Bay Township in Horton Bay in Charlevoix County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Horton Bay

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2016

1. Horton Bay Marker

Inscription. Named for pioneer settler Samuel Horton, this village was founded as a lumbering community in 1876, complete with sawmill, shanty boys, boarding house, company store, blacksmith shop, and draft horses. The store and many early buildings still stand. After the timber was gone, three fine restaurants opened: Dilworth's, The Waffle Shop and The Red Fox Inn. Young Ernest Hemingway frequently came here to fish and camp on "The Point." This area is the setting for several of his famous "Nick Adams" short stories. Hemingway was married here in 1921.

Erected 1977 by Michigan History Division, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number S463.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 45° 17.077′ N, 85° 4.706′ W. Marker is in Horton Bay, Michigan, in Charlevoix County. It is in Bay Township. It is on Boyne City-Charlevoix Road (County Road 56) east of Lake Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5045 Boyne City Road, Boyne City MI 49712, 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.

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At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Horton Bay General Store (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Horton Bay General Store (about 400 feet away); Pinehurst and Shangri-La (about 400 feet away); The Commercial House (approx. 5.7 miles away); John & Harriet Miller (approx. 5.8 miles away); Boyne City Cigar Company (approx. 5.8 miles away); Beardsley's Dry Goods Store (approx. 5.8 miles away); The Railroad Round House (approx. 5.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Horton Bay.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2016

2. Horton Bay Marker

Bay Township Hall in background

Photographed by Joel Seewald, April 19, 2026

3. Horton Bay Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 977 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 21, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3. submitted on April 25, 2026, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.