Marysville Historical Group

10/21/2026

Part4 of a story by Myron Mills of Marysville from 1882 about hauling timber from Michigan to New York. His story, “Trip on a Lumber Lugger’ was written when Mills was just 16.

“Perhaps the most beautiful part of the trip we are taking is in passing through what is commonly called ‘The Cut,’ or properly ‘The St Clair Flats Canal.’ This canal is about one and one half miles long and about ten rods wide. It is a cut through the shallow waters of Lake St Clair, and was constructed in 1870. Formally, boats had to go about eight miles out of the course and were in danger of getting aground, but now they can save time and run no risks by the use of this canal. There is a lighthouse at each end of the canal and on the banks are planted willow trees. These are all of the same size and are kept trimmed and taken care of by a man who is employed by the government for that purpose. Boats going in the same direction are not allowed to pass in this canal. This rule is strictly enforced and it is provoking to captains of fast boats, to get into the canal behind a long tow of barges.

At four o’clock in the afternoon we were in sight of the ‘city of the straits,’ or Detroit, and as the sun went down behind the spires and domes of that fair city, we were just entering Lake Erie air Amherstburg. Generally, boats of heavy draft find some difficulty in crossing what is known as the ‘Lime Kilns,’ but we had no such difficulty and crossed in safety. The government has several steam drills at work on this crossing and tons and tons of limestone are brought to the surface. The contractor for this work keeps his nitro-glycerine in a small boat anchored out in the river. At night a light is put on it and boats have no desire to run down the small boat. “

Up next:Buffalo in sight.

10/21/2026

More highlights from Marysville elementary school yearbooks. These books are available to view in the Marysville Museum. Thanks to a generous donation from the school district, the museum has 1977 through 2026.

10/20/2026

Part 3 of a story by Myron Mills of Marysville from 1882 about hauling timber from Michigan to New York. His story, “Trip on a Lumber Lugger’ was written when Mills was just 16.

“At 6 A.M. we were in sight of Point au Barques. This point is at the mouth of Saginaw Bay on the south shore. In bad weather this is the roughest part of the lakes. It is then impossible to round the point, so Captain Neal told us. However we had no difficulty in getting around, and we were then fairly out in Lake Huron.

Nothing happened of any special interest and we had to amuse ourselves the best we could. We retired early that evening and at two the next morning the captain called us up and we found ourselves lying at the wharf at Marysville.

Our boat had stopped for coal and during the three hours we stopped, I went home and woke up my folks. As it was so early in the morning, I did not see many of my friends at home. At five o’clock I returned to the boat and we were soon on our way down the river. At six o’clock we were passing St Clair city, and as the sun rose up over the hills on the Canadian side of the river, it presented to us a view of surpassing beauty.

The St Clair and Detroit rivers are perhaps the finest rivers in America, and no place on the American Continent can present such beautiful scenery along a navigable river.

There is something so grand and inspiring in looking upon the great mass of waters as it rushes along, that is surpassed only by Niagara itself. Boats of all kinds, sizes, and shapes, of all builds, and from all lake ports, may be seen daily passing up or down this river.”

Up next: Navigating "The Cut" on Lake St Clair.

10/20/2026

Thanks to Marysville Schools, particularly Librarian Ann BixlerTaylor for a recent donation to the Marysville Museum. Yearbooks from Morton, Washington and Gardens elementary schools starting in the 1970s. First up 1977.

10/19/2026

10/19/2026

An undated photo spraying for mosquitoes in Marysville Park.