Onota

The village of Onota, established in 1869, was the original major settlement in the Grand Island area. It was located approximately six miles west of the present town of Munising and was owned by the Bay Furnace Company, which built two blast furnaces which operated between 1870 and 1877.  Eighty 80 houses and a long dock into the bay were also Bay Furnace owned.

In 1871 Onota became the first county seat of Schoolcraft County, the present Alger County not being formed until 1885. The village was completely destroyed by fire in 1877 (see below) and was never rebuilt. In 1940 the village of Christmas was started near the old Onota site.

Today the site is a Forest Service campground. To facilitate loading and unloading, a 1,400 foot dock stretched out into deep water. Part of the furnace is still standing and is a local tourist attraction.

The Memphis Daily Avalanche
Memphis, Tennessee
June 3, 1877

Fire Destroys Onota, Michigan
Robert BAXTER Killed in Foundry Accident

"Detroit, Mich., June 2: Further particulars from the upper peninsula confirm the destruction by fire of Onota, Mich.  Seven hundred people were rendered homeless and property to be the extend of $100,000 was destroyed.  Robert Baxter, jr., was fatally injured to-day by the bursting of an emory wheel in Baxter & Major's brass foundry in this city."