Located in the Thumb region of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, the city of Bad Axe is the county seat of Huron County.
The chief routes through the city are M-142 and M-53. M-142, also known as Pigeon Road, forms the northernmost boundary of Bad Axe. In the north-central part of the city, M-142 joins M-53, both running contiguous, in a southerly direction to the center of the city, where they are also known as N Van Dyke Road, then M-53 leads to the west, becoming W Huron Avenue, while M-142 leads to the east, becoming Sand Beach Road. At the point of divergence, N Van Dyke Road becomes S Port Crescent Road, which continues straight, exiting the city in the south as Bad Axe Road.
Bad Axe straddles Colfax township and Verone township, although it is governmentally independent of either of them.
The village of Ubly is 9.6 miles south-southeast, Kinde is 9.6 miles north, and Elkton is 10.5 miles west, while the city of Harbor Beach is 17.9 miles east of Bad Axe.
Although there are other stories relating to the origin of the city's distinctive name, one credible story that has made it into print is that the Thumb region of the Lower Peninsula had an abundant elk population in the early 1800s. In the area where the Pere Marquette roundhouse was later built, there was a spring. A hunter known as Kentucky Sharp had established a primitive camp there, which he and his party occupied during the winter months.
In 1861, a surveying crew that included Rudolph Pabst and Albert Pack came through that area while surveying the state road between Harbor Beach and Sebewaing. They stopped to camp at the old hunting camp and found an old rusty axe that had been left buried in a tall pine tree. The tree could be seen from miles away and was known as the Bad Axe Pine. In his survey notes, Pabst referred to the place as Bad Axe Camp, which also found its way onto a county map.
When roads were built, the place became known as Bad Axe Corners, which was eventually shortened to Bad Axe.
On November 27, 1870, a post office was established by the name of Bad Axe, with Charles E. Brown as postmaster. On October 15, 1872, the county supervisors voted to make it the county seat. In the following years, the village was platted and the county seat was moved from Port Austin. Bad Axe was incorporated as a village in 1885, and a city in 1905.
In 1909, the state legislature changed the name of the city to Huron, but the townspeople quickly changed it back to Bad Axe. Since then, there have been other attempts to change the name of the city, but they have failed.
Early in its history, two railroad lines, both owned by the Pere Marquette Railroad, came through Bad Axe. The main line extended from Port Huron to Grindstone City on Lake Huron, while the Saginaw, Tuscola & Huron division connected the city with Saginaw. As Bad Axe was the terminus of ST&H line, a large roundhouse was located there.
A fire department was organized in Bad Axe in 1895, although there had been a department prior to that time.
Early hotels included the Hotel Irwin, which was purchased by John Leonard the late 1800s, as well as the Hotel Morrow, and the Farmers' Hotel, which had originally been the Collins House.
Frank W. Hubbard & Company operated a half dozen banks in the Thumb region, including the one in Bad Axe, which was established in 1886, shortly after it was incorporated as a village.
Other early businesses included E.P. Rowe Company, a mercantile house that was originally established in Mayville but was moved to Bad Axe in 1894. Lankin & Dundas Hardware occupied multiple businesses in the village, and the James Nugent & Company Store began as the Nugent Store but expanded when he took Joseph Fremont into partnership. The John Ballentine & Company Store carried dry goods, groceries, boots, and other goods.
George Clark established an elevator in Bad Axe in 1887, operating it for only a couple of years before leasing it to W. H. Carey & Company, who later purchased the building, operating it as the W.H. Carey & Company Elevator. It later became the Bad Axe Elevator. Other elevators included the Farmers' Elevator and Muchler & Truax's Elevator.
L.J. Lishness established Huron Valley Mills, operating them for several years before selling to W. Engel, who manufactured wheat flour, graham flour, buckwheat flour, cornmeal, and other products. Comfort Produce Company dealt in butter, eggs, poultry, and other produce.
There were several others, besides, and many more throughout the years.
The focus of this category is on the city of Bad Axe, Michigan. Appropriate topics for this category include websites whose topics concentrate on the city, as well as those representing businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, and individuals within the city.
