Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
Petoskey's Bear River
~ MCMANUS DAM ~
(1973 Removal)
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"Clicking" on some color highlighted words may access additional information.
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just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
1855 ~ First Bear River Mill
Andrew Porter, missionary and a permanent white settler,
built the first Petoskey mill, a gristmill, on the Bear River.
(Andrew Porter > John Kilborn > W.L. McManus)
Andrew Porter, missionary and a permanent white settler,
built the first Petoskey mill, a gristmill, on the Bear River.
(Andrew Porter > John Kilborn > W.L. McManus)
The gristmill continued until John Kilborn bought Porter's mill to become a saw mill in 1875. In 1876 Kilborn sold the property to William McManus who continued to use it as a saw mill. The dam was located just a short distance downriver from the McManus Bridge in the photo above. Porter's Mission Farm was farther up the hillside. The associated dam remained the saw mill power source (thus the name McManus Dam) and was sold to the City of Petoskey on 6 October 1931. The McManus Dam was the city's power source for electricity until early 1959. The city had the dam removed in 1973.
In 1855 Andrew Porter, through the Presbyterian organization, constructed a dam, and had built a grist mill, to grind the corn of the Mission Farm and the corn of the Indians. That mill was remembered in the 1898 article below. To access additional information, on this same Northern Mich~Mash Preserve web site, about the Mission Farm, click HERE.
The Genealogy Trails web page tells about Nathan Jarman's association with the Mission Farm. Mr. Jarman arrived in Bear Creek (Petoskey) after having spent seven years in Charlevoix, Michigan, when the only two white families were Andrew Porter and Hazen Ingalls. Mr. Jarman worked on shares for the Porter farm for several years, even operating the Mission Farm for five years following Mr. Porter's moving to the East. Then, Mr. Jarman bought the Porter farm/Mission Farm. Mr. Jarman knew fifteen acres which he purchased adjoining the Mission Farm, would make an excellent lime quarry; thus the Jarman Lime Kiln and Quarry with additional information about his quarry/kiln located on the Miscellaneous web page on this same sit. Click HERE.
The Traverse Region written in 1884 stated on page 131:
"Nathan Jarman, present owner of the 'Mission Farm' was born in Northamptonshire, England, May 5, 1841. Came to this country in May 1856, and settled in Lorain County, O., where he was engaged in farming. Came thence to Charlevoix County in 1866, and settled in the town of Eveline. Moved to Emmet county in March, 1878, and located on the 'Mission Farm.' He bought the farm in the fall of 1880. Has 112 acres, about one-half of which is within the limits of Petoskey villlage. About twelve acres are platted. In March, 1863, he married Isabella Bartlett, who died in 1881, leaving four children. His second wife was Rebecca H. Lee; they have four children. When Mr. Jarman came to Bear Creek, Andrew Porter, in charge of the Indian mission, and Hazen Ingalls, were the only settlers at this point.
From a position a little above the business portion of the village of Petoskey, looking to the southwest, one may see about a mile away a series of beautiful green fields, sloping in graceful succession down the hillside. From their appearance one can readily see that, unlike most other fields in the vicinity they have been cultivated for many years. These fields make up what is familiarly known as the 'Mission Farm.'"
The Traverse Region written in 1884 stated on page 131:
"Nathan Jarman, present owner of the 'Mission Farm' was born in Northamptonshire, England, May 5, 1841. Came to this country in May 1856, and settled in Lorain County, O., where he was engaged in farming. Came thence to Charlevoix County in 1866, and settled in the town of Eveline. Moved to Emmet county in March, 1878, and located on the 'Mission Farm.' He bought the farm in the fall of 1880. Has 112 acres, about one-half of which is within the limits of Petoskey villlage. About twelve acres are platted. In March, 1863, he married Isabella Bartlett, who died in 1881, leaving four children. His second wife was Rebecca H. Lee; they have four children. When Mr. Jarman came to Bear Creek, Andrew Porter, in charge of the Indian mission, and Hazen Ingalls, were the only settlers at this point.
From a position a little above the business portion of the village of Petoskey, looking to the southwest, one may see about a mile away a series of beautiful green fields, sloping in graceful succession down the hillside. From their appearance one can readily see that, unlike most other fields in the vicinity they have been cultivated for many years. These fields make up what is familiarly known as the 'Mission Farm.'"
Photo Left: Andrew Porter arrived in Bear Creek (Petoskey) in June 1852, known as the area's FIRST white settler.
