CHIPPEWA COUNTY, MICHIGAN
TOWNS and TOWNSHIP HISTORIES


Name: Alberta
Other Names: Fibre
Township: Rudyard
Established: 1895
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: Yes
Notes: After 1895, known as Fibre

Name: Alexander
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop: Minneapolis, St Paul & Sault Ste Marie Railroad, 1891
Post Office:
Exists: Yes
Notes:

Name: Algonquin
Other Names: Nieceville
Township:
Established: 1910
Name Origin: Algonquin after Algonquin Indians - Nieceville after sawmill owner
RR Stop:
Post Office: Sault Ste Marie
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: Aneebish - See Neebish

Name: Baie De Wasai
Other Names:
Township: Sugar Island
Established: c1908 as three sawmill settlement
Name Origin: In English, the name means "Turbot Bay" or "Bay of the Bullheads."
RR Stop: No
Post Office: 1908-1911, 1915-1933.
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: Barbeau
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1887 as Trading Post
Name Origin: Peter B. Barbeau, settler and first president of village of Sault Ste Marie
RR Stop: No
Post Office: 1883-1909, reopened 1916.
Exists: Yes
Notes: Thomas Henderson first homesteader, 1877.

Name: Bais De Wasai - See Baie De Wasai

Name: Bay Mills
Other Names:
Township: Superior
Established: 1875 as James Norris & Co. lumber mills.
Name Origin: Named for the plants of the Hall & Munson Company or for location on Waiska Bay
RR Stop: yes
Post Office: 1879-1909. After 1918, mail delivered from Brimley Post Office.
Exists: Yes
Notes: Sawmill built in 1882. Sash and door factory established here in 1890. Factory burned in 1904, and sawmill ceased operation a few years later. Now part of Indian reservation lands.

Name: Blairville
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1880 by William Francis Wise.
Name Origin: Named for Wise's father-in-law, William Blair.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: Yes.
Notes: Additional info provided by Casey Wise.

Name: Brassar
Other Names:
Township:
Established: Rural post office 1911-1939.
Name Origin: Named after pioneer French family in the area.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1911-1939.
Exists: No
Notes: Located on Sugar Island.

Name: Brimley
Other Names: Superior. See Superior.
Township: Superior
Established: 1887
Name Origin: Renamed Brimley for postal department official in 1896.
RR Stop: Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad
Post Office: 1888
Exists: Yes
Notes:

Name: Bruce
Other Names:
Township: Bruce
Established:
Name Origin: Named by Andrew J. Smith, pioneer, for Lord Bruce of Shetland Islands.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: Yes
Notes: "Bruce" township named after county in Ontario, Canada.

Name: Bursaw
Other Names:
Township:
Established: April 1896 as rural post office. Discontinued in August of same year.
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1896
Exists: No
Notes:  

Name: Canal
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1927
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: Branch post office of Sault Ste Marie, 1927.
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: Carletonville
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1853, by Guy H. Carleton.
Name Origin: Guy H. Carleton.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: No
Notes: Built around Guy H. Carleton's sawmill.

Name: Church's Landing
Other Names:
Township: Sugar Island
Established: 1846 as trading post.
Name Origin: Founded by Philetus S. Church of New York.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: No
Notes: Located on Sugar Island.

Name: Cottage Park Spur
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1910, as railroad stop on the M.St.P. & S.S.M. Railroad.
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: Sault Ste Marie.
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: Crawley
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1890-1895
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: Post office never opened.
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: Crisp Point
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin: Named for Capt. Christopher Crisp, first commander of US Coast Guard station there.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: Dafter
Other Names: Stevensburgh
Township: Dafter
Established: 1879
Name Origin: Probably after first settler. Name changed to Dafter in 1893.
RR Stop: Minneapolis, St Paul & Sault Ste Marie Railroad.
Post Office: 1879-1971.
Exists: Yes
Notes: Lumber settlement.

Name: Dell
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1909-1913.
Name Origin: Named for John W. Dell, first postmaster.
RR Stop: Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste Marie Railroad
Post Office: 1909-1913.
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: De Tour
Other Names: Warrenville - See also Warrenville
Township: De Tour
Established: 1850
Name Origin: Named after Ebenezer Warren, first postmaster. Changed to De Tour in 1856.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1850
Exists: Yes
Notes: Incorporated as village in 1899. Early French-Canadian settlement. French and Indian name both mean "to go around." De Tour is located at the point on the shore where ships round the Upper Peninsula and turn toward the Straits and Mackinac Island.