Categories
Faith & SpiritualityPlaces to Eat | Services & IndustriesThings to Do & Places to Go |
Recommended Resources
Located on M-53, southwest of the city of Bad Axe, Michigan, the motel features nightly and weekly rates. The accommodations include free WiFi, satellite television, microwaves, compact refrigerators, coffeemakers, and a private bath in every room, as well as a 24-hour front desk. Two-bedroom trailers may also be available, featuring full kitchens, living room, dining area, and A/C, natural gas heat, and a stove. Its location, photos, and contacts are presented.
http://www.badaxemotel.com/
Dr. Michael T. Bills practices at his facilities in Bad Axe, Michigan. Business hours for the clinic are put forth, an introduction to Dr. Bills and his team is included, and a gallery of photographs and educational dental videos are displayed. A list and details of the procedures undertaken at the clinic are included, and its appointment policies, payment options, dental insurances accepted, and downloadable patient forms are included. Payments may be made online.
http://www.badaxefamilydentistry.com/
Specializing in orthodontic care, including traditional braces and Invisalign, the clinic is located on North Hanselman Street in Bad Axe, Michigan, but serving a wider community. The office location is given, an introduction to the doctor and an overview of what a patient might expect on a first visit is presented. General information about orthodontics, orthodontic problems, appliances, and definitions are posted, along with treatment options, appointment policies, and contacts.
http://www.badaxeorthodontics.com/
Headquartered in Bad Axe, Michigan, the public school district provides a K-12th-grade curriculum through four campuses: Bad Axe Elementary School, Bad Axe Middle School, Bad Axe High School, and Ascent High School, the latter an alternative education program of Huron County and Bad Axe Public Schools. Each of its campuses is highlighted, and a school calendar, information about school registration, extracurricular activities, and student-parent resources are provided.
http://badaxeps.schooldesk.net/
Camper’s Haven Family Campground
Situated off of M-53, the campground includes camping space accommodations for tent and RV camping, as well as rental cabins. Its features and amenities include a heated indoor pool, five-acre private lake, canoe, kayak, and paddle-board rentals, pedal kart rentals, hiking trails, banquet and meeting spaces, a pavilion, basketball and volleyball courts, a 9-hole miniature golf facility, disc golf, playground areas, and a fully-stocked camp store. Rates and online reservations are available.
http://campershavenonline.com/
Incorporated as a village in 1885, Bad Axe became Huron County’s first city in 1905. The official municipal website presents a brief history of the city and posts public notices, newsletters, budget reports, the city’s master plan, and the city charter and code of ordinances. The city’s mayor, council, manager, clerk, treasurer, and assessor are introduced, and office hours and contacts are included for municipal departments and hours. A community calendar is also presented.
http://www.cityofbadaxe.com/
The family-owned business includes forty-seven motel rooms, some with hot tubs, as well as a banquet hall that may be available to rent for special occasions, with a capacity of four hundred and fifty people, and a restaurant. Buffet and restaurant hours are posted, along with a breakfast and lunch menu, dinner menu, and a pizza menu. A calendar of events, and event menu options, are included. A gallery of photographs and a guide to area attractions are featured.
https://franklininnmi.com/
Huron County Historical Society
Headquartered in Bad Axe, Michigan, the Huron County Historical Society brings together the historical societies of Bad Axe, Bay Port, Elkton, Harbor Beach, Pigeon, Pt. Austin, Sebewaing, Ubly, and White Rock, as well as information on Huron County museums, books of interest, the Harbor Beach and Pointe aux Barques lighthouses, the Harbor Beach Woman’s Club, and the Port Hope Depot. Contacts and links to other genealogical and historical resources are included.
http://www.thehchs.org/
Published by Huron Publishing Company, which was acquired by Hearst Publishing in 1979, the Tribune is published in Bad Axe, Michigan. Subscribers may subscribe for home delivery of the print edition of the daily newspaper, to just the Saturday edition, or solely to the e-edition of the paper, which requires a subscription for full access. Without a subscription, the site features select stories from its news, social, opinion, prep zone, sports, events, and other sections of the paper.
https://www.michigansthumb.com/
Huron Intermediate School District
Created in 1962, the HISD is a regional educational agency serving students, families, and communities throughout Huron County in cooperation with local school districts, their students, and their families. A list of the services provided by the district is posted, along with a list of local school districts within its service area. HISD operates the Huron Learning Center and Huron Area Technical Center. Includes is a staff directory and HISD contacts and office hours.
http://www.hisd.k12.mi.us/