Map Below: The area in the map surrounded by the double lines was the 160 acres of MIssion Farm bought by the Presbyterian organization in 1852; land that had been given the State of Michigan by the federal government under the Swamp Lands Act. Thus, the original owner was represented by Andrew Porter who ran the Mission Farm. That property included the dam which transferred to John Kilborn, and next to W.L. McManus; thus the dam name of McManus Dam.
By 1867 the Presbyterians were running out of money which caused the mission to discontinue. Andrew Porter was deeded the mission farm for $661.00 paid out of his salary.
Map Below: The area in the map surrounded by the double lines was the 160 acres of MIssion Farm bought by the Presbyterian organization in 1852; land that had been given the State of Michigan by the federal government under the Swamp Lands Act. Thus, the original owner was represented by Andrew Porter who ran the Mission Farm. That property included the dam which transferred to John Kilborn, and next to W.L. McManus; thus the dam name of McManus Dam.
By 1867 the Presbyterians were running out of money which caused the mission to discontinue. Andrew Porter was deeded the mission farm for $661.00 paid out of his salary.
When Mr. Porter returned to Pennsylvania, Nathan Jarman ran the Mission Farm in the photo farther above. After renting the Porter Farm for three years, Mr. Jarman bought the farm. Later Andrew Porter's son Reuben returned, setting up his dentistry office, as the FIRST doctoring dentist in Petoskey. When he returned, he married Mr. Jarman's oldest daughter Sarah Bell Jarman when she was only 18 years old. Sarah died very young, at only 34 years old in 1895, leaving Reuben with 5 children with the youngest only two weeks old. In 1896, Dr. Porter married his wife Sarah's cousin Retta Wilford, and they had one child, Wilford.
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The Passenger Pigeon, the Summer 1990 Newsletter from the Little Traverse Historical Society, described the location of the Mission Farm as double-lined outlined in the map... A road branched off from Ingall’s store and home on the corner of Ingalls and Charlevoix, and led up the hill to the Mission House and Porter School established by Rev. Andrew Porter many years before… as “where Inn on the Hill and MESC office are now located.” In 2020 those businesses off Porter and Spring streets are Days Inn by Wyndham Petoskey and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Department of Human Services at 911 Spring Street, Petoskey, Michigan.
Photo Below: McManus Dam was constructed for use for a grist mill by Andrew Porter in 1855. In 1875 John Kilborn used the mill as a saw mill, followed closely in 1876 by W.L. McManus, still as a saw mill. The McManus Dam was demolished in 1974. The McManus Mill was Petoskey's only sawmill producing strictly lumber in the late 1800s, early 1900s. The mill was located on the corner of Bridge and Porter streets at the site of the McManus Dam.
Photo Below: Petoskey from the south west...
The McManus Lumber Mill is obvious with its unique rounded topped stack,
very close to the McManus bridge nearby;
stacks of lumber are stacked in the river valley
The McManus Lumber Mill is obvious with its unique rounded topped stack,
very close to the McManus bridge nearby;
stacks of lumber are stacked in the river valley
Photos Below: Lumber stacks at McManus Lumber Company at the corner of Bridge and Porter streets
Photo Above labeled as "Spillway McManus Lumber Bridge & Porter Streets 1882"
Same photos above and below...
Same photos above and below...
Three Photos Below: McManus Bridge, Sluiceway and Advertisement (Corner of Bridge and Porter streets)
1920: Fire destroyed the W.L. McManus Planing Mill at the corner of Emmet and Fulton streets.
Alfred A. "Fred" McManus' 1962 obituary stated Fred was the last surviving son of the late W.L. McManus who operated the McManus Sawmill and McManus Planing Mill, a pioneer Lumber company in Petoskey. The city of Petoskey purchased McManus Bear River holdings and the firm's hydro-electric power plant in the 1930s. Fred and his wife Beulah (Jones) McManus operated the Moyer Hotel from the 1930s until they sold it in the mid 1950s. They purchased it from the late D.H. Reycraft and the building was erected about 1900 as a Petoskey Hospital [This is not true].
Photo Above: "Logs, Bear River and McManus Saw Mill in 1898
with the McManus Bridge in the background." [Later McManus Bridge was Bridge Street Bridge]
with the McManus Bridge in the background." [Later McManus Bridge was Bridge Street Bridge]
The Armstrong Company located farther south past the McManus Dam area.
