In the geology
chapter under the
Natural History section
we have discussed how
the Boyne River Valley
was formed in
prehistoric times.
The hills that surround
the valley and the river
itself were all in place
and forested with
magnificent hardwoods
and pines long before
man came to the valley.
The Boyne River flowed
pure and clean.
In
ancient times, a band of
Native Americans lived
near the mouth of the
Boyne River.
"Evidence of Indian
mounds were discovered
within the City limits
during the dismantling
of the old chemical
works."
(Reported by the
Citizen, June 26, 1930)
The
first settlers arrived
in the 1850's.
As time passed, the
forests of Michigan were
recognized as a value
almost beyond measure.
There were many fortunes
to be made and the mouth
of the Boyne River where
it flowed into Lake
Charlevoix was a perfect
place to build a city to
handle the millions of
logs that were being
produced. Lake
Charlevoix offered deep
water about 16 miles
inland from Lake
Michigan. The
ships that hauled the
lumber could sail closer
to the virgin trees.
Boyne City was born.
With the coming of
the railroads, Boyne
Falls became a logging
town at the end of the
tracks that bustled with
immigrant lumberjacks.
The logging
activities attracted
other businesses and
soon Boyne City was a
highly industrialized
community. These
were hard times for the
environment. There
were few, if any,
guidelines for growth.
The forests were
devastated into fields
of stumps and all sorts
vile things flowed into
the Boyne River and Lake
Charlevoix.
From this
environmental low point,
things began to change.
The logs ran out.
The industries failed.
The economy in the
valley suffered
drastically, but the
wounds upon the land
began to heal. The
water quality improved,
the hills reforested and
the beauty of the valley
returned, not exactly as
it was, but the valley
is beautiful again.
Now the economy is
based on the high
quality of life that the
beautiful Boyne River
Valley affords.
People come here to
live, to retire, to
vacation.
Conserving the
environment has become a
high priority.
The tabs on the right
describe in pictures and
comment how all of this
happened. |
