Mackinaw's General Store

Mackinaw's General Store. You Need It? We Have It!. , In 1884 this fire insurance map was created to show all the structures in town and their fire risk. The wood planing mill and the railroad were the economic base of Mackinaw City. The town, then as now, was populated by residents and visitors, each with shopping needs., Residents , For the workers' families, the town had two grocery stores, a church, and school. The families lived in dwellings (dwg) scattered about town. Most were of frame construction but a few log buildings remained., Specialty shops were possible because the railroad could deliver products from anywhere. Residents had access to drug stores, clothing stores, dry goods, jewelry shops, boot and shoe stores, a post office, and telegraph office., The town also had assorted service industries reflected in the barber shops, local farms, wood sheds and ice houses., Population , In 1880 the population of the town was about 275 residents. But when the railroads arrived in 1881, the population quickly doubled and construction of new stores and dwellings exploded., Visitors , Visitors were housed overnight in five hotels and boarding houses. They were entertained in at least three saloons and billard halls. Food was available in the railroad depot.