Town Name: Indian
Mills
Population: Around 100
Reason For Becoming a Lost Town: When Mt. Pleasant
became the county seat and started growing in size, Longwood lost
its importance and faded away.
Town History: Also know as Isabella City and
Longwood. One of the oldest settlements in Isabella County and was
the first county seat until Mt. Pleasant took it over in 1860. Was
an important trading and lumbering town inhabited by many Saginaw
Chippewa Indians (mostly from the Swan Creek and Black River
tribes). Post office from 1861 to 1878. Due to heavy
discrimination, many Indians left the area and white settlers moved
in. A hotel, grist mill, and a general store during its heyday and
was the center of Isabella County's economy. During the 1870's,
however, Mount Pleasant (founded by the famous lumber baron David
Ward) started becoming the dominant city in the area. Eventually
all of the businesses moved to Mt. Pleasant and Indian Mills ceased
to function as a town after 1878. Now only an old plaque recognizes
the old village and most Mount Pleasant residents have never heard
of this forgotten village. While some businesses and houses have
moved in the area, Longwood is sitting right on the north end of
Mount Pleasant's city limits and will eventually be consumed by the
expanding college town.
Cache Description: Small key holder.
Notes of Interest: Please respect the area and use
some stealth while looking for it. PLEASE HIDE IT AS GOOD AS YOU
CAN!
This cache is part of the Michigan's
Lost Towns cache series. Visit this link to see
the complete list and to submit your own!!
