Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= USGenNet Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait and Biographical Album of Huron County Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1884 [page 442] PORT CRESCENT AT the mouth of the Pinnepog River and on a bluff overlooking Saginaw Bay is located the village of Port Crescent, containing some 350 souls. The peculiar crescent-shaped line of the bay forms a most natural harbor. From this peculiarity the town receives its name. It is about the center between the east and west lines of the county, in Hume Township. A daily mail runs to Port Austin and Caseville. There are two piers (or "docks," as they are called here), where vessels and steamboats land and de- liver their goods and receive their cargoes. Boats from Detroit and Port Huron running to Bay City, and often those going around the lakes, stop here. The Pinnepog River, extending some twenty-five miles into the interior of the county, and commanding several miles of country on each side of its banks, has afforded unusual facilities to lumber manufacturers for floating down logs to their mills. As fine a body of timber as ever was seen once shaded this land; but it has now fallen before the ax of the sturdy pioneer, been manu- factured into lumber, passed from the beautiful shores of this village, and became a factor in the construction of many of the cities of the country. Notwithstanding the great drain upon these grand old forests for many years, and although they look bare com- pared with their once dense growth, there is considerable yet left awaiting the ax and the saw. Port Crescent is also a noted fishing point for herring and white- fish, and a large trade is carried on in this line of business. These fish are dressed, put into small barrels with layers of salt, and shipped to the markets. EAKINS & SOULE do the largest business here. They have an extensive supply store, handling about $60,000 worth of goods annually. They are also large manufacturers of lum- ber and salt. LEARNED & AYERS first established the business at this place. They sold out to WOODS & Co., when the firm changed to WILLIAMSON, EAKINS & Co., and now it is EAKINS & SOULE. In 1880, WILLIAMSON & EAKINS commenced sinking their well to supply brine for their steam salt block. In the spring of 1881 it was completed, at a depth of 1,242 feet. The block has a capacity of 150 barrels daily. BENNETT HASKELL is an extensive dealer in general merchandise. He has also a salt block and saw-mill. The salt works were started in 1880 and have a capacity of 200 barrels daily. The well was sunk 1,252 feet. Mr. HASKELL has recently moved into his new busi- ness block, which is the finest in the village. This saw-mill was the first that converted a log into lumber in Hume Township, and was put up by J. W. KIMBALL, now at Port Austin. C. F. SCHLEGELMILCH has a very fine grist-mill, with two run of stone. It has the capacity of 250 bushels with 12 hours' run. It was erected in 1869, and is the first mill in the county. ANTHONY & KLEBA make wagons for the good people of the township, and PHILLIP ERNEWEINE does the blacksmithing. There is also a store of groceries and fancy goods, owned by Mrs. VARTY. CHARLES FUERST makes boots and shoes. GEORGE MEADER keeps a meat market. The CARTER House is run by WILLIAM CARTER, and is a house where guests are made at home and comfortable. There is also another hotel, kept by WILLIAM McCOY. This house was opened to the pub- lic in 1868, by HENRY KENNEDY, who built it, and started the first hotel in the place. Dr. E. W. SELLERS looks after the sick. Dr. JAMES EAKINS was the pioneer physician of this township, opening an office here in 1869. He is no longer in practice. CHARLES SOULE is the present Postmaster. Mails are received once a day from each direction, - from Port Austin and Caseville. The postoffice was established at Port Crescent first in 1865; CHARLES F. [page 443] PORT CRESCENT HAZEN, the Postmaster, held the office until 1871. J. B. JOHNSON held the first postoffice in the township, which was located at Pinnebog Bridge in 1860. The telegraph wires connected here in 1871. SCHOOLS This village has a good school for the education of her children, which is partially graded. S. M. JANES is Principal, and Miss MARY McKINZIE, assistant. The former has sixty-five scholars, the lat- ter fifty-five The building is a good two-story frame structure, with two large and airy apartments. This is School District No. 1. The others in the township are located as follows: District No. 2, on section 27; District No. 3, on section 24, and District No. 4, on section 29. With her large lumber manufactories, her salt industries, her fine location, and good harbor facilities, with the rich country that surrounds her, we see no reason why Port Crescent should not grow and become one of the first towns in the county. =========================================================================== *Transcriber Note: The population of Port Crescent declined as the timber was depleted. Mining and exportation of white sand, used in the manu- facture of glass, was continued until 1936. Not to be abandoned, build- ings that were solid were moved to other towns. Now within the 600 acre Port Crescent State Park, old foundations can be still be seen and flowers still bloom that were planted long ago by residents. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================