Union City, Michigan.
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The small backwater to the left represents the exit of the millrace that was dug diagonally from the Coldwater River and powered saw and grist mills from the first settler in 1834 to 1949 when the 111 year old Randall Mill (below) caught fire. Six area fire departments responded while “5000 people looked on.” School was even dismissed with
students racing to watch.
(Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels • Disasters) Includes location, directions, 1 photo, GPS coordinates, map.
The small backwater to the left represents the exit of the millrace that was dug diagonally from the Coldwater River and powered saw and grist mills from the first settler in 1834 to 1949 when the 111 year old Randall Mill (below) caught fire. Six area fire departments responded while “5000 people looked on.” School was even dismissed with
students racing to watch.(Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels • Disasters) Includes location, directions, 1 photo, GPS coordinates, map.
Late in the seventeenth century, early French voyageurs made use of the entire length of the St. Joe in their push westward. The French built forts on the river at St. Joseph (1679) and Niles (1691) as strongholds for the fur trade. A memoir to the French Govt. in 1718 described the St. Joe Valley: “Tis a spot the best adapted of any to be seen for purposes of living. It is the richest district in all the country.” There was a French trading post established near this spot in Union City. The proprietor did a brisk business exchanging calico, blankets, guns, powder and brandy for fur with the large number of Native Americans in the area. It is unclear how long it lasted, but after its abandonment there was an extended period of time when no settlers came into the vicinity. The first settler in the area, John Clawson, from Lagrange County, Indiana,established a small trading post near the same spot and began to barter with the Native Americans. Even though he was successful, he did not remain here long.
The Park Street Bridge was the second bridge built in Union City and originally wooden. The first steel span was erected in 1905. It was removed and replaced in 1974 with a new bridge at the cost of $141,000. The new bridge was renamed the Spencer Bridge in honor of Walter “Nick” Spencer who had served as the superintendent of the village for 34 years.
In June 1925, 178 members of the Alumni Association gave donations of $970.19 to purchase Davis Field for construction of a track, baseball diamond, tennis courts and football field. In 1926, the land was donated to the school, and on June 14, 1929, it was dedicated and named Alumni Field. There are no longer any tennis courts, and many improvements have been made over the years including converting the track to a rubberized all-weather surface in 1990.
In the 1800s, Union City was the head to 170 miles of busy commerce on the St. Joe. Large freight barges poled by 8 men as well as steamers carried grain, pork, whiskey, flour, hides, furs, pig iron and
other goods manufactured along its banks downstream to Lake Michigan and on to Chicago. Return trips were laden with
immigrants, goods for stores and “Niles crackers.” In the 1830s, founding fathers focused on Union City becoming a metropolis along a canal proposed to the east through Homer and Jackson connecting the St. Joe all the way to Lake Erie onto the East Coast. Locally $50,000 was appropriated and $10,000 was actually spent on clearing obstructions to improve navigation. However, river commerce gave way to rail, and nothing ever came of the cross-state canal. Union City had nearly lost out as it missed early chances on rail lines built to the north and south before one finally traversed the town.
From the beginning Cheyenne, like many other towns along the newly constructed Union Pacific Railroad had problems with fires. The primarily wood and wood shingle buildings that made up the downtown area were especially subject to fire created by passing coal burning locomotives, wood and coal burning stoves and heaters, kerosene lanterns used for light, and smokers. It is said that the worst fire occurred in 1873 and consumed two thirds of the downtown before it was extinguished. This major fire caused two things to happen: 1) buildings began to be constructed from stone and brick and 2) the City became home to several private fire companies. 
This stone marks that road of romance and adventure traveled by trappers, traders and troops to Fort Laramie, the most historic spot in the west. 
Mother of Woman's Suffrage 
Born in Tennessee, Adams as a youth came to Texas with his father. A firm believer in the Confederate cause, he served at Galveston during the Civil War.
Laid out 1772 as the county seat of Northumberland on the site of Indian Shamokin by surveyor-General William Maclay. Borough incorporation Mar. 24, 1797. Here Fort Augusta was built in 1756. Historic center of travel, trade and industry.
In 1901 Wyoming Legislature authorized an Executive Mansion and appropriated $40,000 for that purpose. Under architect Charles W. Murdock, this Georgian style building was completed late in 1904 at a total cost, including site, landscaping, construction and furnishings of $33,253.29. 
In 2000, a group of concerned and preservation minded citizens formed to preserve one of Wyoming's premier historic sites. Over the next five years, the Historic Governor's Mansion Foundation, the Wyoming State Legislature, the First Families of the State of Wyoming and concerned citizens from around the state rallied to preserve and restore Wyoming's first Executive Mansion and home of 19 of Wyoming's First Families. An unprecedented appropriation from the Legislature, matched by private donations, fundraising efforts, and grants allowed work to begin at the site in 2003. Repairs included stabilization of the basement foundation, plaster repairs, removal of wallpaper, masonry repairs, asbestos abatement, and rebuilding the back porch. In 2005, the Wyoming Historic Governor's Mansion re-emerged once again as the People's House it was meant to be. 
The First Church edifice built in the State of Wyoming 