Photos Below: The Armstrong Company became
"Forman and [Morgan] Curtis 'Perfect Maple Flooring' as the sign reads
on this busy plant in the early days of Bear River Valley.
The Armstrong Company grew from the Winsor Company purchased by Mr. Bauerle.
More information about the Winsor Company may be accessed by clicking HERE (Hankey Dam).
Later, the Forman and Curtis flooring company located at the corner of Clarion and Standish avenues.
Photos Below: The Armstrong Company became
"Forman and [Morgan] Curtis 'Perfect Maple Flooring' as the sign reads
on this busy plant in the early days of Bear River Valley.
The Armstrong Company grew from the Winsor Company purchased by Mr. Bauerle.
More information about the Winsor Company may be accessed by clicking HERE (Hankey Dam).
Later, the Forman and Curtis flooring company located at the corner of Clarion and Standish avenues.
The Thomas Forman Co. LTD. was located at the convex of Standish and Clarion avenues. Mr. Forman and Mr. C.F. Hankey bought the building from the Armstrong Flooring Co. of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1893 Thomas Forman and Morgan Curtis established the Flooring Factory. It burned down in the early part of the century. This convex area includes the property that Morgan Curtis eventually donated to the Petoskey Public Schools to be used for the stadium located on "Curtis Field"... the stadium was razed in 2022 with additional information by clicking HERE.
Photo Below: "Old W.L. McManus Mill - 1880"
As early as 9 September 1903 as expressed in The Petoskey Record article below, Petoskey Alderman McManus was hoping to be in control of the level of water in Walloon Lake which was instrumental in running the timber down the Bear River from Walloon Lake to reach the McManus mill in Petoskey. He was trying to involve Walloon Lake's neighboring City of Petoskey in McManus' hope to make Walloon Lake his storage of power supply, to "empower him to violate the rights and damage the property of all the people on its shores by raising and lowering its level below and above its normal level more than four feet." This struggle regarding the level of water in Walloon Lake was challenged in the courts for years and years. To read a great deal of additional information about this dam situation, click HERE to access the "Flowing Waters" web page on the "Walloon Lake Wanderings web site.
Article Below: By 1903 a "Narrow Escape From Fire" was noted as being the "third time,
in his 27 1/2 years of experience in the lumber business in Petoskey..."
in his 27 1/2 years of experience in the lumber business in Petoskey..."
Postcard Below: "The McManus Log Rollway on Bear River, Petoskey, Mich.
Containing 3,000,000 feet of logs and were all hauled by streams during the winter of 1912-13"
Containing 3,000,000 feet of logs and were all hauled by streams during the winter of 1912-13"
Clipping Below: The McManus Dam was being reinforced following the washout of Hankey Dam earlier in 1913.
1915-1920 Mayor Klise strongly opposed
the city being in the business of producing power.
Seven years after Klise was mayor, the city leased the McManus Dam property.
the city being in the business of producing power.
Seven years after Klise was mayor, the city leased the McManus Dam property.
The Petoskey Portland Cement Company provided the source of Petoskey's power for years. Interestingly, Mayor Klise helped to organize the cement company and served as its FIRST president. The cement plant demanded an enormous generating facility, and Mr. Klise arranged for the cement plant to sell electricity to the city of Petoskey.
Photos and Article Below: George Russell of Petoskey Built the McManus hydro plant in 1922.
Obituary Below: Gilbert J. "George" Russell,
designer and builder of the McManus Hydro Electric Plant Passed Away in 1954.
Article Below: McManus Dam had a break in its wall...
McManus Dam
1960
(Two Photos Below labeled "Bear River Flood")
1960
(Two Photos Below labeled "Bear River Flood")
McManus Dam
March 1968
March 1968
Mystery Foam Below McManus Dam
April 1969
April 1969
McManus Dam
November 1973
November 1973
Demolition Began on McManus Hydro Plant
26 October 1973
26 October 1973
McManus Dam was Razed 26 November 1973
(Article, Slideshow, and Photos Below)
(Article, Slideshow, and Photos Below)
Click PLAY on large photo below to view the Slideshow below...
Demolition of McManus Dam 27 November 1973
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey Newspapers (1973)
Demolition of McManus Dam 27 November 1973
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey Newspapers (1973)
Article Below: Norman Russell's father Gilbert "George" Russell was the night watchman at the McManus Dam Station for many years, so thus his meaning when he wrote: "Am interested in this as it's dear to me." Also, George Russell designed and built the McManus Hydro Electric plant and operated the McManus Saw Mill.