Essexville in Bay County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Beet Sugar Industry

Photographed by Kathy Garman, July 25, 2020

1. Beet Sugar Industry Marker

Inscription. The first successful beet sugar factory in Michigan was built in 1898 by the Michigan Sugar Company on Woodside Avenue in Essexville. A year later the Bay City Sugar Company built a competing factory across the street. The two plants merged in 1903 with the original plant closing down shortly thereafter. The name of the merged company was Bay City-Michigan Sugar Company which was then shortened to Michigan Sugar Company. It operated continuously until 1929 and closed permanently in 1933. The company's early success sparked the construction of many other beet sugar plants. All were part of the drive which has made beet sugar vital to Michigan's economy. The present Monitor Sugar factory is the only beet sugar plant still in operation in Bay County.

Erected 1977 by Michigan History Division, Department of State. (Marker Number S356.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 43° 36.833′ N, 83° 50.734′ W. Marker is in Essexville, Michigan, in Bay County. It is on Woodside Avenue east of Scheurmann

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Street, on the left when traveling east. The historical marker is located between the Essexville Knights of Columbus Hall and the Essexville City Fire Department. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1107 Woodside Ave, Essexville MI 48732, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Mid-Michigan

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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bay City Boating and Fishing Club (approx. 0.9 miles away); Fan-Fare Torpedo Decoy (approx. 1.2 miles away); USS Frank E. Evans DD-754 Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); Mark 46 Torpedo (approx. 1.2 miles away); Motor Whaleboat 26 Ft (approx. 1.2 miles away); Signal Bridge (approx. 1.2 miles away); Signal Shack (approx. 1.2 miles away); Independent Park Boat Launch (approx. 1.3 miles away).

Photographed by Kathy Garman, July 25, 2020

2. Beet Sugar Industry Marker

A view looking east along Woodside Avenue. The Essexville City Police Department can be seen on the left side of the image.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 26, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2020, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. This page has been viewed 534 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 25, 2020, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.