The unincorporated community of Pickford, Michigan is mostly in southwest Pickford Township in Chippewa County, but a portion of it extends into northeast Marquette Township in Mackinac County.
Pickford is on the western banks of Munuscong Lake, and the Big Munuscong River and the Little Munuscong River flow through the community before emptying into the lake. Desmareaux Creek, Fletcher Creek, Hannah Creek, Parker Creek, Rapson Creek, and the East Branch of the Munuscong River also flow through the community.
As an unincorporated community, there are no defined boundaries for Pickford, but the main settlement is concentrated on the intersection of M-129/48 (Meridian Road), West Town Line Road, and East Gogomain Road (Main Street), just west of the Big Munuscong River.
The only city or village within twenty-five miles of Pickford is Sault Ste. Marie, about twenty-three miles to the north.
Established in 1880, the Pickford post office serves most of Pickford Township, and portions of southern Bruce Township, eastern Raber Township, and northeast Marquette Township.
The European-American settlement of the area that was to become Pickford began in 1877, when James Clegg, John Crawford, and William Gough came from Canada to the area, then a wooded valley called Munuscong, and built homes. They returned to Canada to get their families and, upon their return the following year, they found that Charles W. Pickford had built a home on some of the lands they had chosen. The cluster of homes was later named for him.
Families that came soon afterward included the Bests, Greens, Hannahs, Harrisons, Millers, Morrisons, Quinnells, Raynards, Ryes, Taylors, and Wilsons.
William Hannah opened the first boarding house in Pickford, selling it to Jack Stanley in 1903. Frank Taylor built the Central Hotel, which was built all the way out to the corner as there were no cars then.
One of the first businesses in Pickford was the C.W. Pickford Store, which was sold to David Beacom and F.H. Taylor about seven years later.
The Pickford Clarion was published in Pickford from 1905 to 1918.
Other early businesses included the Harrison Drug Store, Cameron's Drug Store, the Barish Store, The Pickford Grocery Store, a barbershop owned by Harold Fash, a blacksmith shop operated by the Belchers, the Lipsett Garage, and the Pickford Creamery.
Doctors serving Pickford in the early days included Dr. David H. Webster, Dr. J.A. Cameron, Dr. T. Greely Fox, Dr. Donald L. Cummings, Dr. E.S. Carr, and Dr. Glendon Goddard.
Early churches included the Pickford Methodist Church, St. Matthias Mission, Pickford Presbyterian Church, and Pickford Church of the Nazarene.
The first school in Pickford began in 1880, with Miss Emma Pickford teaching from her home. Later, Mrs. Pascoe taught children in a log building. However, these were not organized schools. A school board was set up in 1882, and a dedicated school building was built, with Miss Millie Earl as its first teacher.
The focal point of this portion of our guide is on the unincorporated community known as Pickford, Michigan. Appropriate topics for this category include governmental entities located within the community, as well as local industries, businesses, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities.
Recommended Resources
A History of Pickford Area Pioneer Families
A product of a Pickford Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) project undertaken by Wendy Galer and Daniel Morrison, the site includes the full text of a book by the same name, written by Mrs. Hannah Follis and originally published in 1973. Organized under the Open Content License, in much the same way as the book, it includes a preface, introduction, early business places, doctors, government and schools, churches, historical incidents, families, groups, and organizations.
http://familyhistory.themartyns.net/locationresearch/UnitedStates/Michigan/PickfordHistory/
Situated in Mackinac County, in the lower eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the civil township includes a portion of the unincorporated community of Pickford. The official township website lists elected and appointed officials, boards, and commissions, including telephone numbers, board meeting schedules, announcements, and an online contact form. Openings on boards and committees are noted, and property tax payments may be made online. Various forms and documents are available.
https://www.marquettetwp.org/
Located in Pickford, Michigan, the public school district provides a PK-12th-grade curriculum through an elementary, middle, and high school on one campus. Featured are a faculty and staff directory, a history of the Pickford school system, and its academic and athletics curriculum and programs. Other resources include parent-student policies and handbooks, community school services, student enrollment information, forms, a daily schedule, and a district calendar.
https://pickford.eupschools.org/
The civil township is in Chippewa County, in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and includes the unincorporated communities of Kelden, Pickford, and Stirlingville. The official township website offers a brief history of the township, geographical features, and demographics, as well as administrative and departmental contacts, township programs, services, and facilities, and an online contact form. Announcements and township hall rental policies and contacts are included.
http://www.pickfordtwp.org/
Family-owned and operated since 1962, the garage is located on South Pleasant Street in Pickford, Michigan. Its inventory of new and used farm, lawn and garden equipment, recreational vehicles, and parts are featured, along with its repair and maintenance services, including its brands, for which Skinners is an authorized dealer for Kubota, Massey Ferguson, Still, AGCO, Ariens, Bush Hog, GEHL, Hesston, Husqvarna Group, Kawasaki, Land Pride, and Simplicity. Operating hours are posted.
https://skinners906.com/
