Situated in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, the village of Bear Lake is in Bear Lake Township, Manistee County.
The primary route through the village is US-31, which forms most of the village's western boundary, then runs along the southern banks of the body of water for which the village was named, in the northern part of the village. Nearly as large as the village itself, the Bear Lake County Highlands Golf Course is just south of Bear Lake. The village of Onekama is 7.0 miles south-southwest, Kaleva is 11.0 miles east-southeast, and the City of Manistee is 17.1 miles south-southwest of Bear Lake.
In 1862, President Lincoln signed the Homestead Act into law, which granted 160 acres of undeveloped federal land to anyone who filed an application, created a farm, and applied for a deed. Among the first to come to the Bear Lake area were Russell F. Smith, D.E. Sibley, Elisha Richmond, George W. Hopkins, and Simeon Anderson, who came in 1863. At that time, there was only a single walking trail through a heavy forest of white pines and hardwood. Smith and Sibley began homesteads, moving their families to the area that year. Sibley's homestead was on the north side of the lake, while Smith's was on the south side, which included most of the land that would later become the village of Bear Lake.
By the mid-1860s, several other families had taken homesteads in the area, and two-thirds of the available land had been claimed. Elisha Richmond returned with his family. A post office was established on April 27, 1865, with Jerome Hubert as postmaster. In 1867, George W. Hopkins returned with his wife, brother, and sister to open a brick manufacturing plant.
Russell Smith offered some of his land to anyone who would set up a sawmill to turn the trees into lumber, and a gristmill to produce flour from grain. A couple of men, John S. Carpenter and Eliphlate Harrington, took him up on this, setting up primitive mills as well as a boarding house. They then subdivided the land, offering it for sale. Stores and other businesses were set up on this land.
By 1870, George W. Hopkins and his brother, David H. Hopkins, went into the lumber business. Homesteaders were cutting the trees and burning the wood that they couldn't sell in order to clear land for agriculture. In the absence of nearby rivers, transporting lumber to distant markets was prohibitive.
In 1873, the Hopkins family acquired 88 acres of the Smith homestead for the construction of the Bear Lake Tram Railway, connecting Bear Lake with Lake Michigan at Pierport, a rail line that used horse-drawn trailers that were placed on the rails, enabling the transport of lumber to Lake Michigan, where it could be shipped to markets in Chicago and Milwaukee. By 1874, The Hopkins family had a large sawmill, a brickyard, a gristmill, and a store. In September of that year, the village was platted by the Hopkins family, although Bear Lake was not incorporated as a village until 1893. Over the years, several additional plats added new sections to the village, the most recent in 1949.
By the early 1900s, all the lumber in the area had been cut. George W. Hopkins acquired more than 100,000 acres in Florida, and moved his business there, including portions of the railway. The economy of Bear Lake shifted to agriculture and, in recent years, while agriculture continues to be a viable business, summer tourism has become an important part of the village economy.
Since 1880, the first year in which Bear Lake was included in the census, the population of the village hasn't changed much. There were 236 people in Bear Lake in 1880, and at the time of the 2010 census, its population was 286, with a peak population of 504 in 1910.
The focus of this category is on the village of Bear Lake, Michigan. Websites representing the village itself, as well as those of businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, and events, are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
Featuring six guest accommodations, with varying features and prices, all of which include the use of kayaks and paddleboards for use on Bear Lake during the summer, and of snowshoes in the winter. Each of the rooms is pictured, with nightly prices, and package offers are also highlighted, including military and law enforcement discounts and the option for whole-house rental for special events. Its location, a description of the breakfast, and a blog are included.
https://www.bearlakebandb.com/
The Bear Lake, Michigan golf course offers nine or eighteen holes of golf. Its location, seasonal hours, spring or fall green fees, summer green fees, or twilight green fees, season passes, and cart rental prices are stated, along with discounts for seniors, juniors, and children under ten. Season passes may be purchased online, and a gallery of photographs offers views of several parts of the course. Directions, office hours, telephone numbers, and a contact form are featured.
https://www.bearlakehighlands.com/
Located in the village of Bear Lake, Michigan, on the shores of Bear Lake, the marina business is able to assist with marine needs in the Bear Lake, Benzie, Beulah, Cadillac, Copemish, Ludington, Manistee, Thompsonville, and Traverse City areas. Its hours of operation and telephone numbers are posted, along with its services, which include various boat services, boat upholstery and covers, boat and marine product sales, and boat, raft, and hydro bike rentals.
http://www.bearlakemarine.com/
The mostly rural school district is headquartered in Bear Lake, a village of about three hundred people, offering a K-12th-grade public school curriculum through an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school, all contained in the same building. Elementary, middle, and high school staff are listed, with contacts, and its food and nutrition department, athletics programs, and board of education are featured. Other resources include various reports, documents, and forms.
https://bearlake.manistee.org/
Maintained by property owners and residents of Bear Lake, Michigan, all of whom have held public office, or participated in the business of government, administration, or financial management. Through their site, they seek to serve as an editorial review body to provide a factual account of the who, where, and when, while reporting on government actions, such as meeting minutes, ordinances, resolutions, projects, and programs of the municipal government.
https://bearlakemichigan49614.com/
First Baptist Church of Bear Lake
The independent Baptist congregation meets at its facilities on Chippewa Highway, Bear Lake, Michigan. Founded in 1874, its original church building is now a museum, while its current structure was completed in 2017. Its weekly, monthly, and annual programs are highlighted, and a calendar of upcoming events is displayed. Other resources include a brief history and profile of the church, a gallery of photographs, and links to local attractions.
https://bearlakefirstbaptist.com/
Pleasanton Valley Greenhouses, Inc.
Established in 1985, the family-owned business includes several greenhouses, along with two yards for perennials, a large selection of shrubs and trees, and a retail store that stocks gardening supplies, including an organic selection. Its services include custom potting, field trips, and fundraising opportunities with wreaths or spring baskets. Its location, hours of operation, telephone numbers, a gallery of photographs, and customer testimonials are published on the site.
http://www.pleasantongreenhouses.com/
Village officials and staff are named on the official municipal website, office hours for the village clerk are posted, and council meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes are included. Village ordinances, policies, employment opportunities, volunteer applications, and special notices are also recorded here, along with planning board meetings, projects and programs, a calendar of events, and a guide to local businesses and resources. A photo gallery and history of the village are presented.
http://www.bearlakemichigan.org/
