Powers, Michigan is a small Upper Peninsula village in Spalding Township, Menominee County. The Big Cedar River flows through a portion of the village in the north.
The village of Carney is 7.2 miles to the south, while the unincorporated community of Harris is 8.9 miles to the east. Other cities and villages within twenty-five miles from Powers include Daggett, Stephenson, Norway, and Escanaba.
US Highway 41 is the chief route through the village. US Highway 2 enters the village from the north, near the northeast corner of the village, and joins US-41 as it exits the village to the east. County Road 388 runs west from Powers.
Like many Michigan communities, Powers was founded as a railroad town. Originally known as Menominee River Junction, the junction between the main line of the Chicago & North Western Railroad and the Menominee River Branch was in Powers.
The community was soon renamed, although there is some dispute as to the origins of its name. By most accounts, it was named for Tom Powers, an engineer for the Chicago & North Western Railroad, who had acquired land in the area which was sold to the railroad. However, Edgar Powers, a civil engineer involved in building the railroad through the community is named by some sources. Probably, it was named for the one who platted the townsite and was most associated with its early development, but there is some argument as to whether this was Tom or Edgar Powers. Perhaps, it was named for both of these men.
Powers was named in 1872 and, due to its importance as a railroad junction for shipments of iron ore and forest products, its population increased rapidly, although it never rose to the level of a large town. Many of the early residents of Powers worked at the nearby Breen Mine.
A post office was established on June 29, 1877, with Carrie Brooks as postmistress.
In 1914, one year before it was incorporated as a village, Powers was destroyed by fire, and, although it was rebuilt, it never attained its former size. Before the fire, it had a millinery shop, an opera house, a law office, a funeral home, a dentist's office, a doctor's office, an optometrist, and four churches.
Powers was incorporated as a village in 1915, and it first appeared on a census roll with a population of 249 in 1920. Its peak recorded population was 560 in 1970, and there were 381 people in Powers at the time of the 2020 census.
Pinecrest Sanitorium was built in the early 1920s as a tuberculosis hospital, although it now serves as Pinecrest Medical Care Facility, a 24-hour skilled nursing care facility.
Largely a residential community today, Powers is located at the intersection of two of the major highways serving the Upper Peninsula, so it is home to a variety of businesses, including a gas station, restaurants, a sports bar, a motel, an auto sales center, an insurance agency, a bank, and a real estate office, as well as some light industry. A state police post is also located in Powers.
Situated just outside the east village limits, North Central Junior/Senior High School went more than three seasons without losing a basketball game, the longest winning streak in Michigan history. At the time, it was also the longest winning streak in the nation. The streak ended on eighty-four games on December 14, 2017.
The focus of this portion of our guide is on the village of Powers, Michigan. Appropriate topics may include online resources for the municipal government and any other governmental entities located within the village, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities.
Recommended Resources
Founded by Jim Moraska in 1973, the company sells, services, and repairs a variety of saws, largely meeting the needs of timber producers and sawmill operators. Located in the village of Powers, Michigan, its physical and mailing addresses are posted, a map shows its location, phone and fax numbers are listed, an email address is provided, and an online contact form is available. An overview of the company is provided, including a list of services, its products and an introduction to its team.
https://www.moraskasaw.com/
Serving the village of Powers, as well as students from Hermansville, Spalding, and surrounding townships attend the two campuses within the public K-12 district, located just outside the village limits of Powers. Its campuses, North Central Elementary School (K-5) and North Central Junior/Senior High School (6-12), are featured, with locations, schedules, and administrative, faculty, and staff contacts. Other resources include a district calendar of events, supply lists, and budget reports.
https://ncajets.org/
North Menominee County Community Schools
Providing lifelong learning programs for all members of the community, NMCCS is a consortium of Carney-Nadeau Public Schools, Bark River-Harris Public Schools, and North Central Area Schools. Located just east of the village limits of Powers, Michigan, Phoenix Alternative High School is administered by NMCCS, serving students in grades 9-12 from the consortium school districts who have dropped out of high school or are in danger of becoming drop outs. Forms and contacts are included.
https://nmcschools.org/
Pinecrest Medical Care Facility
Serving residents of Delta, Dickinson, and Menominee counties for about a century, Pinecrest began as a TB Sanitorium in the 1920s to a tri-county medical care facility in 1961, and currently provides 24-hour skilled nursing care, including a specialized wing for patients with Alzheimer's or related dementia, and total rehabilitative therapy following surgery. Located in Powers, Michigan, its services, activities, and client testimonials, as well as job opportunities, and contacts are included.
http://www.pinecrestcares.org/
Named for Jesse Spalding, who operated a steam sawmill on the Menominee River, the civil township was settled in the early 1870s. The official township website presents a history of the township and Powers, its only incorporated village, as well as demographics, and a directory of local businesses, churches, schools, attractions, and events. Township officials are named, meeting notices and minutes are included, various documents are available for downloading, and contacts are posted.
https://www.powers-spalding.org/
