Sanford in Midland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Origins of the Salt Industry / State Salt Well No. 1
Photographed By Kathy Garman, August 8, 2020
1. Origins of the Salt Industry Marker
Inscription.
Origins of the Salt Industry, also, State Salt Well No. 1. .
Origins of the Salt Industry. Michigan’s early white settlers used salt for preserving fish and other foods, curing meats, and tanning hides as well as for cooking. Prior to statehood, salt was shipped from New York. Recognizing the importance of salt resources, delegates to the May 11, 1835, state constitutional convention provided for state control of salt springs and salt lands in an article submitted to Congress with the constitution. In 1837 when the Michigan legislature met for the first time, it established the state Geological Survey and appointed Douglass Houghton state geologist, a post he held until his death in 1845. Houghton was the first to officially record many of the state’s geological resources, including salt, copper, iron, coal, and gypsum.
State Salt Well No. 1. Douglass Houghton, Michigan’s first state geologist, considered the salt springs on the Tittabawassee River the best prospect for development because of the quality of dissolved salt. Houghton believed that salt rock existed at a depth of 500 to 700 feet and that boring into the rock would increase the salt content of the spring water. In June 1838 the state began drilling near here, one-half mile below the mouth of the Salt River. Hindered by primitive living conditions, worker illness, and equipment failure, the four-year effort ended when the drill could not penetrate a boulder at 139 feet. This was the first attempt in an industry that placed Michigan as a leading salt producer in the United States.
Origins of the Salt Industry
Michigan’s early white settlers used salt for preserving fish and other foods, curing meats, and tanning hides as well as for cooking. Prior to statehood, salt was shipped from New York. Recognizing the importance of salt resources, delegates to the May 11, 1835, state constitutional convention provided for state control of salt springs and salt lands in an article submitted to Congress with the constitution. In 1837 when the Michigan legislature met for the first time, it established the state Geological Survey and appointed Douglass Houghton state geologist, a post he held until his death in 1845. Houghton was the first to officially record many of the state’s geological resources, including salt, copper, iron, coal, and gypsum.
State Salt Well No. 1
Douglass Houghton, Michigan’s first state geologist, considered the salt springs on the Tittabawassee River the best prospect for development because of the quality of dissolved salt. Houghton believed that salt rock existed at a depth of 500 to 700 feet and that boring into the rock would increase the salt content of the spring water. In June 1838 the state began drilling near here, one-half mile below the mouth of the Salt River. Hindered by primitive living conditions, worker illness, and equipment
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failure, the four-year effort ended when the drill could not penetrate a boulder at 139 feet. This was the first attempt in an industry that placed Michigan as a leading salt producer in the United States.
Erected 2002 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number S677.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 11, 1835.
Location. 43° 40.382′ N, 84° 23.067′ W. Marker has been reported damaged. Marker is in Sanford, Michigan, in Midland County. Marker is on Pere Marquette Rail Trail east of Maple Street. The marker is located along the Pere-Marquette Rail-Trail of Mid-Michigan, in a little park bordered by W. Saginaw Road to the north, Maple Street to the west, West Railroad Street to the south, and South Cedar Street to the east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sanford MI 48657, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. The marker and much of its surroundings was devastated by the catastrophic flooding that ravaged the area when the Edenville Dam failed on May 19, 2020. That caused the Sanford Dam to become overwhelmed and resulted in massive flooding in the area. The flood waters bent the historical marker several degrees from vertical.
Photographed By John Garman, August 8, 2020
3. A view of the historical marker looking west on the Pere-Marquette Rail-Trail
Photographed By John Garman, August 8, 2020
4. The Marker and a nearby Flag Pole
The force of the flood waters bent the marker and the flag pole several degrees from vertical.
Photographed By John Garman, August 8, 2020
5. Mouth of the Salt River
An image from what is left of West Saginaw Street towards the mouth of the Salt River, hidden by foliage and the bent trees impacted by the flood waters.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2021, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. This page has been viewed 310 times since then and 129 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 5, 2021, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
