The city of Harbor Beach, Michigan is in eastern Huron County, on the western shore of Lake Huron, in the Thumb Region of the Lower Peninsula.
The city is served largely by M-25 (Huron Avenue) and M-142 (State Street), which intersect in downtown Harbor Beach. Other routes include Section Line Road, Pierce Road, Schock Road, and Old Shore Drive. Cities and villages within twenty miles of Harbor Beach include Port Hope, Forestville, Minden City, and Bad Axe.
While Harbor Beach is incorporated as a city, it is a small town of fewer than two thousand people. However, it is one that enjoys five parks, a 142-acre campground, a full-service marina, two museums, and a community center with a library and theater. The city has a stable manufacturing base, an agricultural industry, a commercial district, and tourism. The city has its own water and sewer system, fire department, and police department. Harbor Beach is home to the Harbor Beach Community Hospital, as well as eight churches, three schools, and several community organizations.
Like many Michigan communities, Harbor Beach began as a lumber town. John Allen and Alanson Daggett settled just south of where the city now is in 1837. They named the area Allen's Creek, for the waterway now known as Rock Falls Creek, upon which they built a water-powered sawmill.
On March 31, 1856, a post office was established, although the post office was named Barnettsville, with John Hunting as postmaster. On March 31, 1856, the post office's name was changed to Sand Beach, and moved north to the area now within the Harbor Beach city limits.
In 1864, Pack, Jenks & Company purchased the sawmill, operating it until the partnership was dissolved in 1876, after which it became Jenks & Company, and operated by Jeremiah Jenks. Soon, Jenks branched out to form the J. Jenks & Company Salt Block and Flour Mill, which later became the Huron Milling Company.
When Huron County was organized in 1859, Sand Beach became the county seat. A courthouse was built in 1860, but was burned in an 1864 fire, after which the county seat was moved to Port Austin.
In 1880, the Pere Marquette Railroad established a station at Sand Beach, and the community was incorporated as a village in 1882, with Jeremiah Jenks serving as its first president. On April 18, 1889, the village and post office were renamed Harbor Beach, the goal being to keep people from thinking there was nothing there but sand. In 1899, Harbor Beach became a city.
The focus of this category is on Harbor Beach, Michigan. Appropriate topics include online resources representing the city or any businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, or events within the city.
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Recommended Resources
Autumn Artist in Residence Program
Business Soil has partnered with the Harbor Beach Community Chest, the City of Harbor Beach, the Huron County EDC, the Harbor Beach Chamber of Commerce, and Harbor Beach Kayak to provide an artist-in-residence program in Harbor Beach. Chosen artists will receive four weeks of free lodging in a cottage on Lake Huron, a monetary stipend, the use of a bicycle, and a certificate for kayak rentals. Qualifications and other details are presented, including application procedures.
http://www.thumbartists.com/
Harbor Beach is the world's largest man-made freshwater harbor with a working 19th-century lighthouse. The official municipal website presents an introduction to the city and community, posting city news and information, a city calendar, and a directory of city council members, committees, commissions, and departmental personnel. A guide to local schools, churches, medical facilities, museums, recreational trails, parks, campgrounds, attractions, and events.
https://www.harborbeach.com/
Harbor Beach Chamber of Commerce
The business membership organization promotes member businesses within the Harbor Beach, Michigan, and surrounding areas, and also works to enhance the general community, participating in community events, including Souper Saturday, Harvest Festival, Harvest Fine Arts Show, Salsa Tasting, and Citywide Garage Sales, among others, such as the annual Harbor Beach Maritime Festival. A membership brochure, application, and meeting schedule are available, along with a schedule of events.
https://www.harborbeachchamber.com/
Harbor Beach Community Schools
The public school district in Harbor Beach, Michigan offers a PK-12th-grade curriculum through Harbor Beach Preschool, Harbor Beach Elementary School, Harbor Beach Middle School, and Harbor Beach High School, each of which is highlighted here, with directions, staff, and administrative contacts, schedules, and policy information. A district calendar, curriculum standards, and a high school course offering guide and graduation requirements are included, along with its facility usage policies.
https://www.hbpirates.org/
Located on State Street (M-142) in west Harbor Beach, Michigan, the guest lodging facility offers short-term and long-term lodging, with weekly and monthly rates available on request. Offering free WiFi, satellite TV programming, flat-screen HDTVs, a queen bed with table and chairs, or two queen beds, microwave, a compact refrigerator, and coffee maker, as well as other features and amenities which are listed here. Its location is shown on a map, and a telephone number is posted.
https://www.hbimi.com/
Harbor Beach Resort Association
Incorporated by George J. Jenks in the summer of 1896, the HBRA is a family-oriented summer resort on the shores of Lake Huron in Harbor Beach, Michigan. Protected by a long break-wall located one mile from shore at its farthest point, the break-wall has a center gap that allows ships and boats to enter its protected waters. Towering over the gap is a large lighthouse. Its counselor program, informational documents, counselor introductions, and a resident login are available.
http://harborbeachresort.net/
Holy Name of Mary Catholic Parish and Elementary School
The parish includes Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church and Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, both in Harbor Beach, Michigan, as well as Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic School, which has its own website. Its faith formation programs and sacrament schedules are highlighted, including Mass schedules. The parish council, evangelization committee, altar society, men's club, book club, liturgy committee, and Christian service programs are put forth, and a church bulletin is included.
https://holynameofmaryparish.org/
Organized in 1924, the church met on the second floor of a building on Huron Avenue and State Street until 1942, when it moved into its own building on Lytle Avenue, at which time it became affiliated with the Central District of the Assemblies of God, moving to its current building in 2005. Its location, worship schedules, and an overview of its ministries for children, youth, and adults, its foster care program, and its Teen Bible Quiz series. Contact and prayer request forms are included.
http://hblighthouse.org/
Our Lady of Lake Huron Schools
The PK-8th-grade Catholic School in Harbor Beach, Michigan is the only Catholic school in the Thumb Region of the Lower Peninsula. An admissions application may be downloaded from the site, along with various policy documents and forms, supply lists, lunch menus, safety guides and reports, school schedules, and a parent guide. An archive of school newsletters is available, and parents may pay tuition fees online. Employment opportunities are posted, and applications may be downloaded.
https://www.ollhschool.org/
Affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the congregation meets at its facilities on Garden Street in Harbor Beach, Michigan, and operates a PK-8th-grade Christian school, as well. Although the congregation's origins go back to the early 1870s, its current church building was built in 1903. The history of the church is told here, and worship schedules, broadcast schedules, and a list of church officers and board members. School schedules, class pages, and contacts are included.
http://www.zionlcs.com/