Mackinaw Township in Mackinaw City in Cheboygan County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Marine and Weather Reporter
| | Mackinaw City Historical Pathway | |
Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 2, 2024
1. Marine and Weather Reporter Marker
Stimpson Started a Business. The Marine & Weather Reporting Service, established in 1877 by Forest Simpson, served passing ships and the ships owners. He made daily reports on the weather and ship locations to owners using the Western Union Telegraph office at the railroad depot. He also rowed his small boat out to ships carrying messages, mail, and supplies. Stimpsons 11-year tenure ended in 1888 when he drowned performing his duties.
The Dagwell Era. For several years, Stimpsons widow continued the business with the assistance of Charles Dagwell. In 1898, Dagwell started his own reporting station, working out of his family home further south on Huron Ave. It was a 24-hour a day service reporting each passing vessels name, its direction, and the weather to 38 companies and ten newspapers. It was common to have between 8,000 to 10,000 vessels passing in a season. In 1930, Dagwell passed his business to his son who continued marine reporting until 1959 and weather reporting until 1970.
Erected 2023.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1877.
Location. 45° 47.151′ N, 84° 43.576′ W. Marker is in Mackinaw City, Michigan, in Cheboygan County. It is in Mackinaw Township. It is at the intersection of North Huron Avenue and East Depeyster
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula, on the Straits of Mackinac, 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 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 walking distance of this marker: Anchor (within shouting distance of this marker); Alexander Henry Park Kiosk (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Alexander Henry 1739 - 1834 (about 500 feet away); The Lumbering Era (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Graveyard of the Deep (about 600 feet away); Building the Mighty Mac (about 600 feet away); Perry B. Darrow 1939-1995 (about 700 feet away); Crossroads of the Great Lakes (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mackinaw City.
Other markers no longer nearby. Marine & Weather Reporter (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Anchors and their retrieval
Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 2, 2024
2. Marine and Weather Reporter Marker (left)
More about this marker. This interpretive panel is illustrated with five photographs. They are captioned as follows, clockwise from upper left:
Forrest J. Stimpson, April 29, 1858Oct 17, 1888
The marine reporter delivering mail to a timber hauler
The Dagwell Marine Reporting Station and weather reporting flag tower. The tower was moved and is now west of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.
Stimpson Marine Reporting Station, now gone. This house still stands along the lake shore next to Alexander Henry Park, can you find it?
Charles Dagwell in the Mackinaw boat which he built for his duties.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 127 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 24, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
