Koss, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Koss, Michigan
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 Koss, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Menominee |
| Township | Lake |
| Elevation | 689 ft (210 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49887
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| Area code(s) | 906 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1617663 |
Koss is a small, unincorporated community in Menominee County, Michigan, United States. It is located in Lake Township, about 4.9 miles (7.9 km) west-southwest of Stephenson.
Contents
Where is Koss? Exploring its Location
Koss is found where S-1 Road and S-4 Road meet. It sits on the left bank of the Menominee River, about 689 feet (210 m) above sea level. Koss Creek, a smaller stream, flows into the Menominee River near the community.
You can reach Koss by road from several nearby places. These include Longrie to the northwest and Kells to the north. To the east, you can get to Ingalls. South of Koss are Packard and McAllister, Wisconsin.
The Story Behind the Name of Koss
Koss was first called Fischer. This name came from a Chicago clothing company, Kuh, Nathan, and Fischer. This company helped turn a local logging line into a railroad that went north to Miscauno Island.
However, there was already another Fischer post office in Michigan. So, the village was renamed Koss. It was named after Otto Alexander Koss (1866–1940), who was an auditor for the railroad. He also served as the railroad's secretary.
A Look at Koss's Past
Koss began in 1893. It was built around a saw and planing mill, which processed wood. George P. Gunderson became the first postmaster on March 26, 1896.
In 1897, the Wisconsin and Michigan Railroad moved its main office to Koss. This showed how important Koss was as a lumber town. The town grew to have almost 2,000 people. But in 1900, a big fire destroyed much of it. More fires hit the town in 1902, 1908 (destroying 18 homes), and 1930.
A special device to measure river levels, called a stream gauge, was set up at the Koss Bridge on June 21, 1907. A company store, managed by Samuel Mackevich, operated in Koss until 1909.
After these events, the town started to decline. The post office closed on March 31, 1913. By the 1940s, Koss was often called a ghost town. However, a small number of people still lived there, and logging continued. In the 1940s, the Duffrin mill was still cutting a lot of lumber each day from logs found in the Menominee River.
The Koss Bridge: Connecting States
A direct road connection from Wisconsin to Koss was created after the last Wisconsin and Michigan Railroad train ran on June 30, 1938. Marinette and Menominee counties bought the old railroad bridge south of Koss in July 1938 for $1,250. They changed it into a single-lane road bridge.
The Koss Bridge connects County Road JJ in Marinette County, Wisconsin, to S 4 Road in Menominee County, Michigan. Before this, people had to use a different steel bridge west of Wausaukee to cross the Menominee River. That bridge was destroyed by a flood in 1920.
The original Koss railroad bridge was built in 1894. It was a Pratt through truss bridge, measuring 388 feet (118 m) long, making it one of the longest in the area. A new bridge replaced it in 1991.
Fun Things to Do in Koss
The Koss Bridge is often the starting point for an annual canoe race held on the Menominee River. Koss Park is also located on the Menominee River, southeast of Koss. It's a great spot for fishing and has a small ramp for boats.
People from Koss
Some notable people who were born or lived in Koss include:
- Samuel Mackevich (1876–1948), a well-known businessman from Marinette.
- Sammy Powers (1897–1969), a professional football player for the Green Bay Packers.
