Empire Township in Leelanau County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Remembering Empire, Circa 1900

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 11, 2024

1. Remembering Empire, Circa 1900 Marker

Inscription. The little village where natural quiet and beauty surround us was not always like this. On the peaceful shore where the schooner “Empire” foundered grew a bustling mill and village. While the Sleeping Bear overlooked the scene, millions of feet of logs were brought in across South Bar Lake by the train to be cut into lumber. Older persons in the village remember all this activity. Some played here: some worked here.

All that remains of the mill along the shore is a large concrete platform where a gangsaw with 26 blades reduced huge logs into usable lumber. Today our spirit welcomes you in a more quiet way. The people of Empire would have it thus. Greetings and welcome from the Empire Township Heritage Group. As one of our citizens used to say, “When you are in Empire, you are ‘In Gods Pocket’.”

Erected by Empire Township Heritage Group.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas.

Location. 44° 48.711′ N, 86° 4.081′ W. Marker is in Empire, Michigan, in Leelanau County. It is in

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Empire Township. It is at the intersection of Niagara Street and Lake Michigan Drive, in the median on Niagara Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10484 Niagara St, Empire MI 49630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula,

in the Grand Traverse Bay Region,

and in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Village of Empire (here, next to this marker); Empire Lumber Company (a few steps from this marker); Empire Methodist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Legend of the Manitou Islands and the Sleeping Bear (approx. 3.2 miles away); Mother Bear Is Migrating (approx. 3.2 miles away); Of Wrecks and Water Trails (approx. 3.2 miles away); Glen Lake Was Once a Bay (approx. 4 miles away); D.H. Day's Million-Dollar Plan

Remembering Empire Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 11, 2024

2. Remembering Empire Marker

This sign is the one in the center.

(approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Empire.

Village of Empire and Remembering Empire Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 11, 2024

3. Village of Empire and Remembering Empire Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 204 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 21, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.