Comins, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Comins, Michigan
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Looking north along M-33
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| Nickname(s):
"Ghost town with a lot of spirit"
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 Comins, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Comins, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Oscoda |
| Township | Clinton |
| Settled | 1873 |
| Established | 1881 |
| Elevation | 1,047 ft (319 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
48619
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| Area code(s) | 989 |
| GNIS feature ID | 626935 |
Comins is a small, unincorporated community located in Oscoda County, Michigan. An unincorporated community means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own official town government or exact borders like a city would. Even without official boundaries, Comins has its own post office and a special ZIP Code (48619). It's located within a larger area called Clinton Township.
Contents
Exploring Comins' Location
Comins is found in Northern Michigan. It sits in the northeastern part of Oscoda County. The main road running through the community is M-33, which locals call North Abbe Road. Comins is about 60 miles (97 km) northwest of the community of Oscoda. The land here is quite high, about 1,047 feet (319 m) above sea level.
Marsh Creek flows near the center of Comins, and this area is also part of Comins Marsh. It's interesting to note that Comins community is not actually inside Comins Township. That township is just south of the community. Many other places like a cemetery and a stream also share the name Comins, but they are located in Comins Township to the south.
The Comins post office (ZIP Code 48619) serves a large, spread-out area. This includes most of Clinton Township, parts of Comins Township and Elmer Township, and even some southern areas of Loud Township and Rust Township in Montmorency County. The current post office building is located at 4240 North Abbe Road (M-33). Students in Comins attend schools in the Fairview Area School District, which is based in Fairview. Other nearby communities include Mio to the south and Lewiston to the northwest.
A Look at Comins' Past
Comins began as a settlement in 1873. A logger named Coolidge Comins moved here from Maine. At that time, this area was part of Alcona County. Oscoda County itself was not officially created until 1881.
The Lumbering Era
In the 1890s, a narrow-gauge railway was built through Comins. This railway was owned by the H.M. Loud & Sons Lumber Company. The Au Sable & North Western Railroad operated the line. Comins Station was the last stop on this railway. This made it easy to transport lumber to Oscoda, a community located on the coast of Lake Huron. Because of this, Comins quickly became a very important center for lumbering in Oscoda County.
Comins also grew when a nearby community called McKinley faced problems. McKinley had several big fires around 1900. Many of its railroad and lumber services moved to Comins, and even McKinley's railroad depot building was physically moved here!
Post Office and Growth
Comins got its first post office in 1881. It closed briefly but reopened in 1900. It closed again in 1913, but thankfully, it reopened for good on March 11, 1914, and it's still open today.
The railway line was later sold to the Detroit and Mackinac Railway. In 1912, they made it a standard-gauge railway, which is wider and more common. Comins continued to grow, adding several stores, a lumber warehouse, and the railroad depot. Farmers also shipped livestock from the depot. By 1917, about 35 people lived in Comins.
In 1919, M-33 was designated as a state highway. This road runs directly through the community. However, as the lumber supplies ran out, the railway became less profitable. It was finally closed in 1928. Eventually, the train station and the railway tracks were completely removed.
Comins Today: Caboose and Community Spirit
Even though the trains are gone, Comins remembers its railroad past. In 1985, a Grand Trunk model caboose was given to Comins. A caboose is the last car on a freight train. This caboose was meant to be a reminder of the community's early railroad days. It was painted bright red, like a Detroit and Mackinac Railway caboose. Today, it sits on a small set of tracks along M-33, across from the township hall. This "Comins Old Red Caboose" now serves as a museum!
A Strong Community
In 1999, Comins faced a challenge when an F2 tornado hit the community on July 3. An F2 tornado is a strong one, with winds between 113 and 157 miles per hour. The tornado caused a lot of damage, destroying buildings like a church, the township hall, the post office, and the fire department. Many businesses and homes were also badly damaged. Interestingly, the historic caboose museum was one of the few buildings left untouched. Many buildings were not rebuilt, leaving some empty spaces in the center of town. However, the Clinton Township Hall, which is located in Comins, was rebuilt. It stands next to the post office at 4245 North Abbe Road.
Comins is also important for nature lovers. In 1995, it became the home of the Kirtland's warbler chapter of the Michigan Audubon Society. This group works to protect birds and their habitats.
Images for kids
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U.S. Post Office in Comins
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Historic image of Comins
