Thompsonville in Time: A Northwest Michigan Story – 1890-2021 – by Charles T. Kraus

Description

Thompsonville in Time: A Northwest Michigan Story – 1890-2021

by Charles T. Kraus

Early on, Thompsonville served as a busy hub of two trains lines, one heading to Frankfort and the other to Traverse City and eventually Petoskey, Michigan.  But its early prosperity quickly flagged after the virgin forests were depleted by lumbering operations.  Add to the mix of multiple downtown fires and dam failures.  New businesses (which didn’t depend on lumber) tried to make a go of it, but success was elusive.  Some nearby towns and villages suffered the same fate and became ghost towns.  Yet Thompsonville somehow managed to hold on.

The book concludes with a hopeful chapter about the village’s revitalization, thanks to the Betsie Valley Trail and nearby Crystal Mountain Resort, which are drawing an influx of outdoor enthusiasts and new residents, who treasure the rivers, forests, and fresh-water lakes.

Dozens of high-quality photographs and painstakingly researched facts, as well as stories told through those who lives the history themselves. This is the story of Thompsonville.

Published by the Benzie Area Historical Society – 2021

183 Pages – includes Color and Black & White Photos

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