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State Parks and Camping in MichiganA Collection of Shared Historic Images & Stories Local HistoryCadillac has a long and interesting history. Cadillac is the largest City in Wexford County originally named by Native Americans as "Kautawabet" meaning Broken Tooth", after a Potawatamie chief that signed the Great Peace Treaty of 1825. The land comprising the original village site was bought from the government by L. J. Clark and I. H. Marqueston in 1871. They sold out to lumberman George A. Mitchell who platted the village of Clam Lake in 1872 (it was at the eastern end of Clam Lake, since renamed Lake Cadillac). John S. McClain became its first postmaster on January 3, 1872. Incorporated as the village of Clam Lake in 1875. The county seat was in the village of Sherman, although Manton briefly held the honor. In 1882 there was a political dispute to change the location of the county seat. A group of politicians thought to change the name of Clam Lake to Cadillac, named for Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, an early Michigan explorer and founder of Detroit. Changing the name tricked the legislators and Cadillac became the "new" county seat. Lumber was the prime industry in the late 1800's. The population grew to about 10,000. There were four main families that helped to settle Cadillac. They were Mitchell, Cummer, Diggens and Cobb. These names are prevalent throughout Cadillac; streets, buildings and other landmarks are named after them. Cadillac was one of the few non-river lumbering communities that grew and prospered. The main reason for this was due to the invention of the Shay Locomotive invented and constructed in Cadillac by Ephraim Shay. They Shay was instrumental in the success of the logging industry because of its ability to climb steep mountains grades effortlessly and to maneuver sharp turns and imperfections in the track. Until the invention of the Shay locomotive horses ere used to transport the logs. This was slow, costly and often dangerous process. Cadillac is fortunate to have a restored Shay Locomotive displayed at the City Park. Another historic landmark in Cadillac and the success of the logging industry is the Clam Lake Canal. In 1873 a canal was constructed connecting Big and Little Clam Lakes (Lake Mitchell and Lake Cadillac). Connecting the two lakes enabled logging from the west side of Lake Mitchell possible by floating the logs through the canal into Lake Cadillac and on to town reaching the railroad. One of the most interesting facts about the Canal is in winter the canal freezes first but once the lakes freeze over the canal opens up and do not freeze again until the next winter. Informational excerpts from Michigan Place Names, by Walter Romig, L.H.D.
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