Helmer, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helmer, Michigan
|
|
|---|---|
Helmer sign looking west along H-44
|
|
 Helmer, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Helmer, Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Luce |
| Township | Lakefield |
| Settled | 1881 |
| Established | 1894 |
| Elevation | 689 ft (210 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49853 (McMillan)
|
| Area code(s) | 906 |
| GNIS feature ID | 628066 |
Helmer is a small, quiet community in Luce County, located in the state of Michigan, USA. It's not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it's an unincorporated community within Lakefield Township. This means it doesn't have official borders or population counts of its own.
Contents
Helmer's Past: A Look at History
.jpg)
People first started settling in the Helmer area around 1881. A minister named Roy Mills built a special house there for his church along Helmer Creek. At that time, this area was part of Chippewa County. Later, in 1887, Luce County was created, and Helmer became part of it.
The First Post Office
Helmer got its very first post office on March 19, 1894. Gaylord Helmer, who the community is named after, was the first person in charge of the post office. He worked there until 1899. Later, Charles Fyvie took over in 1907. The Helmer post office closed down in 1914. It then became a small branch of the McMillan post office until it closed completely in 1920.
Travel and Roads
When railroads were built across Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Helmer didn't get a train station. The closest one was in McMillan, to the north. Helmer became a small vacation spot and a place where stagecoaches would stop for travelers.
Getting to Helmer by road was difficult for a while. Then, in 1919, a road called M-98 was built. This road connected Helmer to other main roads like M-77 and M-28. In 1929, another road, M-135, was added. It connected Helmer to M-28 and also to U.S. Route 2 to the south. In 1960, both M-98 and M-135 were changed to county roads. They are now known as H-44 and H-33.
Today, Helmer is still an unincorporated community within Lakefield Township. It has a small number of people living there and a few businesses. The East Lakefield Cemetery, which has graves dating back to 1900, is also located nearby.
The Helmer House Inn
| Helmer House Inn | |
|---|---|
_June_2021.jpg)
Helmer House Inn in June 2021
|
|
| Location | 2747 County Road 377 McMillan, Michigan |
| Built | 1881 |
| Designated | January 13, 1982 |
The most famous building in Helmer is the Helmer House Inn. It's located along Helmer Creek, just north of Manistique Lake. The building was first built in 1881–1882 by Roy Mills, the minister, as a mission house and a home for himself.
In 1888, Gaylord Helmer, the local sheriff, bought the building. He turned it into a general store and a hotel. In 1894, he added another part to the house to make room for more travelers. This new part also held the community's first post office, with Gaylord Helmer as the postmaster.
In 1904, Charles and Jeanie Fyvie bought the general store. The Helmer post office stayed in the building until it closed in 1920. The Fyvie family lived there and ran the hotel and store until 1950. After that, the building was empty and started to fall apart.
In 1981, the building was fixed up and reopened as a hotel to celebrate its 100th birthday. It was officially named a Michigan State Historic Site on January 13, 1982. A special historical marker was also placed there.
The hotel closed again a few years later and became neglected. In 2017, the building was almost torn down. But then, local residents James and Kristen Handrich bought it and restored it in 2018. In 2020, the building reopened as the Helmer House Inn & Cafe. It now serves as a bakery and offers bed and breakfast rooms. In 2020, the Helmer House Inn & Cafe was even recognized for having the best doughnuts in the Upper Peninsula!
Helmer's Location: Geography
Helmer is a small community in Lakefield Township. It's in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, about 15 miles (24.1 km) west of the village of Newberry. The area around Helmer is part of the Sault Ste. Marie section of the Lake Superior State Forest. Helmer is located about 689 feet (210 m) above sea level.
Helmer is situated on the northeast shores of Manistique Lake. It's found along H-33 (Manistique Lakes Road) and where H-44 (Ten Curves Road) begins.
Besides Newberry, some other nearby communities include McMillan to the north and Curtis to the south. Engadine is to the southeast, and Germfask and Seney are to the west. Major highways like M-28 are about 6 miles (9.7 km) north, and M-117 is about 10 miles (16.1 km) to the east.
Helmer doesn't have its own post office anymore. People living there use the McMillan 49853 ZIP Code for their mail. The children in Helmer go to school in the Tahquamenon Area Schools district in Newberry. This school district covers the entire county and is the largest public school district in Michigan by area.
Near Helmer, you'll find Manistique Lake and the short Helmer Creek. Helmer Creek connects Manistique Lake to North Manistique Lake. Locke Creek is a smaller stream that flows into Helmer Creek within the community. Fork Lake and Fork Creek are also nearby waterways that connect to the northeastern part of Manistique Lake.
Gallery
-
Helmer House Inn in the early 1900s -
Historic photo of the general store -
The building when it was closed and neglected in 2012 -
The state historic marker at Helmer House Inn
.jpg)
_historic_marker.jpg)
