Ubly, Michigan History: Life in a Huron County Farm Town, 1900–1920

Описание: Step back to the early 1900s and experience the history of Ubly, Michigan, a small Thumb town that grew from its farmland roots into a thriving rural community. This Michigan Moments episode brings to life rare photographs of Ubly from 1900 to 1920, showing the people, places, and traditions that shaped daily life.

In these decades, Ubly was more than fields and farmhouses. The Pere Marquette depot connected local farmers to national markets, while the milk condensary, grain elevator, and pea mill turned harvests into products bound for cities far away. The Ubly Schoolhouse, with its proud bell tower, symbolized the town’s investment in the next generation.

Downtown was alive with brick storefronts, wagons along Main Street, and gathering places like the Union Hotel and Cash’s Bar. Churches organized socials, choirs, and events that built community ties. Farmers and families came into town on Saturday nights to shop, visit neighbors, and catch up on the week’s news.

A highlight came on July 11, 1914, when Ubly’s Loyal Orange Lodge marched at the countywide Orangemen’s celebration in Bad Axe. Wearing crisp white shirts and hats, they led a band and earned first prize for their display. The parade revealed how tradition and ceremony gave even a small town its sense of belonging.

Innovation shaped the farmland, too. Duncan Walker’s tile-draining machine shows how local farmers embraced steam-powered equipment to tame wet fields and expand production.

By 1920, Ubly had permanence. Schools, churches, and businesses anchored community life. It was a town built on work, tradition, and pride, reflecting the spirit of rural Michigan at the time.

This video offers a look at the history of Ubly, Michigan, told through the faces and places captured more than a century ago. Ubly’s story shows how small towns in the Thumb helped define Michigan’s rural heritage.

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