michigan, coupled with its abundance of timber, fueled its growth. Sawmills, a company store, and blacksmith shops dotted the landscape. The name “Norwood” was aptly chosen, reflecting the town’s serene setting in the northern woods. As the lumber industry waned, so too did Norwood’s population. Today, the town is a peaceful retreat, primarily residential, with a charming church and the historic schoolhouse, now a museum, preserving its rich heritage.

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Lost in Butterfield

Posted on by Posted in Forgotten Places, small towns .

I saw this old store southwest of Houghton Lake. According to Google maps it is in the town of Butterfield. I could not find much info about the town other than the post office opened in 1894 and closed in 1922. It looks as if this old store has been closed for a long time also. I have crisscrossed all over Michigan and it was the first time I have been through Butterfield. It is definitely in a remote part of the Lower Peninsula.

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Michigan’s Small Town of Sears

Posted on by Posted in small towns .

I came across an old structure in the quaint town of Sears, which is situated at the intersection of US-10 and M-66 in the heart of the Lower Peninsula. Initially, the town was called Orient, named after the township it belonged to. However, after the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad established a depot there in 1870, the town was renamed Sears in honor of a railroad surveyor.

Nowadays, the train no longer makes stops in this small town, and only a few houses and a Post Office remain.

P.S. I just assumed the town was named after for Sears and Roebuck but like many other things I assumed, I was incorrect.

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The Spruce Chicken Building

Posted on by Posted in small towns .

Spruce is a small town nestled between Alma and Harrisville and it has its roots in the establishment of a sawmill by Don Hecox. He also took on the role of the first postmaster when the local post office opened its doors on May 5, 1898. I’m not quite sure about the story behind the chicken images displayed in the building’s windows, but I find them delightful.

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The Old Building in Prescott

Posted on by Posted in Forgotten Places, small towns .

I saw this old building in the small town of Prescott. I am not sure what it was used for but it looks as if it has been a long time since it was used for anything. Prescott was settled about 1879 after the Lake Huron & Southwestern narrow gauge railroad came through trough the area for to haul logs. The town was known as Prescott’s Camp Six but renamed Prescott in when it got a post office in 1882. It was incorporated as a village in 1947. It still has several homes and businesses but I wondered about this old abandoned building in town.

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Herman: Then and Now

Posted on by Posted in Ghost towns, small towns, upper peninsula .

While doing research for my Michigan Ghost Town book I came across an old photo of the town of Herman from the 1940s. The town is in the Huron Mountains southeast of L’Anse. I recognized the old store next to the railroad tracks in the old photo.

The town has changed a lot in the past 80 plus years. The buildings on the left are gone and the nice looking building on the right is slowly collapsing. You can see my post about it HERE 

Its interesting to see pics of the way things were and compare them to what there is now. I wish I could go back in time to visit some of the places I have posted about but the closest I can come to doing that is looking at old photographs.

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Oak Grove General Store

Posted on by Posted in General Store, small towns .

I saw this old general store in the small town of Oak Grove. It’s located north of Howell on an old mill pond. The town was originally called Chemungville. When the post office was established in 1859 the name was changed to Oak Grove. A few houses and buildings still stand in the small town. It looks as if the old general store closed a while back. The faded sign above the windows reads: Pearce’s General Store 1876.

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