Ghost Town of Bates

This town was named after Thomas T. Bates, the secretary of the Traverse City Railroad Company. He was believed to be the one that got the road through here in 1870. Lyman P. Fox was the first postmaster from Sept. 21, 1891. The post office closed May 31, 1933. (Michigan Place Names by Walter Romig, L.H.D. 1986, pg 46)