Marlborough Historic District facts for kids
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Marlborough Historic District
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Great Northern Portland Cement Co, c. 1907
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Pleasant Plains Township, Michigan |
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| Area | 80 acres (32 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000630 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 7, 1972 |
The Marlborough Historic District is a fascinating historical site in Pleasant Plains Township, Michigan. It's known for the ruins of a large cement factory and a town that once thrived there. This area was recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site in 1971. A year later, in 1972, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important place to learn about history!
Contents
The Story of Marlborough's Cement Factory
Imagine a time when a huge factory and a whole town popped up in Michigan! That's what happened at Marlborough.
Building a Cement Empire
In the 1890s, a company called the Great Northern Portland Cement Company started building a big cement plant. They chose this spot because they could find "marl" nearby. Marl is a type of clay and lime mixture, perfect for making cement.
The company wanted to make lots of cement. They hoped to become very successful.
A Town for Workers
As the factory grew, many people came to work there. So, in 1902, the company decided to build a town just for its workers. They named this new town Marlborough.
By 1905, Marlborough was a busy place. About 400 people lived there. It was a true company town, built around the factory.
Problems Begin
However, the good times didn't last long. The cement they made wasn't very good quality. Also, making cement was very expensive. The factory needed a huge amount of power. They even built the biggest power plant in Michigan's Lower Peninsula just to run the factory!
In 1906, the Great Northern Portland Cement Company ran into serious money problems. They went into "receivership," which is when a company is taken over to try and pay off its debts.
The End of Marlborough
Because of these problems, the factory had to close. The houses in Marlborough were sold off and taken apart for their materials. The big factory itself was even blown up with dynamite to get the metal for scrap.
By 1910, almost nothing was left. The once-busy factory and town became just ruins.
What Remains Today
Today, the Marlborough Historic District covers about 80 acres. It's a place where you can see the remains of a forgotten past.
The Lost Town of Marlborough
Marlborough was once a lively town. It had 72 houses where families lived. There was even an opera house for entertainment! The town also had a school and a post office. For visitors, there was a large hotel with 88 rooms.
Sadly, none of these buildings are still standing today. They were all taken down after the factory closed.
The Factory Ruins
The cement plant was built very strongly. It was made almost entirely from "reinforced concrete." This is concrete with steel bars inside, making it extra strong.
The factory had a huge storage warehouse, hundreds of feet long. Inside the plant, there were six "kilns" (giant ovens for heating materials) and fourteen "grinding mills" (machines for crushing materials). Today, you can still see parts of these strong concrete structures, standing as silent reminders of the past.
Images for kids
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Great Northern Portland Cement Co, c. 1907
