Wells in Delta County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
River Drives
Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 18, 2019
1. River Drives Marker
The Upper Peninsula forest was more than half pine, most of it white pine. White pine was the greatest of our forest trees, growing to great size in its 400 years of life expectancy. This softwood, easily sawed with the poor saws of the time and weather resistant as lumber, was valuable timber. And, wonder of wonders, it floated. It could be cut in winter and driven down the Escanaba and other rivers on their spring flood crests to mills at their mouths. In 1851, the N. Ludington Company, owned by Brothers Nelson and Harrison Ludington, bought the Escanaba River mills and enlarged them to produce 10 to 12 million board beet of pine lumber yearly. The hardwood portion of the virgin forests had to await the coming of the railroads for mass marketing as they did not float well; some, not at all.Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.
Location. 45° 47.886′ N, 87° 4.634′ W. Marker is in Wells, Michigan, in Delta County. Marker can be reached from Mead Road north of US Highway 2/US
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lumberjacks (a few steps from this marker); Bill Bonifas (within shouting distance of this marker); Waterpowered Sawmills (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Isaac Stephenson (about 300 feet away); Forest Management (about 300 feet away); Escanaba River (about 400 feet away); First Public Schoolhouse in Escanaba (approx. 3.8 miles away); Ludington Hotel (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wells.
Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 18, 2019
2. River Drives Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 112 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 9, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
