Cadillac in Wexford County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Clam Lake Canal

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, September 28, 2021

1. Clam Lake Canal Marker

Inscription. In 1873 the Clam Lake Canal was constructed between Big and Little Clam Lakes, present-day Lakes Mitchell and Cadillac. Lumbering was the major industry in the Clam Lake area, and sawmill owners needed an efficient means of transporting timber to the mills and railroad sites in Cadillac. Two years earlier George A. Mitchell, a prominent Cadillac banker and railroad entrepreneur, and Adam Gallinger, a local carpenter, formed the Clam Lake Canal Improvement and Construction Company. The company dug the canal at the narrowest point between the lakes through land owned by Mitchell. The channel is one third mile long and was originally twenty feet wide. It has been widened at least six times, most recently in 1965, and is presently forty eight feet wide. Today the channel serves the area’s recreational boaters.

Erected 1990 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1639.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.

Location. 44° 14.372′ N, 85° 27.021′ W. Marker is in Cadillac, Michigan, in Wexford County. It is on North Boulevard 0.2 miles east of

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State Route 115, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2506 North Blvd, Cadillac MI 49601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: KISS (approx. 1.9 miles away); Cobbs and Mitchell Mill No. 1 (approx. 2½ miles away); T. Walter Kelly (approx. 2½ miles away); Amvets Post 110 Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.6 miles away); Shay Locomotive (approx. 2.6 miles away); Cadillac Carnegie Library (approx. 2.7 miles away); Cobbs and Mitchell Building (approx. 2.7 miles away); Charles T. Mitchell House (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cadillac.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, September 28, 2021

2. Clam Lake Canal Marker

Entrance to canal

Clam Lake Canal image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, September 28, 2021

3. Clam Lake Canal

View of canal looking west toward Lake Mitchell

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 469 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 28, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.