Name: Dick
Other Names:
Township: Trout Lake
Established: 1904-1916, lumbering settlement.
Name Origin:
RR Stop: Minneapolis St Paul & Sault Ste Marie Railroad
Post Office: 1904-1915
Exists: No
Notes: Lumber settlement during early 1900's.

Name: Dodge
Other Names: Munuscong State Park
Township:
Established:
Name Origin: Munuscong name (Indian) means "bay of the rushes."
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: No
Notes: Privately owned by Horace & John Dodge. Now a game refuge, State Department of Conservation.

Name: Donaldson
Other Names:
Township: Bruce
Established: 1878 (village)
Name Origin: Named for Rev. Matthew Donaldson, an early settler.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1881-1913.
Exists: Yes
Notes: Once a booming lumbering settlement.

Name: Dorgans
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop: Stop on Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Railroad between Brimley and Raco.
Post Office:
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: Drummond Island
Other Names:
Township: Drummond
Established: Between 1812 and 1822 by French as Fort Drummond.
Name Origin: Named for British Commander Sir Gordon Drummond, who built Ft. Drummond.
RR Stop:
Post Office: Est. 1881
Exists: Yes
Notes: Residence of Daniel Murray Seaman, Mormon missionary, 1853.

Name: Dryburg
Other Names:
Township: Rudyard
Established:
Name Origin: Named by residents who forbade the sale of alcohol within the city limits.
RR Stop: Station on Minneapolis, St Paul & Sault Ste Marie Railroad.
Post Office: 1903-1943
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: East Branch
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop: Detroit, Mackinaw & Marquette Railroad in 1886
Post Office:
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: Eckerman
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1889
Name Origin: Founded by Mr. Eckerman, a timber jobber.
RR Stop: Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad.
Post Office: 1889-?
Exists: Yes
Notes:

Name: Edwards - See Shelldrake.

Name: Emerson
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1882 by Chesbrough Lumber Company.
Name Origin: Named for Chris Emerson, Saginaw millionaire lumberman, a relative of the Chesbrough family.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1884-1914.
Exists:
Notes: Site of various lumber mills. Now part of State campground. See also: The Story of Wilwin.

Name: Encampment
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1910
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: Donaldson
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: Fiborn Junction
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin: Combines the names of W. F. Fitch and Chase S. Osborn, promotors of the Fiborn limestone quarry.
RR Stop: Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes: Railroad spur from South SHore's mail line to Fiborn quarry.

Name: Fibre
Other Names: Alberta
Township: Rudyard
Established: 1890
Name Origin: Named for wood products (pulp wood and shingle bolts) shipped from here.
RR Stop: Minneapolis, St Paul & Sault Ste Marie Railroad.
Post Office: 1895-present.
Exists: Yes
Notes: Named Alberta for one year, 1895. Renamed Fibre in 1896. Doud family were early settlers.

Name: Fort Brady
Other Names:
Township: Soo
Established: 1822
Name Origin: Built by Col. Hugh Brady.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: No
Notes: Originally built overlooking the St Mary's River. Moved to hill overlooking city of Sault Ste Marie. Buildings now part of Lake Superior State University campus.

Name: Fort Chevalier de Repentigny
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1750 by French.
Name Origin: Named for French officer.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: No
Notes: Surrendered to English in 1762. Burned by Indians 1862. Source of famous law suit by Repentigny family over land on the St Mary's River.

Name: Fort Drummond - See Drummond Island

Name: Freeman
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: No
Notes: Post office at one time. No additional info.

Name: Gatesville
Other Names: Goetzville
Township: De Tour
Established: 1882
Name Origin: Named after Joseph Goetz, first settler in 1882.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1882-1917
Exists: Yes
Notes: Goetz family settled here and started a business in 1882. Joseph Goetz was first postmaster in 1882. Name changed from Gatesville to Goetzville on 13 February 1917.

Name: Gladys
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin: Judge Colwell named site after his daughter, Gladys Colwell.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes: Began as RR station. Mr. Sykes built the first home here. Judge Colwell bought the house from Sykes and renamed the site after his daughter, Gladys.

Name: Gogomain
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin: Indian name for porcupine.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes:

Name: Goodwin
Other Names:
Township: Trout Lake
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: No
Notes: Established during lumber era. Small mill town.

Name: Haff
Other Names:
Township: Trout Lake
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop: Minnesota, St Paul & Sault Ste Marie Railroad
Post Office: 1903-1913
Exists: No
Notes: Formed around offices of Manistique Iron Company.

