Baraga County MIGenWeb

MIGenWeb Project 

1875 Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory

L'ANSE.

L'Anse is the western terminus of the Marquette, Houghton & Ontonagon R. R. It is situated in L'Anse township, Houghton county, near the head of L'Anse bay, 63 miles northwest of Marquette. The place takes its name from the beautiful bay upon which it is situated, and which was named L'Anse. "the bay," by the early French discoverers, by way of pre-eminence, from its being the best, safest and most beautiful harbor on the lake. Until 1872 the only settlement here was that of the Methodist mission, located a little further down the bay. The completion of the railroad to this point has given life to a village already numbering about 1,000 inhabitants, with the prospect of becoming a place of considerable importance. The village contains an extensive iron dock, from which all the product of the more western mines of the iron region is shipped. There is also a merchandise dock, a blast furnace, a saw mill, a machine shop, three hotels, a bank, several stores, churches schools, etc. Fall River, which here empties into the bay, furnishes ample water power. A boat plies daily between L'Anse and Houghton, 28 miles northwest. The finest whitefish in western waters are caught here, and with the iron, lumber and slate from the beds recently opened in the vicinity, make up the leading exports. L'Anse will be the county seat of the new county of Baraga.

Telegraph—Western Union. Express—American. P. Crebassa, postmaster.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

BARAGA.

A small mission village on the west shore of L'Anse bay in Baraga township, Houghton county. It is 30 miles due south from Houghton village and two miles across the bay from L'Anse. Lumber, fish and furs are shipped. The place was first settled about 1840 and was named in honor of the late esteemed Catholic bishop of Marquette, Father Baraga, Population, 75. Postmaster, E. A. Critchfield.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

ARVON.

A recently established post office in Houghton county, 14 miles due east from L'Anse, whence it receives a tri-weekly mail.