Pequaming, a small town not far from Houghton, grew in size in the decades between 1890 and 1930, largely based on the logging efforts of Charles Hebard and Henry Ford. This small town was the first large-scale logging operation in the Lake Superior region. Over the course of a 20 year operation, there was an average annual production rate of 30 million feet of lumber.
Charles Hebard founded the community, and the Charles Hebard & Sons Lumber sawmill in 1878. The lumber mill stood next to the harbor, approximately 9 miles north of L’Anse.
In 1880, Pequaming had a population of 174 people, but by 1897 the population had grown to about 800.
During this time the labor force was split between mine work and lumber men. To attract more work to the lumber industry, Hebard created amenities like parks, churches, a hotel, a clubhouse, bath houses and a post office in the small town.
The sawmill had a reputation for turning out the finest lumber from Michigan pines. Higher prices were demanded for the lumber as 25 million board feet of white pine and seven million lath boards were cut annually. Railroad ties, shingles and hemlock bark were sold. The company was considered to be successful and fluctuated with the market demand.
On Sept. 8, 1923, Henry Ford announced the purchase of the 600 resident town, 40,000 acres of land, the railroad and the sawmill for $2,850,000. Hebard’s sons sold the town and land to Ford. Their father had passed away in 1904.
Ford overhauled the operation; a new pay scale from $3.50 to $5 was set, restrictions were placed on children working in the lumber yard, and structures were repainted and inspected. Even the company-owned homes were re-roofed, repaired and painted. Rent was increased from $1 a year to $12-16 per month.
The townspeople respected Ford and his wife, who would both visit the area for a few days at a time. Ford would walk the streets and speak with people, even throw parties for children at his home.
Most of the lumber produced was shipped to Dearborn, Mich., Edgewater, New Jersey, or Chester, Penn. to be used in the automotive industry. During a decrease in sales in the 1930’s, Ford made it a point to keep the Pequaming mill open.
At the time, Ford had acquired mills in Iron Mountain, L’Anse and Pequaming. During the Great Depression, the Iron Mountain mill would sit idle while the others would work double shifts. Ford even created work to help people in the Pequaming community who were in need during this time. Shoes and other items, for example, were donated to families in need.
In 1935, Ford opened a four-room elementary and intermediate school, with a playground and central commons. The school enrolled 100 students and held two classes each day.
On Oct. 9, 1942, the Ford Motor Company decided to halt production at the Pequaming mill. Henry Ford was not in charge of the company policy and disapproved the action, but the mill remained closed. The decisions to close the mill were based on the company’s changing to truck and railroad transportation rather than ships. Shortages in tires due to World War II created problems, shipping rates increased and the ability to maintain logging roads proved too difficult.
By the next summer the town had been close to abandoned. Many families moved away as there was no longer work available and buildings were locked and boarded up. Today the area surrounding the Pequaming mill is a ghost town; a reminder of the logging days.