Trout Lake Historical Society
Together, we can make a difference for our community.
Sandy 906-322-2412 or Loretta 517-712-6551
Who We Are - UP Trout Lake Historical Society
Our Vision
Our Achievements
Our Achievements
Our mission is the discovery, preservation and dissemination of knowledge about the history of Trout Lake Township and its surrounding areas. We collect stories, pictures and artifacts that can be displayed in a museum setting for public viewing. We hope to educate our community about the rich history of all those who came before us and
Our mission is the discovery, preservation and dissemination of knowledge about the history of Trout Lake Township and its surrounding areas. We collect stories, pictures and artifacts that can be displayed in a museum setting for public viewing. We hope to educate our community about the rich history of all those who came before us and left a legacy that we would like to emulate. We are striving to show that we can learn from our history.
Our Achievements
Our Achievements
Our Achievements
Since the establishment of this Historical Society, the Trout Lake community members have donated or loaned and shared stories, pictures , and many artifacts that are being displayed in our museum. Last October the Society offered a sneak preview of our early displays. Each week more and more visitors and community members come to the mu
Since the establishment of this Historical Society, the Trout Lake community members have donated or loaned and shared stories, pictures , and many artifacts that are being displayed in our museum. Last October the Society offered a sneak preview of our early displays. Each week more and more visitors and community members come to the museum to see what is new. Many bring pictures and artifacts to add to our collection. This is an ongoing project with continual growth to our collections and ways to tell our story.
Our Rich History
Our Achievements
Our Rich History
From the early Native Americans who fished our lakes, to early European fur traders, to lumber barons scouring our forests for trees, to the railroaders who made transported the cut trees, to homesteaders who grew food needed to feed the burgeoning industries, to limestone quarry men, to businesses who provided lodging, food, entertainmen
From the early Native Americans who fished our lakes, to early European fur traders, to lumber barons scouring our forests for trees, to the railroaders who made transported the cut trees, to homesteaders who grew food needed to feed the burgeoning industries, to limestone quarry men, to businesses who provided lodging, food, entertainment as the population grew, and later resorts, hunters, outdoorsmen to the present day residents and visitors, this community's history is worth sharing.
Our Vision For Preserving Trout Lake Area History
Trout Lake Community Members have come forth with stories, pictures, documents, and artifacts that tell us what a rich past the Trout Lake Area has had. We hope the community will continue to scour attics, barns, basements and any places where these items are found to continue to provide our museum with memorabilia we can display. We are also looking for members to join and volunteers who will support our efforts to keep the museum open and help make it a vibrant place of interest for our community members and visitors.
Early Families/Homesteaders and Entreprenuers
From the 1890's to the 1930's, our community grew quickly with homesteaders cultivating large farms. Businesses of all kinds moved in to provide goods and services for the burgeoning lumber, railroad and quarry industries. With workers in these industries came wives and families. The need for schools and churches became apparent. Small communities and railroad hubs spotted the countryside, mostly along the railroad lines. Life was hard but those who came to this rural community rose to the challenge.
The Lumber Industry
Trout Lake as a Railroad Hub
Pine lumber was logged in the area prior to 1881 as railroads were completed to haul the lumber to various parts of the country. Lumber barons secured large tracts of land and brought in workers to clear the lands of trees. When the United States government enacted the Homestead Act in 1856, land was patented to the State of Michigan. 20,000 acres in the Trout Lake area were conveyed to Michigan. The State of Michigan enacted the Homestead Act, Rock Grant Act and other acts to place this land into private hands. Railroads, lumber barons, and quarry owners thus were able to secure most of that land to build and operate their businesses. The lumber companies were even able to secure land under the Homestead Act which was suppose to be for settlers by giving out homestead papers to their employees. Cut over lands were then abandoned. During the Depression of 1930 many of these lands reverted back from private lands to public lands.
Trout Lake as a Railroad Hub
Trout Lake as a Railroad Hub
Trout Lake started as a railroad junction in 1880. Newly created businesses and homes made it a town. By 1882 the Peninsular Land Company platted a town on the shores of Frenchmen's lake and then another in 1888 next to the bigger Trout Lake. The second plat is Trout Lake town's current location. Subdivisions grew up around the three lakes of our community which included Frenchmen's Lake and Wegwas Lake. Several smaller communities grew up throughout the nearby area, each with its own railroad depot , post office, school and church. At one time 5 tracks crisscrossed the town of Trout Lake with 8 passenger trains running daily to and from this junction in every direction. Some of the local women road the train to Sault Ste Marie to work as telephone operators. Some high school students road to Rudyard to attend the high school there. The train to St. Ignace was the means of transportation to go to the lower peninsula of Michigan. Once in St. Ignace downstate travelers boarded a ferry to cross the Straits of Mackinaw and boarded another train to head further South. Travelers from lower Michigan would use the same procedure to head to the Upper Peninsula. Most roads were gravel or dirt with very few cars until after WW II.
