Train on Hopkins Pier, Pierport, Mich. Photo courtesy of Historical Arcadia, Michigan.
By Milton F. Whitmore
Today’s Pierport is a rather interesting little niche on the Lake Michigan coastline, about 15 miles north of the city of Manistee. Between Onekama and Arcadia, two other coastal villages in Manistee County, Pierport’s summer cottages and year-round homes comprise the central core of the area.
There are no business amenities and, other than a gushing spring called Old Facefull ⸺ yes, the water is icy-cold and sweetly delicious to the tastebuds ⸺ there are no named “sights” to visit. Of course, the beach is the main draw, but that is limited by private property to the north and south edges of the right-of-way. Such a demure, unhurried posture was not always so.
However, we are jumping ahead in too much of a hurry, and in Pierport “hurry” is not in the dictionary.
Pierport? Where is the pier? Where is the port? The Lake Michigan coastline in the area offers no refuge for ships of any size. While all of this is true, at one time Pierport was indeed a port.
In 1866 a businessman by the name of Turner settled in what was to become Pierport. His idea was to construct a pier stretching into Lake Michigan to transport lumber, fruit, grain and other staple products to Lake Michigan’s growing coastal towns. Finished goods would be brought into the pier for transport to Bear Lake and eventually Arcadia, Frankfort and Onekama.
In August 1868, a post office was established with the name of Turnersport. Four years later the name was changed to Pierport.
In 1876 a horse-drawn tram railway was built to facilitate the shipment of goods. The tracks were maple, sheathed in steel strapping. They led to Hopkins Pier, a few yards to the north of the present-day public beach. While this sounded like a good idea, it was soon apparent that the tram could not be well controlled as it traveled down the steep slopes leading to the lakeshore. The tram, cargo and all, would regularly come off the track, spilling merchandise all over the hillside. A better way had to be found, and in 1882 a narrow-gauge railroad was constructed that led to a new pier a few hundred yards north of Hopkins Pier. This allowed for much greater cargo capacity.
During these years, a shrewd businessman named C.W. Perry came to town. Through beneficial land purchases and loans to others for their development plans, Perry was able to accumulate the means to further build Pierport into a thriving community. In several instances Perry was able to foreclose on loans, thus gaining more property. He was no business fool.
Back in the 1880s the community boasted of a general store, post office, school, Methodist church, stave/barrel factory, grist mill, blacksmith and a physician. Telegraph poles were set and a twice-weekly horse-drawn stagecoach made a run to Frankfort. The population was about 225 folks in 1882, larger than Arcadia to the north.
Still found in the Arcadia/Onekama/Bear Lake area are names of early settlers: Matteson, Eckels, Johnson, O’Rorke, and Hopkins being just a few. Katie O’Rorke Stedman lives in Pierport. Her father Tom O’Rorke could trace his roots back to the early days of the village.
The demise of the town as a commercial area began in the mid-1880s as sandy soils in surrounding farms became less fertile, causing fruit and potato crops to produce less than they had in the past. Coupled with this was the over-harvesting of timber, mainly hardwoods, so lumber was no longer a staple. In 1887 typhoid fever cast its lethal spell over the community and many residents, several members within families, passed on.
By the turn of the century, the vitality of Pierport as a small business center was virtually gone.
There is little evidence in 2021 of the thriving village and commercial center that once was. However, there is still a community and I’m sure the ghosts of Pierporters long gone still hover and smile gently at the peace, quiet and serenity that is Pierport today.
Milton Whitmore lives in the Arcadia area with his wife Mary Grace and their four-legged canine companion. He taught middle school science and math in Onekama until his retirement. He is active with the Arcadia Lions Club.
