Pioneer Trail Park and Campground Heritage
In early times, Indians and missionaries were to have visited the area. About 1844, a sawmill was built (where the dam now stands) just west of the Park. In 1851, that sawmill was sold to the Nelson Ludington Company and was fostering a small settlement.
The hard life of these early pioneers ended at their burial ground on the ridge that was later included in Pioneer Trail Park. The sawmill grew into one of the nation's largest mills, the I. Stephenson Co..
This company expanded by moving downstream to the mouth of the Escanaba River. The I. Stephenson Co., from its earlier land holdings along the lower River, sold the Pioneer Trail Park land to the County of Delta.
"In 1927 a system County Parks was set up. It then became the duty of the trustees to improve these Parks, build roads and trails, provide approved drinking water, tables and fireplaces." (R.P.Mason, 1943)
In a contest, for all the schools' children, the name Pioneer Trail Park, in memory of those early pioneers who passed this way, was submitted by a young John Bloomstrom and chose from 380 entries. |
