South Riverfront Park in Alpena in Alpena County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Third Ward

— Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail —

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 23, 2023

1. The Third Ward Marker

Inscription. Located across the river from where you are standing is an area known historically as Alpena’s Third Ward. The first dwellings were erected in 1858 or ’59 at the river’s edge, while the majority of the land remained woods and swampland. In 1867, the F.W. Gilchrist Sawmill was built at the mouth of the river on Thunder Bay’s shore. The sawmill occupied a large tract until the mid-1890s, with loading docks fronting the river and Thunder Bay. Closer to the Second Avenue Bridge, a flour mill and a variety of icehouses, fishing docks and steamboat landings lined the river. Ship traffic was intense, lumber vessels, fish tugs, coastal freighters and side-wheel passenger steamers called constantly during the shipping season.

The population of the Third Ward grew steadily during the 1860s, 70s and 80s. A destructive fire swept across the northside of the river on July 12, 1888, destroying many homes and businesses. In spite of the devastation, the ward’s residents rebuilt quickly. Within three years, there were few empty lots in the area.

Erected by Great Lakes Maritime Heritage

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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is July 12, 1888.

Location. 45° 3.75′ N, 83° 25.746′ W. Marker is in Alpena, Michigan, in Alpena County. It is in South Riverfront Park. Marker can be reached from North 1st Avenue north of Water Street. Marker is located along the Alpena Bi-Path, near the east end of South Riverfront Park, beside the Thunder Bay River. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 227 Water St, Alpena MI 49707, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Winter Layup (within shouting distance of this marker); Thunder Bay National Maritime Sanctuary (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to the Alpena Water Level Station (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Nordmeer (about 300 feet away); Montana (about 400 feet away); U.S.S. Maine Memorial (about 400 feet away); Abby’s Story (about 400 feet away); Thomas Stafford Dog Park (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alpena.

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The Third Ward (Across the River) and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 23, 2023

2. The Third Ward (Across the River) and Marker

this marker. This interpretive panel is illustrated with four photographs and two period advertisements. The photographs are captioned as follows and the advertisements are quoted, clockwise from the top:

The iron steamers of the Detroit & Cleveland Navigation Company’s Lake Huron Division, shown here in the Thunder ay River, connected Alpena with Bay City, Port Huron, and Detroit.

“Saginaw, Bay City & Alpena line of steamers leave Alpena daily at 5:30 A.M., connecting at bay city same evening with vessels for Detroit, Port Huron, and all points East and West. Daily Boat (Sundays Excepted) leaving Bay City upon arrival of north train from Detroit, Port Huron and Jackson plus Tawas, Oscoda, Greenbush, Harrisville and Alpena; connecting at Alpena with Trains for Cheboygan and Mackinaw. Office and Dock between 4th and 5th Streets, Bay City, Mich. Robert Maxwell, Agent. A. R. Lee, Manager.”

The F.W. Gilchrist Sawmill was erected near the mouth of the Thunder Bay River in 1867. It occupied 30 acres of land and operated Alpena’s largest fleet of lumber ships.

Commercial fisheries, freight sheds and icehouses lined the riverbank west of the sprawling
Alpena Weekly Argus, (Public Domain) via the Library of Congress, August 18, 1888

3. “Alpena’s Big Fire”
Large Part of Third Ward Burned.
Two hundred families, containing over 1,000 persons, driven from their homes.
Loss of Property, $300,000.
Three Million Feet of Lumber Burned.
Insurance Nearly $100,000.00.
Good Work by Water Works.
The Burnt District Contains Nearly Fifteen Blocks.
Places burned nearly all residences of laboring men.
ONE LIFE LOST.
Two Churches, Light House, and Railroad Round House Destroyed.
Rebuilding of the Burnt District Commenced.
Gilchirst lumber docks during the 1880s and ’90s.

“Alpena Fish Co. (Limited), C. Alpern, Manager. Wholesale dealers in Fresh and Salt Water Fish. Fish shipped to all parts of the Country. Oysters in bulk, can and shell. Alpena, Mich. Fish delivered to all parts of the city.”

In July 1888, a fire wiped out 200 buildings in the Third Ward, leaving 1,500 people homeless.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This link is to the marker that was replaced by this newer version. The same photographs and ads from the old version were used on this version.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 40 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.