The Third Ward

Alpena's "North" Side

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018

1. The Third Ward Marker

Inscription. Located across the river from where you are standing is an area known historically as Alpena's Third Ward. The first dwellings there were erected in 1858 or '59 at the river's edge, while the majority of the land remained woods and swampland. The F.W. Gilchrist sawmill was built on the bay shore in 1867, occupying a large tract there until the mid-1890s, with loading docks fronting the river and Thunder Bay. Closer to the Second Avenue Bridge, a variety of ice-houses, fishing docks, steamboat landings and a flour mill lined the river. Ship traffic was intense. Lumber vessels, fish tugs, coastal freighters and side-wheel passenger steamers called constantly during the shipping season.

The population of the Third Ward grew steadily during the 1860s, ’70s and ’80s. A destructive fire, however, swept across the North side on July 22, 1888, destroying many homes and businesses. In spite of the devastation people rebuilt quickly, leaving few empty lots in the area just two or three years later.

The present Decorative Panels International plant (DPI) was constructed by the Abitibi Corporation in 1956 on the site of the old Gilchrist sawmill. The firm made fiberboard products and insulating board using various native trees. It was acquired by Louisiana-Pacific in 1999, and in turn by DPI in 2004. At that time the plant employed

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230 people and produced pegboard and wallboard.

Erected by Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 45° 3.749′ N, 83° 25.745′ W. Marker was in Alpena, Michigan, in Alpena County. Marker could be reached from North 1st Avenue north of Water Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker was located along the Alpena Bi-Path, near the east end of South Riverfront Park, beside the Thunder Bay River. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 205 Water Street, Alpena MI 49707, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. A different marker also named The Third Ward (here, next to this marker); Winter Layup (within shouting distance of this marker); Thunder Bay National Maritime Sanctuary (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Welcome to the Alpena Water Level Station (about 300 feet away); Nordmeer (about 300 feet away); Montana (about 400 feet away); U.S.S. Maine Memorial (about 400 feet away); Abby’s Story (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alpena.

Marker detail: Iron steamers image. Click for full size.

Fred Trelfa photo, Thunder Bay Sanctuary Research Collection

2. Marker detail: Iron steamers

The iron steamers of the Detroit & Cleveland Navigation Company’s Lake Huron Division, shown here in the Thunder Bay River, connected Alpena with Bay City, Port Huron and Detroit.

More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque, mounted waist-high on a metal supporting rack.

Also see . . .
1. Alpena's Lumber Industry. Lumbering was Thunder Bay's first extensive local industry. From 1836 through 1921, the Thunder Bay region was a major center of the lumber trade, shipping the products of local mills to markets all over the eastern U.S. and Canada aboard hundreds of sail, steam, and motor-driven craft. In addition, beginning in about 1845, Thunder Bay Island was a "wooding" or fueling station for steamers bound between Detroit and Mackinaw. Alpena's era of lumber mills came to an end in 1921, when the F.W. Gilchrist mill closed its doors. (Submitted on August 19, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. News of Lumber Mill Fire (from the Philadelphia Inquirer, 23 July 1888):.
An alarm of fire was sent in from the lumber mill of H.R. Morse, a huge structure covering two acres of ground and surrounded by saw dust heaps and piles of refuse lumber. the wind was blowing a fierce gala and the fire soon spread to the Detroit, Bay City and Alpena Railroad engine house, which was rapidly consumed. Morse's mill and boarding house went next, and the fire spread on towards to bay. The Fire Department was helpless, and there was nothing to do but wait until the fire had exhausted itself. Gilchrist's

Marker detail: F.W. Gilchrist sawmill image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan

3. Marker detail: F.W. Gilchrist sawmill

The F.W. Gilchrist sawmill was erected near the mouth of the Thunder Bay River in 1867. It occupied 30 acres of land and operated Alpena’s largest fleet of lumber ships.

Lumber Dock, with 3,000,000 feet of sawn lumber on it, was soon in flames, and the scene as the big logs fell into the bay and drifted out towards the open lake, all the floating timber being ablaze, was a sight long to be remembered. the burning timber set fire to the Government Light House at the mouth of the river, and it was soon a total loss. It was not until midnight that the fire was under control. (Submitted on August 19, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: July 1888 fire image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan

4. Marker detail: July 1888 fire

July 1888 fire wiped out 200 buildings on the North side, leaving 1,500 people homeless. Fires were a constant threat in Northern Michigan towns.

Marker detail: Commercial fisheries, freight sheds and ice-houses, circa 1880s image. Click for full size.

Fred Trelfa photo, Thunder Bay Sanctuary Research Collection, July 23, 2018

5. Marker detail: Commercial fisheries, freight sheds and ice-houses, circa 1880s

Commercial fisheries, freight sheds and ice-houses lined the riverbank west of the sprawling Gilchrist Lumber docks during the 1880s and ‘90s.

The Third Ward Marker (<i>wide view; looking north across Thunder Bay River</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018

6. The Third Ward Marker (wide view; looking north across Thunder Bay River)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 368 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 19, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6. submitted on August 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.