With the completion of M-123 in 1954 and the building of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957, travel changed dramatically to and from the Eastern Upper Peninsula. The need for passenger trains dwindled. The last passenger train stopped its daily run in 1963.
There may no longer be any passenger trains in Trout Lake, but it still remains a hub for loading and unloading cars for the remaining freight train that passes through on its daily run. Many of the original tracks are gone, but deserted railroad beds provide trails for 4 wheelers and snowmobilers. The influx of these two recreations have helped revitalize this community and neighboring communities in this area.
Ghost Towns
Hunting/Fishing/Resorts
By the late 1920's and the Depression of 1930, many of the companies and industries that had thrived in the area began to close down. Kenneth, Dick, Caffey, Ozark, Wilwin, Fiborn, Caffey, Cordel, and Half were all small communities in and near Trout Lake Township. They shared close ties with the town of Trout Lake and its community members. Most of these are ghost towns with little remaining to show what thriving little communities they once were.
Kenneth had a railroad station, a roundhouse, several lumber camps, sawmills, lime kilns and quarries. Homes were quickly erected to support the workers and their families who worked at those industries. Stores, a school, a depot called Palms Station, and post office all existed in the town of Kenneth. During the Depression, a CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) camp was built near Kenneth.
The town of Dick started with a lumber mill and small village on the railroad line just 5 miles east of Trout Lake. In the early 1900's, its population was larger than that of Trout Lake. Again, it had its own depot, post office, store, school, and church. Many of the buildings were dismantled or moved. The land on which the village stood is now part of the Hiawatha National Forest.
Wilwin was a lumber mill community that was developed for the workers of the Wilwin Company owned by the Chesborough family around 1913-1914. There was a large mill in operation which was powered by steam. A railway network was built to connect to the DSS & A railroad line two miles northeast of the mill. Several building were erected to serve the workers. A large boarding house, a depot, a store building which housed the post office, and an office were built near the mill. A large two-story home housed the Shaw family since Seward Shaw was in charge of the office. The village to house the mill workers and families was built about 1/4 mile south of the mill. The mill closed in 1921 and the company burned the mill. Many of the houses in the village were salvaged and moved to the Ozark area and to Trout Lake. A massive lodge built for the Chesborough family still remains of the property now owned by the Graymont Quarry Company.
Ozark was a hamlet and area situated just a few miles from Trout Lake. It spans both Trout Lake Township in Chippewa County and Moran Township in Mackinac County. A post office was established in this small village in 1884. It was surrounded by numerous farms homesteaded by some of the earliest settlers in this area. It had its own school and depot and the United Brethren Church. The church is still open today. There were numerous lumber camps in the area as well.
Hunting/Fishing/Resorts
Hunting/Fishing/Resorts
Since before the time of the earliest settlers came to this area, the lakes in the Trout Lake area were often the site of Indian encampments for the purpose of fishing, hunting and trapping. Early settlers noted a large encampment located on the east shore of Frenchman's Lake. As more and more settlers and business moved into the area resorts, hotels, and recreational industries came into being and the Native American tribes settled elsewhere,.
Hunting, trapping and fishing was essential for survival for the early settlers. Meat and fish were needed to feed the numerous workers in the lumber, quarry and railroad industries. Restaurants and lodging establishments soon flourished. Dry goods stores, hardwares and groceries soon followed.
Hunting and fishing sportsmen became a dominant factor in the growth of the economy in the Upper Peninsula. Stories abound of hundreds of cars sitting for hours and sometimes days, waiting to board the Mackinaw Straits Ferries to get to prime hunting areas, especially during deer season.
Small game, bear and duck hunting also attracted sportsmen to the area.
Fishermen would come to fish the multiple lakes catching pike, walleye, perch, bluegill and other pan fish. Fly fishing for trout was also popular on 16 area trout streams within 20 miles of Trout Lake.
The lakes in the area have always offered many recreational opportunities. Swimming, boating and canoeing were popular on a warm summer day back in the early days and are still popular activities in modern times. Ice skating, ice fishing, and snowshoeing in the winter was and is a winter pastime. Canoe races and speed boat races became popular in the mid 20th century. Today kayaking, paddle boarding, skiing and tubing add to the many watersports on the lakes.
Over the years many resorts with lodging have provided for the tourists and outdoor sport enthusiasts who traveled to the area. Around 1950 a brochure listed Phil DeGraff's lodges (Wegwas Lake), Birch Lodge and Cabins, Shady Lane Cabin, Ellis' Sta-Den Motel, and Lakeview Cabins, All Points Resort, and McDonnel Hotel. A few of these area still in operation. The Trout Lake Campground has been and is still a camping destination for over 80 years.