Local History

William H. Imlay, a Connecticut capitalist, began buying pine forests in the area in 1836, and when the township was organized in 1850, it was named Imlay for him.  

When the Port Huron & Lake Michigan Railroad first came through here on July 28, 1870, it was nothing but forest, but Charles Palmer, chief engineer for the railroad saw the need for a market place here and purchased the land that year and built a hotel.

Edward E. Palmer became the first postmaster on December 12, 1870.  By August 1872 it had 15 stores, a grain elevator, a sawmill, a grist mill and a shingle mill.  Incorporated as a village in 1873.

Informational excerpts from Michigan Place Names, by Walter Romig, L.H.D.

Send mail to HomeTownValue.com with questions or comments about this web site. 

Copyright 2001- 2008, HomeTownValue.com, J. Stover