Near Bay Port in Huron County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Great Fire of 1881

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 22, 2023

1. Great Fire of 1881 Marker

Inscription.
Small fires were burning in the forests of the Thumb, tinder-dry after a long, hot summer, when a gale swept in from the southwest on Sept. 5, 1881. Fanned into an inferno, the fires raged for three days. A million acres were devastated in Sanilac and Huron Counties alone. At least 125 persons died, and thousands more were left destitute. The new American Red Cross won support for its prompt aid to the fire victims. This was the first disaster relief furnished by this great organization.

Erected 1957 by Michigan Historical Commission. (Marker Number 141.)

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 September 5, 1881.

Location. 43° 49.216′ N, 83° 22.65′ W. Marker is near Bay Port, Michigan, in Huron County. It is on South Unionville Road (Michigan Route 25) 0.6 miles south of Pigeon Road ( Route 142), on the right when traveling north. Located in the Brown Roadside Park, about 2¼ miles south of Bay Port. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bay Port MI 48720, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Michigan’s Thumb

and in one of the Lake Huron Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Henry A. Hamp / Alfred R. Vogel (within shouting

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distance of this marker); Stagecoaches (approx. 2.2 miles away); Bay Port Fishing District (approx. 2.2 miles away); Pigeon Depot (approx. 5.4 miles away); John C. Liken / John C. Martini House (approx. 7.1 miles away); Sebewaing Township Hall (approx. 7.2 miles away); The Indian Mission (approx. 7.3 miles away); Sebewaing (approx. 7.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bay Port.

Photographed by Kathy Garman, June 28, 2020

2. Great Fire of 1881 Marker

Brown Roadside Park Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kathy Garman, June 28, 2020

3. Brown Roadside Park Sign

1881 Michigan Fire Forever Changed the Face of the Thumb image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Larry Gertner

4. 1881 Michigan Fire Forever Changed the Face of the Thumb

Thumbwind website entry
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Credits. This page was last revised on September 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 22, 2020, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. This page has been viewed 3,108 times since then and 238 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 27, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 2. submitted on November 23, 2020, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. 3. submitted on November 22, 2020, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. 4. submitted on December 8, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.