The People of North Manitou Island
The island has seen the heyday of the lumber industry, has known farming, has watched a lighthouse and the U.S. Life-Saving Service come and go, and has been an escape for summer residents seeking solitude. Today,little remains of these activities. A few buildings are scattered throughout the island. Some appear usable while others are in obvious decay. Small family cemeteries are a sign of the time when residents once populated the island. The village area is composed of houses which were once used as summer homes or hunting lodges.
As you hike the island, you will see old buildings dating from the logging and farming days. MANY OF THESE ARE VERY DECREPIT AND DANGEROUS TO ENTER. PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THEM. Open fields, old orchards, stumps and weed-covered two-track roads speak of bygone times. A thorough research report describing the history and development of North Manitou Island - Tending a Comfortable Wilderness - is available for viewing online and downloading.
