Surrounded by the Ottawa National Forest, Ewen is in the northwestern segment of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in lower Ontonagon County. It is the only settlement area in McMillan Township.
As an unincorporated community, Ewen does not have defined borders, but it is concentrated along M-28, west of the South Branch of the Ontonagon River, with its downtown district south of M-28, in the area of Old M-28 and South Cedar Street. Its residential area extends north of M-28, as well.
Nearby communities include Bruce Crossing, Matchwood, and Paynesville, all unincorporated. The village of Ontonagon and the city of Wakefield are about thirty miles away. There are no other incorporated municipalities within fifty miles of Ewen.
The origins of Ewen were as a lumber camp and a railroad town. Its first building was a broken-down boxcar, which served as a railroad depot for the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad. Due to its location at the intersection of the Ontonagon River and the railroad, it became a supply center for loggers operating within the region. A post office was established on October 5, 1889, with Oscar H. Carus as postmaster. The post office and depot were named for W.A. Ewen, treasurer of the rail line. The town's original name was Ewen Station, and shortened to Ewen on September 19, 1894.
By 1891, Ewen had a population of six hundred residents and fifteen saloons, as well as several bordellos on the outskirts of town. Most logging era Upper Peninsula towns could support saloon, gambling, and prostitution rackets only during the spring season, but there were thirty-one logging camps within five miles of Ewen, so there were a couple of thousand lumbermen within an hour or two of Ewen, which meant that it could go on year-round in Ewen. With the decline of the lumber industry, the gamblers and the prostitutes moved on, however.
Still in operation today, the Ewen post office serves much of the township. With a population of fewer than five hundred in the entire township, Ewen is a small community. Largely residential, there are not many businesses in Ewen today. Those that are there serve the local population, people passing through, and those who come to the area for outdoors adventures.
The focus of this guide is on the unincorporated town of Ewen, Michigan. Businesses, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, and events within the community, or Ewen postal address area, are appropriate for this guide.
Recommended Resources
Big Valley Ford-Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep
The Ewen, Michigan auto dealership offers new Ford, Chrysler, and Jeep cars, trucks, SUVs, and off-road vehicles, as well as Dodge Ram trucks. Its inventory of new vehicles may be viewed online, and its selection of used vehicles may be sorted by make or model, year, or price. Photos, descriptions, and asking prices are put forth. Directions are posted, along with its hours of operation, contacts, service center, and departments. A contact form is included.
https://www.bigvalley.biz/
Offering a PK-12th-grade public school curriculum, the school operates the Ewen-Trout Creek Elementary School and the combined Ewen-Trout Creek Middle/Junior High/High School, both of which are featured here, including curriculum data, staff contacts, and schedules. Other resources include photos, video, program information, parent-student resources, college and career opportunities, requests for bids and proposals, and employment openings.
http://www.etc.k12.mi.us/
Published on Genealogy Trails, Ontonagon County, Michigan Genealogy and History, the page includes an early history of the community of Ewen, Michigan. Contributed by Paul Petosky, the history focuses its early development and on the logging era, and the rowdiness of the town during this time period. Included is a photo of downtown Ewen taken before the 1893 fire that burned most of the town, as well as a 1930s era photograph of downtown.
http://genealogytrails.com/mich/ontonagon/cityewen.html
Situated on more than four hundred acres of planted fields, wooded forest, creek bottom, and ponds near Ewen, Michigan, the preserve is designed to be excellent wildlife habitat, and to produce trophy animals for guided hunting experiences, for whitetail deer, bull elk, or buffalo. Hunters may hunt with a rifle, bow, or muzzleloader, with no licenses required. Rates and accommodations are featured, and photos and contacts are provided.
https://up-outfitters.com/