Name: Hendrie
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1893
Name Origin:
RR Stop: Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Railroad, 1893-1910.
Post Office: Trout Lake
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: Highbanks
Other Names: Paradise. See Paradise.
Township:
Established: 1870's
Name Origin: Renamed Paradise in 1947.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1947
Exists: Yes
Notes: Renamed Paradise in 1947. Important banking center during lumbering days.

Name: Homestead
Other Names:
Township: Sugar Island
Established: 1850's
Name Origin: Named by Charles Schultz, first lighthouse keeper and supply depot owner, c1894.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1906-1946
Exists: No
Notes: Captain Samuel Ward had a wooden dock here in 1850's.

Name: Hulbert
Other Names: Tahquamenon
Township:
Established: c1893
Name Origin: Named after Hulbert family, first settlers.
RR Stop: Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Railroad.
Post Office: 1892-1908, 1919-present.
Exists: Yes
Notes: From 1917-1923, mail was sent to Eckerman. Site of first deer feeding station. Post office called Tahquamenon in 1919; renamed Hulbert PO in 1920.

Name: Hunter's Mill
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: No
Notes: Site of old lumber camp.

Name: Iroquois
Other Names:
Township: Superior
Established: 1882
Name Origin:
RR Stop: Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Railroad
Post Office: 1882-1883, 1884-1905
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: John's Wood
Other Names: Kreetan (1905), John's Wood (1914), Scammon's Cove, Johnsonburg
Township: Drummond Island
Established:
Name Origin: Possibly named after postmaster H.C. Johnson in 1914.
RR Stop: Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Railroad station between Brimley and Raco.
Post Office: 1905
Exists: No
Notes: Started as sawmill site called Scammon's Cove. Taken over by Kreetan Company of Tonawanda, NY and renamed Kreetan in 1905. Name Changed to John's Wood in 1914.

Name: Kelden
Other Names:
Township: Pickford
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1905-c1915
Exists: No
Notes: Post office and settlement.

Name: Kincheloe Air Force Base
Other Names: Kinross Auxiliary Field, Kinross Air Force Base
Township: Kinross
Established: 1941
Name Origin: Renamed in honor of Captain Iven C. Kincheloe in 1959.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: No
Notes: Founded as auxiliary air force landing field in 1941. Closed in 1970?

Name: Kinross
Other Names:
Township: Kinross
Established:
Name Origin: Named for Kinross, Scotland by Scottish-Irish settlers who emigrated from Canada.
RR Stop: Minnesota, St Paul & Sault Ste Marie Railroad.
Post Office: 1892-1894, 1898-present.
Exists:
Notes: See Kinross Founding Families (submitted by Carol Holmes)

Name: Kreetan
Other Names: John's Wood, Scammon's Cove, Johnsonburg - See John's Wood

Name: Laramie
Other Names:
Township: Sugar Island
Established:
Name Origin: Named for Albert Laramie, first postmaster.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1906-1927
Exists: No
Notes: Albert declined the position of postmaster, and it was accepted by his wife, Delia.

Name: Larch
Other Names:
Township: Dafter
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1905-1915
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: Lime Island
Other Names: Isle de Platre (Plaster Island)
Township: Raber
Established: 1848
Name Origin: Named for lime deposits on island.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1891-1892, 1913-1939
Exists: Yes
Notes: On St Mary's River. Fuel dock for Pittsburgh Coal Co. First settler was Joseph Kemp, c1848.

Name: Mackville
Other Names: McVille
Township:
Established:
Name Origin: First settled by McDowell and McDonald families.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1898-1913
Exists: No
Notes: First post office called McVille.

Name: Maxton
Other Names:
Township: Drummond Island
Established: 1904
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1900-1950
Exists: No
Notes: On Drummond Island. Sawmill settlement of Cleveland Cedar Company. First postmaster was Ernest A. Sims.

Name: McCarron
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin: Named after David McCarron, an early homesteader.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1892
Exists:
Notes: See McCarron Family History for more information.

Name: McVille - See Mackville
Other Names: Mackville
Township: Rudyard
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1905
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: Menckaunee
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes: Fishing area on Lake Superior between Sault Ste Marie and Whitefish Point.

