Learn About Henry Ford’s Operations in the Upper Peninsula

In the Upper Peninsula mining and timber were and still are two of the biggest economic drivers. In the early 20^th century, Henry Ford looked to take advantage of the regions raw materials for use in his first vehicles. Throughout Baraga County, Ford had three sawmills and hundreds of acres of forest. Today the Alberta Sawmill is owned by Michigan Tech, and was recently closed to public visits. The mill began operation in 1936, and was steam powered until the 1970’s. The facility has primarily operated as a showcase and demonstration house during its lifetime. Tonight the Baraga County Historical society will dive deeper into Ford’s Upper Peninsula ventures with a presentation from author, Keith Whitman. He is currently working on a book about ford’s operations in the region. During his presentation Whitman will share photos and documents he has gathered while researching. The Baraga County Historic Society has organized the presentation as a part of their efforts to restore the Alberta sawmill. Admission to the Henry Ford in the Upper Peninsula presentation is free, and donations are welcome. The presentation starts at 4:30 pm in Zeba.

Whirl-I-Gig address; 15850 Whirl-I-Gig, L’Anse, MI 49946