Rose City in Ogemaw County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Rose City / The Big Fire
Photographed By Kathy Garman, September 5, 2020
1. Rose City Marker
Inscription.
Rose City, also, The Big Fire. .
Rose City. Named for the Rose family which came to Ogemaw County around 1871. Rose City originated as Churchill and was located one-half mile west of here. During the 1870s, Churchill consisted of a post office, a general store, a boardinghouse and settlers' homes. William Rose had come from New York State, drawn to the pines and hardwoods available for lumbering, and built a sawmill along Houghton Creek. Rose's son Allan, a Churchill merchant and the first postmaster, formed a lumber company with M.S. French of West Branch. In 1892 he persuaded the Detroit and Mackinac Railroad to build a branch line to serve the area's lumbering operations. The entire Churchill settlement relocated here that year and was platted as Rose City. The community was officially incorporated as a city in 1905.,
The Big Fire. In the early morning hours of April 3, 1910, the booming lumber town of Rose City went up in flames as fire raged through the commercial district. Starting in D.W. Benjamin's grocery store on the south side of West Main Street, the fire quickly spread. Despite the efforts of a bucket brigade, the fire jumped across the street and swept down the north side. As most of the buildings were of frame construction, it took less than an hour for the entire business district to burn. The town lost over thirty buildings. Property losses, attributed to the fire and looting, totaled an estimated $175,000. Two concrete buildings on the Main Street, those that housed Bell's Store and Naylor's Store, were the only businesses to survive the fire.
Rose City
Named for the Rose family which came to Ogemaw County around 1871. Rose City originated as Churchill and was located one-half mile west of here. During the 1870s, Churchill consisted of a post office, a general store, a boardinghouse and settlers' homes. William Rose had come from New York State, drawn to the pines and hardwoods available for lumbering, and built a sawmill along Houghton Creek. Rose's son Allan, a Churchill merchant and the first postmaster, formed a lumber company with M.S. French of West Branch. In 1892 he persuaded the Detroit and Mackinac Railroad to build a branch line to serve the area's lumbering operations. The entire Churchill settlement relocated here that year and was platted as Rose City. The community was officially incorporated as a city in 1905.
The Big Fire
In the early morning hours of April 3, 1910, the booming lumber town of Rose City went up in flames as fire raged through the commercial district. Starting in D.W. Benjamin's grocery store on the south side of West Main Street, the fire quickly spread. Despite the efforts of a bucket brigade, the fire jumped across the street and swept down the north side. As most of the buildings were of frame construction, it took less than an hour for the entire business district to burn.
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The town lost over thirty buildings. Property losses, attributed to the fire and looting, totaled an estimated $175,000. Two concrete buildings on the Main Street, those that housed Bell's Store and Naylor's Store, were the only businesses to survive the fire.
Erected 2002 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number L2107.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 3, 1910.
Location. 44° 25.458′ N, 84° 6.895′ W. Marker is in Rose City, Michigan, in Ogemaw County. Marker is at the intersection of Cleveland Circle and Park Drive when traveling east on Cleveland Circle. The marker is at the Rose City Park Pavilion, located about 415 feet east of North Williams Street (M-33). Marker was moved from in front of the Rose City City Hall, next to North Williams Street, sometime between October 2008 and September 2015. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rose City MI 48654, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Telephone Pioneers (a few steps from this marker); Rose City Lions Club (within shouting distance
3. The Rose City Park Pavilion and the Rose City/The Big Fire Marker
Photographed By Joel Seewald, circa July 2006
4. Rose City Marker (former location)
Photographed By Joel Seewald, July 2006
5. The Big Fire Marker (former location)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 25, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 717 times since then and 73 times this year. Last updated on March 13, 2021, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on March 13, 2021, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. 4, 5. submitted on January 24, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