Name: Merry
Other Names:
Township:
Established: c1846
Name Origin: Named for Captain Merry, who opened the Jackson Mine in 1846.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes:

Name: Monuscong - See Munuskong

Name: Munuscong - See also Thorice
Other Names: Monuscong, Thorice
Township: Bruce
Established: 1884
Name Origin: Named for its location on Munuscong Bay ("bay of the rushes").
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1884-1886.
Exists:
Notes: Post office was closed 1886. Thorice post office was renamed Munoscong in 1926. Spelling was changed to Munuscong in 1937.

Name: Neebeesh - See Neebish

Name: Neebish
Other Names: Aneebish, Nibish, Neebeesh, Sailor's Encampment
Township:
Established: 1885
Name Origin: from Indian name, either from lush foliage on island or from the St Mary's rapids ("where the water boils").
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1885
Exists:
Notes: On Neebish Island. US Government cut rhough the rapids in 1908 to make a shipping channel.

Name: Nibish - See Neebish

Name: Nieceville - See Algonquin
Other Names: Algonquin

Name: Norvesco
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1928-1932
Exists:
Notes: Located near Fibre. First postmaster was Alvin P. Goodreau.

Name: Oak Ridge Park
Other Names:
Township: Soo
Established: 1890
Name Origin: From oak trees growing in area and position overlooking St Mary's River.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1911-1942
Exists: No
Notes: On Neebish Island. First postmaster was Stuart Ten Eyck.

Name: Paradise
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1925, by Edward LeDec.
Name Origin: Possibly named by Leon McGregor, a resort promoter.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1947-present.
Exists: Yes.
Notes:

Name: Parkerville
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1875
Name Origin: Named for Simon Parker, first homesteader in area.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes:

Name: Payment
Other Names:
Township: Sugar Island
Established: 1842
Name Origin: Named for Roger G. Payment, first permanent white settler, who estbalished a trading post and platted the town site.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1892-c1945
Exists:
Notes:

Name: Pickford
Other Names:
Township: Soo
Established: 1877
Name Origin: Named for Charles W. Pickford, first postmaster and early settler.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1880-present.
Exists:
Notes:

Name: Pine River
Other Names: Rudyard - See Rudyard

Name: Pittsburgh Landing
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1906
Name Origin: Named for boats who docked to take on fuel for trips to Pittsburgh to deliver ore from Western U.P. mines.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1906-1908.
Exists:
Notes: First postmaster was James H.M. Florey.

Name: Point Au Frene - See also Raber
Other Names:
Township: De Tour
Established: 1888
Name Origin: Named for ash-trees (French: frene) which grow in area.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1888-1889
Exists:
Notes: First postmaster was Charles E. Robinson. In 1889, the post office was transferred to Raber and renamed Raber after the township.

Name: Raber - See also Point Au Frene
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1878
Name Origin: Named For Mueller M. Raber, a pioneer lumberman in the area.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1889-1954.
Exists:
Notes: Original post office was located in Point Au Frene in 1888. Moved to Raber and renamed in favor of the township in 1889. George Raber was the first postmaster in Raber. First white settler was John Stevenson, who emigrated here from Scotland.

Name: Raco
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin: Named after Richard and Avery Company (R.A.C.O.), lumber company.
RR Stop: Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Railroad
Post Office: 1915
Exists: Yes
Notes: Location of first fire watchtower in Michigan. Founders were Lloyd M. Richardson of Saginaw, MI, and Sewell L. Avery of Evanston, IL (later president of Montgomery Ward). James A. Little was the first postmaster.

Name: Rains' Landing
Other Names:
Township: Sugar Island
Established:
Name Origin: Named after Allen Rains, who owned a large home in the area.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes:

Name: Ransonville
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1885
Name Origin: First settled by David J. Ranson and his loggers.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes:

Name: Rexford
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1898
Name Origin: Named in honor of the king of England.
RR Stop: Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad.
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes: Railroad station stop.

Name: Rifle Range
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop: Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Railroad
Post Office: Strongs
Exists: No
Notes:

Name: Rock View
Other Names:
Township: Pickford
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1904-1913
Exists: No
Notes: First postmaster was Robert Foster.

Name: Rosedale
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1883
Name Origin: Named from the wild roses which grow in the area.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1883
Exists:
Notes: First settled by Richard and Hannah Kemp. Richard Kemp became first postmaster.

Name: Rudyard
Other Names: Pine River
Township:
Established: 1883
Name Origin: Named in honor of Rudyard Kipling at the suggestion of Fred Underwood, manager of the Soo line and later president of the Erie Railroad.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1891-present
Exists:
Notes: Originally named Pine River, but name conflicted with another town named "Pine River" in lower Michigan so the name was changed in 1890. Joseph Glendenning was first postmaster.

