Mason County

Mason County
Author: David K. Petersen
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Total Pages: 213
Release: 2015-10-26
Genre: Photography
ISBN: 1439653801

Mason County: 1850-1950 portrays the settlement and growth of Mason County, Michigan, as the area transformed from a land covered in virgin pine and native settlements to communities of farmers and manufacturers. This history of the region begins with images of logging and mills and follows the growth of towns, villages, and individual townships. The adversity, struggles, successes, and joys of carving a new life from the wilderness are captured in more than 200 carefully selected images. These unique photographs illustrate a life of hardship, service, and dedication to faith, family, and community as the area transitioned and changed over the decades.

Lost Towns of Mason County, Michigan

Lost Towns of Mason County, Michigan
Author: Sandi Lewis-Malburg
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Total Pages: 160
Release: 2019
Genre: History
ISBN: 1467142654

More than a century ago, Mason County was a much different, harsher place. Arriving by foot and boat to find a dense wilderness, hardy pioneers carved out tiny settlements stretching right to the coast of Lake Michigan. When the lumber industry arrived in Michigan, the settlements grew to boomtowns and new towns formed. To serve the lumber industry, the railroad spread across the county, and immigrants and settlers flooded in to have their chance at the American Dream. But when the lumber ran out, the mills closed down. Jobs disappeared, and so did these towns. Out of the thirty-nine settlements, only two cities and six fading villages remain today. Join local author Sandi Lewis-Malburg as she uncovers the towns that time forgot.