Marion in Osceola County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Founding of Marion / Marion Mill Pond and Dam
Photographed By Craig Doda, January 15, 2022
1. Founding of Marion / Marion Mill Pond and Dam Marker
Inscription.
Founding of Marion, also, Marion Mill Pond and Dam. . Irish millwright Christopher Clark and his Canadian wife, Marion Hixon Clark, settled here in 1875 after purchasing 240 acres of virgin forest from the Ryerson, Hills and Company lumbering firm. They opened a general store and in 1878 began operating the sawmill that gave the settlement its original name, "Clark's Mill." The Ann Arbor Railroad, built through Marion in 1887 to carry lumber products from the mills to outside markets, also brought more people to the area, As the land was cleared of trees, was purchased by farmers. Other businesses came to serve the steadily growing population, and in 1889 the one - time lumber camp became the village of Marion, named for Mrs. Clark. , This mill pond formed in 1878 when Christopher Clark built a dam across the Middle Branch River to power a saw, planing and lathe mill. Clark was drawn to the area by old-growth stands of pine and hardwood. His business transformed the wilderness settlement into a prosperous community. For more than thirty years Clark's mill produced siding, shingles, flooring, moldings and barrels. Fire destroyed the mill in 1909 as the lumbering era was drawing to a close. In 1911, Marion Clark donated the land surrounding the dam to the village for use as a park. The property has long served as a recreation center and wildlife habitat. The dam was replaced in 1930.
Irish millwright Christopher Clark
and his Canadian wife, Marion Hixon
Clark, settled here in 1875 after
purchasing 240 acres of virgin
forest from the Ryerson, Hills and
Company lumbering firm. They opened
a general store and in 1878 began
operating the sawmill that gave the
settlement its original name,
"Clark's Mill." The Ann Arbor
Railroad, built through Marion in
1887 to carry lumber products from
the mills to outside markets, also
brought more people to the area, As
the land was cleared of trees,
was purchased by farmers. Other
businesses came to serve the
steadily growing population, and in
1889 the one - time lumber camp
became the village of Marion, named
for Mrs. Clark.
This mill pond formed in 1878 when
Christopher Clark built a dam
across the Middle Branch River to
power a saw, planing and lathe
mill. Clark was drawn to the area
by old-growth stands of pine and
hardwood. His business transformed
the wilderness settlement into a
prosperous community. For more than
thirty years Clark's mill produced
siding, shingles, flooring, moldings
and barrels. Fire destroyed the
mill in 1909 as the lumbering era
was drawing to a close. In 1911,
Marion Clark donated the land
surrounding the dam to the village
for use as a park. The property
has long served as a recreation
center and wildlife
Click or scan to see this page online
habitat. The
dam was replaced in 1930.
Erected 1999 by Michigan History Center, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L2054.)
Location. 44° 6.212′ N, 85° 8.872′ W. Marker is in Marion, Michigan, in Osceola County. Marker is at the intersection of Mill Street and Water Street, on the left when traveling north on Mill Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Marion MI 49665, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Founding of Marion / Marion Mill Pond and Dam Marker
Photographed By Craig Doda, January 15, 2022
3. Founding of Marion / Marion Mill Pond and Dam Marker
Photographed By Craig Doda, January 15, 2022
4. Marion Mill Dam
Photographed By Craig Doda, January 15, 2022
5. Marion Mill Pond
Credits. This page was last revised on January 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 18, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 280 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 18, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.