Buttersville, Michigan facts for kids
Buttersville, Michigan was a small village located in Mason County, Michigan, close to the city of Ludington. It was founded in 1880 and was a special kind of community known as a company town.
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What Was Buttersville?
Buttersville was created to support a large business. It was built by the Butters & Peters sawmill. This mill was a very important place where trees were cut into lumber. Lumber was used to build homes, furniture, and many other things.
A Town Built for Work
A company town is a place where a company owns most of the homes and stores. They built these towns for their workers. This made it easy for workers to live close to their jobs. Buttersville provided homes and services for the people who worked at the sawmill.
The Sawmill's Role
The Butters & Peters sawmill was the heart of Buttersville. It processed many logs into useful wood products. This industry was very important in Michigan during that time. It helped build many parts of the country.
Connecting the Town: The Railroad
To get logs to the sawmill, a special railway was built. The Mason and Oceana Railroad was finished in 1886. This railroad brought logs from distant forests right to the mill in Buttersville.
The Railroad's Importance
Buttersville was the northwestern end, or "terminus," of this railroad. This meant it was a key stop for transporting logs. The railroad was vital for the sawmill to get enough raw materials. It helped the mill operate efficiently.
Life in Buttersville
Like many towns, Buttersville had important services for its residents. One of these was a post office. The post office helped people send and receive letters and packages. This connected the village to the outside world.
The Post Office Closes
The Buttersville post office served the community for many years. However, it eventually closed down in 1907. This often happens when a town's population shrinks or its main industry changes.
What Happened to Buttersville?
Buttersville was a busy place for a while, thanks to the sawmill and railroad. But like many company towns, its future was tied to the success of its main industry. When the timber resources ran out or the mill closed, the town slowly faded away. Today, Buttersville no longer exists as a village.