Name: Sage
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1882
Name Origin:
RR Stop: Detroit, Mackinaw & Marquette Railroad.
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes:

Name: Sailor's Encampment Island - See also Neebish
Other Names: Neebish Island
Township:
Established:
Name Origin: Said to date from 1817 when a British vessel was frozen and the crew had winter quarters on the island.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes:

Name: Saint George's Island - See Sugar Island

Name: Saint Mary - See Sault Sainte Marie
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes:

Name: Sault Sainte Marie
Other Names: "The Soo"
Township: Soo
Established: 1641
Name Origin: Named by Jesuit priests Isaac Joges and Charles Raymbault in honor of the Virgin Mary ("Falls of St Mary's").
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1823-present
Exists: Yes
Notes: See also The Story of Wilwin & Story of Sault Ste Marie and Chippewa County. Henry B. Griswold was first postmaster.

Name: Scammon
Other Names:
Township: Drummond Island
Established: 1884
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1884-1894
Exists:
Notes: Developed around the mill of the Island Cedar Company. Clark A. Watson (Island Cedar Company superintendent) was first postmaster.

Name: Scammon's Cove - See John's Wood

Name: Schlesser
Other Names:
Township: De Tour
Established: 1890
Name Origin: Named after John Schlesser, first postmaster.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1892-1902
Exists:
Notes: After 1905, mail sent to Gatesville.

Name: Seewhy
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin: Named from initials (C.Y.) of first postmaster, C.Y. Bennett.
RR Stop: Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Railroad
Post Office: 1912-1927
Exists:
Notes: On railroad line between Hulbert & Eckerman. After 1927, mail sent to Eckerman.

Name: Shelldrake
Other Names: Edwards
Township: Whitefish
Established: Late 1890's as lumberering and fishing settlement.
Name Origin: "Edwards" after first settlers. "Shelldrake" after Shelldrake ducks which were common in the area.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1895-1908, 1911-?
Exists:
Notes: Fire destroyed most of the lumber mills in 1910. Located on M-123 between Paradise and Whitefish Point. George N. Hutton was the first postmaster.

Name: Spur 59
Other Names:
Township:
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes: Lumbering and sawmill settlement. Number applied to how far the siding was located on the railroad tracks from Sault Ste Marie.

Name: Stalwart
Other Names:
Township: Soo
Established: 1878
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1881-?
Exists:
Notes: Two names for the post office ("Garfield" after President James A. Garfield and "Arthur" After Chester A. Arthur) were applied for, but both were turned down because there were already post offices by those names in Michigan. Then it was suggested to call the post office "Stalwart" since both Garfield and Arthur represented "stalwart" members of the Republican party. This name was accepted, and John J. McKenzie became the first postmaster in 1881. See also the History of Stalwart by Skip Gottfried

Name: Sterlingville - See Stirlingville

Name: Stevensburgh - See also Dafter
Other Names: Dafter (after 1893)
Township: Bruce
Established: c1879
Name Origin:
RR Stop: Minneapolis, St Paul & Sault Ste Marie Railroad
Post Office: 1879-present
Exists: Yes
Notes:

Name: Stirlingville
Other Names: Jolly's Landing
Township: Pickford
Established: Bef. 1887
Name Origin: Called Jolly's Landing after settler named Jolly who owned a dock there. Renamed for William P. Stirling, who apparently purchased the property and operated a steamboat service and store.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1888-?
Exists:
Notes: First postmaster was William P. Stirling.

Name: Strongs
Other Names: Strong's Siding
Township: Superior
Established: 1899
Name Origin: Named after early settler.
RR Stop: Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad
Post Office: 1899-1963
Exists: Yes
Notes: Early lumbering and sawmill settlement. 24 miles west of Newberry. First postmaster was Eugene A. Turner.

Name: Strongville
Other Names:
Township: Pickford
Established:
Name Origin: Named after early settler.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1882-1912
Exists:
Notes: Early lumbering settlement. Sawmill manager Judson D. Smith was first postmaster.

Name: Sturgeon Bay
Other Names: Sturgeonbay
Township: Pickford
Established: 1897
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1897-1905
Exists:
Notes: John A. Klise was first postmaster.

