Portage Point, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Portage Point, Michigan
Unincorporated community
Portage Point, Michigan Location in Michigan
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Manistee
Township	Onekama
Elevation	623 ft (190 m)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)	231
GNIS feature ID	635285

Portage Point is a lovely summer resort area in Michigan, located in Manistee County. It's part of Onekama Township. This spot is special because it sits on a narrow strip of land. This land is nestled between two beautiful lakes: Portage Lake and the much larger Lake Michigan. It was once the site of the first town on Portage Lake.

A Look Back: Early History of Portage Point

Who Visited Portage Point First?

The Portage Point area was likely explored by early travelers. One famous explorer, Henri de Tonty, might have visited in 1679. Other explorers also came to the eastern coast of Lake Michigan.

The Shipwrecked Crew of the Prince Eugene

The first non-Native Americans known to stay here for a long time were sailors. Their ship, the schooner Prince Eugene, wrecked on November 15, 1835. This happened a few miles south of where the Portage Lake channel is now. It was winter, and the nearest towns like Grand Rapids were far away. So, the crew built a log cabin in the sand dunes. They waited there until spring arrived.

Michigan Becomes a State

Michigan became a state in 1837. That same year, the government surveyed the area around Portage Lake. Back then, the lake was called "O-neK-ama-engk." People believed this was a native word for "portage," meaning a place where boats or goods are carried over land.

The First Sawmill and Its Impact

The natural way for Portage Lake to flow out was about a mile north of today's man-made channel. This stream was perfect for a water-powered sawmill. In 1845, Joseph Stronach bought the land around this outlet. His uncle, James Stronach, built a dam and a sawmill there.

The mill grew busy, cutting lots of timber. By 1870, the mill and its fifty workers were very productive. They cut thousands of shingles and lath pieces every day. This added up to millions of feet of timber each year.

Challenges for Local Farmers

However, the sawmill's dam caused problems for farmers. Portage Lake was naturally a few feet higher than Lake Michigan. The dam made the lake even higher, flooding low-lying land. Farmers started complaining in the 1860s. They said the mill operators kept raising the lake level. This was to help the mill's power, but it flooded about 400 acres of farmland. Some farmers even said they could sail boats among the trees!

The Big Change: Digging a New Channel

In 1868, farmers tried to stop the mill from raising the lake level. A court ordered the dam to be removed by December 1870. But the mill owners, who were in Chicago, were hard to reach. By April 1871, the farmers complained that the company hadn't followed the order.

A Secret Plan to Lower the Lake

Meanwhile, a man named Nathan Pierce and his son, Amos Pierce, had a plan. In 1867, they bought land south of the mill. Four years later, Amos Pierce and others decided to dig a ditch. This ditch would permanently lower Portage Lake to the same level as Lake Michigan. This would also put the old mill out of business. Many local people joined in to help dig the ditch. The mill company tried to stop them, but the court sided with the farmers.

The Great Ditch Opening

On the night of May 13, 1871, the ditch was ready. Only a log barrier held back the lake's water. People involved even had a dance party at the site! The next morning, May 14, 1871, a single ox pulled the barrier down. The water rushed through the cut, making it deeper and wider. The new passage became nearly 500 feet wide and 12 feet deep. This lowered Portage Lake by 12 to 14 feet. It returned the lake to its natural state, like a bay of Lake Michigan.

First Ship Through the New Cut

That Sunday, a steamboat called the John A. Dix was sailing on Lake Michigan. Suddenly, it was surrounded by trees swept out from the new Portage Lake cut! The captain had to change course to avoid the danger. The next day, May 15, 1871, a tugboat named Williams was the first ship to enter Portage Lake through the new cut. People cheered and celebrated! In honor of the tugboat, the Portage Lake side of the cut was named Williamsport, Michigan.

After this big event, the settlement around the old mill moved. It relocated to the eastern end of Portage Lake. This new village adopted the Post Office name "O-nek-a-ma'," which is now Onekama.

Portage Point Becomes a Summer Resort

After the lumber industry slowed down, Michigan looked for new ways to grow. In 1897, the state allowed companies to form resorts. In 1902, a group called the Sunnyside Assembly bought land on Portage Lake. They changed their name to the Portage Point Assembly. On July 12, 1902, they started building the famous Portage Point Inn. The Inn first opened its doors to guests on June 20, 1903.

Growth of the Resort Community

The first ten years were tough for the Inn. But some cottages were built, and people paid yearly fees to the resort. In 1909, the Northern Michigan Transportation Company began buying land around Portage Lake. By 1914, they became the main investors in the Portage Point Assembly. They took over managing the Inn. They also divided 40 acres of land into lots to sell. This area was called the Portage Park Addition. It was planned to have 3,500 lots and a golf course, but only a small part was ever developed.

By 1914, steamships like the SS Puritan and SS Missouri served the Portage Point Inn. These ships offered direct trips from Chicago and Milwaukee.

A Popular Spot for Families

From this time on, Portage Point quietly became a popular summer colony. Mary B. Hattendorf from Western Springs, Illinois was one of the first to come. She was a widowed school teacher. She arrived in 1914 with her young son. They first lived in a tent, then built a house in 1916. She convinced her friends, Harmon and Mary Watt, to join her. They bought nearby lots. Soon, other friends from Western Springs, like the Vaughans and Rollins, also came. Many more families from that town followed over the years. Generations continued to make Portage Point their summer home.

In 1985, the Portage Point Inn was recognized for its history. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Notable People Who Enjoyed Portage Point

Many interesting people have spent their summers at Portage Point:

• Richard Bolling, a Representative from Missouri.
• Professor Arthur B. Chapman from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
• Senator Otis F. Glenn from Illinois.
• Professor John Hattendorf, a well-known maritime historian.
• Porter Jarvis, who was the President of Swift & Co.
• Professor Kenneth S. Wagoner from DePauw University.
• David Warsh, a journalist and author.