Eckerman and Eckerman Corner are in central Chippewa Township, in Chippewa County, in the eastern portion of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
As unincorporated communities, neither of them has defined borders, but Eckerman is situated in the area of M-123 and the railroad tracks, just south of the East Branch of the Tahquamenon River, while Eckerman Corner is just over a mile south of Eckerman, in the area of M-123 and M-28. They are both in the northeastern segment of the Hiawatha National Forest.
The center of the village of Newberry is 27.2 miles west of Eckerman Corner, while the city of Sault Ste. Marie is 40.2 miles to the east and St. Ignace is 41.3 miles to the south. Other nearby unincorporated communities include Strongs Corner, Strongs, Trout Lake, Raco, and Emerson.
Like many other towns in Michigan, both Eckerman and Eckerman Corner was founded by loggers in the 1880s. In 1889, Eckerman was platted and named for a Mr. Eckerman, who was a timber jobber. A post office was established in September of that year, with Carlos D. Lincoln as its first postmaster. He was succeeded by Luther Rogers in 1892.
In 1924, the E.H. Sheldon Company established a railroad line that ran eight or nine miles north from Eckerman. The logging railroad operated from 1924 to the beginning of the Great Depression but, at some point, the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway established a station in Eckerman.
In 1925, the Sheldon Company sawmill burned, but was rebuilt. However, by then the logging industry was in decline and the railroads were losing out to the trucking industry as the preferred transport medium, and the Sheldon Company railroad was discontinued in the early 1930s. In 1942, the Sheldon Company sawmill burned again and was, once again, rebuilt. However, it closed for the last time in July of 1958.
I have not been able to find any information on the founding or the history of Eckerman Corner, but I suspect that it may have been founded earlier than Eckerman and that residents of Eckerman moved a mile or so north to be nearer to the railroad. This may or may not be true, but this has been a part of the history of several Michigan communities.
At any rate, online resources for topics related either to Eckerman or Eckerman Corner are appropriate for this category. Both are tiny communities, with little in the way of businesses or industries, although its proximity to the Hiawatha National Forest, Tahquamenon Falls State Park, and Lake Superior suggest that outdoor activities may bring people into town.
Recommended Resources
Meeting at its facilities on West Hungry Hollow Road in Eckerman, Michigan, the congregation is a member of the Independent Fundamental Churches of America (IFCA). Founded as a mission church with Independent Bible Mission, the church’s original location was across from the post office in Strongs, but later moved to M-28 and consolidated with the Eckerman church. A statement of beliefs, photo gallery, ministries, and schedules are posted.
https://sites.google.com/site/communitybiblechurchup/
Listed as a stop along the Tahquamenon Scenic Byway, Eckerman Pond offers fishing and paddling opportunities. Once a fish hatchery, the area around the pond is rich in marsh marigolds in the spring. With launch access available only for car-top boats and canoes, the pond and the extension downstream offers paddling adventures, as well as trout fishing opportunities. Several photographs are presented, along with a map showing its location.
http://www.explorem123.com/points-of-interest/eckerman-pond/
Situated at the intersection of M-28 and M-123, in the Eastern Upper Peninsula community of Eckerman Corner, the self-storage facilities has a selection of storage unit sizes to accommodate several needs, with easy access. Opened in 2017, the facility offers fourteen units in three different unit sizes (5-foot by 10-foot, 10-foot 10-foot, 10-foot by 20-foot). The monthly costs of each are posted, along with the deposit, contract requirements, and policy information.
https://eckermanstorage.com/
Operated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Three Lakes Campground is a quiet camp amidst red pine, white pine, white spruce, birch, and sugar maple trees. Situated on the shore of Walker Lake, it is nestled between three lakes: Whitmarsh Lake, Brown Lake, and Walker Lake. Directions and a map show its location, reservation information is posted, along with fees, available facilities, and available activities.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/hiawatha/recarea/?recid=13291