Name: Sugar Island
Other Names: St George's Island, Sisibakwatominiss (Maple Sugar Island)
Township: Sugar Island
Established: 1783
Name Origin: Called Maple Sugar Island by Indians due to abundance of maple sugar trees growing there. Called St George's Island while under control of British in honor of King George, king of England.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1857-1861.
Exists: Yes
Notes: British-American dispute over ownership of the island lasted from 1763-1842 when the Webster-Ashburton Treaty gave the island to the U.S. Michael G. Payment was the first postmaster. Philetus S. Church was the first township supervisor.

Name: Superior
Other Names: Brimley (after 1896) - See also Brimley
Township: Superior
Established: 1887
Name Origin:
RR Stop: Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad.
Post Office: 1888
Exists:
Notes: Name change requested by railroad because of name conflict with station in Minnesota.

Name: Tahquamenon
Other Names: Hulbert - See Hulbert
Notes: Name of river arising at the conjuction of Luce, Alger and Schoolcraft Counties and flowing through Chippewa COunty to Whitefish Bay. The Tahquamenon Falls are featured by Henry Longfellow in his poem "Hiawatha."

Name: Thorice
Other Names: West Neebish, Munoscong, Munuscong
Township: Bruce
Established:
Name Origin: Combination of names of two township promoters, C.J. Thorensen and Fred Price.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1905-1910, 1913-1958
Exists:
Notes: "Bruce" township named after county in Ontario, Canada. Located 18 miles southeast of Sault Ste Marie. C.J. Thorensen was first postmaster. Post office name was changed to Munoscong in 1926, and the spelling was changed to Munuscong in 1937.

Name: Tone
Other Names:
Township: Pickford
Established:
Name Origin: Named in honor of Theodore Wolf Tone, Irish patriot admired by early Scotch-Irish settlers.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1897
Exists:
Notes: Thomas Hassett was first postmaster.

Name: Trombly
Other Names: Trombley
Township:
Established:
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1910-1927
Exists:
Notes: Located on Munoscong Bay, 22 miles southeast of Sault Ste Marie. Mrs. Armilda A. Griffin was the first postmaster.

Name: Trout Lake
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1881
Name Origin:
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1888-present
Exists: Yes
Notes: Situated at junction of two railroads and trading center for several lumber camps in the area. Charles Coffey was first postmaster.

Name: Vermilion
Other Names: Vermillion Point, Lake Superior Station No. 9
Township: Whitefish
Established: 1883 as a station of the US Life-Saving Service
Name Origin: Named after deposits of red ochre in the area.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: No
Notes: Old station was swept into Lake Superior during storm. A Coast Guard Station was built in 1938/9 - abandoned in 1943. William H. Clarke was first postmaster. Spelling changed from Vermillion to Vermilion on June 27, 1896.

Name: Waiska
Other Names: Waiska Bay, Waiskey
Township:
Established:
Name Origin: Named in honor of Chief Waishkai, chief of local Chippewa tribe.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes: Name of bay where Lake Superior narrows into the St Mary's River.

Name: Warrenville - See also De Tour
Other Names: De Tour, Detour
Township:
Established:
Name Origin: Renamed "De Tour" (French: "to go around") because mail kept getting sent to Warren, MI (near Detroit).
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists: Yes
Notes:

Name: Wellsburg
Other Names:
Township:
Established: 1872
Name Origin:
RR Stop: Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad.
Post Office: 1889-1909
Exists:
Notes: Edward J. Guck was first postmaster.

Name: West Neebish
Other Names: Thorice - See Thorice

Name: Whitefish Point
Other Names:
Township: Soo
Established: 1849
Name Origin: Named for abundance of whitefish here.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1877-present
Exists:
Notes: First lighthouse erected 1849. In 1871 became a supply landing for numerous lumber camps and became a commercial fishery. Steel lighthouse constructed around 1900. Life-Saving Station changed to Coast Guard Station in early 1900's. Famous as site of cranberry farming. Sylvester P. Mason was first postmaster.

Name: Willwalk
Other Names: Wilwalk
Township: Sugar Island
Established: 1912
Name Origin: Named after William Walker, first postmaster.
RR Stop:
Post Office: 1917-1929
Exists:
Notes:

Name: Wilson's Point
Other Names:
Township: Sugar Island
Established:
Name Origin: Named after Captain Thomas Wilson, a lumberman and founder of the Wilson Boat Line.
RR Stop:
Post Office:
Exists:
Notes:

Sources:
1921 Map and recent maps,
Michigan Ghost Towns by R. L. Dodge and Michigan Place Names by Walter Romig.
Researchers: Ronnie Aungst, Teresa Gray, Herb and Catherine (Swailes) Hopper.