Situated on the southeastern shores of Houghton Lake, Prudenville, Michigan is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in northeast Denton Township, Roscommon County.
The Houghton Lake CDP abuts Prudenville in the northwest, while Spring Brook forms its northeastern boundary. Other waterways within the CDP include Denton Creek and Knappens Creek, each of which, along with Spring Brook, empty into Houghton Lake. Denton Creek joins Houghton Lake and Lake James, which is just east of Prudenville
The chief routes through the community include M-18, M-55, and M-400. Others include Owens Drive and Chippewa Trail, which form a portion of the CDP's western boundary, and Nestel Road, which forms most of its southern boundary.
The only cities or villages within twenty-five miles of Prudenville are Roscommon and West Branch. The unincorporated community of Houghton Lake Heights is about six miles west, within the Houghton Lake CDP, and the Artesia Beach CDP is about twelve miles northeast.
With a year-round population of about 1,600, Prudenville is a residential community, summer resort, and tourist area. It supports a few hotels, lodges, or other guest accommodations, a good-sized golfing facility, and the Houghton Lake Historical Village and Playhouse.
The Historical Village is made up of thirteen historical buildings that include a school, chapel, town hall, general store, blacksmith shop, carriage shop, barber shop, dress shop, homes, and other buildings. During Village Days, there are demonstrations of pioneer crafts, children's activities, a storyteller, and live music. Built in 1927, the Playhouse, which includes a dance floor, is now used for music acts, live plays, and other events.
European-American settlers were attracted to the area by the Homestead Act of 1862, which granted free land to people moving west. The community was named for Peter Pruden, an early developer who was instrumental in the founding of the settlement around 1875, although some accounts list John Pruden as the founder.
Like many Michigan communities, Prudenville was a lumber town. The chief lumber operations were conducted by the Roscommon Lumber Company.
A post office was established in Prudenville on September 6, 1875, with Mrs. Clara J. Denton as postmaster. On January 10, 1876, the post office's name was changed to Edna, but it was changed back to Prudenville on January 14, 1886. The post office was closed on August 15, 1911, but restored in 1921.
Today, the Prudenville post office serves most of Denton Township and portions of Backus Township, Higgins Township, Nester Township, and Roscommon Township, although a portion of the Prudenville CDP is served by the Houghton Lake post office.
In 1882, the Roscommon Lumber Company financed the building of a railroad in order to move its timber products to a 700-foot trestle above the East Bay of Houghton Lake, where logs could be pushed off the train cars into the water, where they were floated across the lake to the Muskegon River, then down the river to the lumber mills of Muskegon. This line was not connected to any other railroad.
In 1887, the Roscommon Lumber Company ended its logging operations in Michigan. In 2004, the Roscommon Lumber Company and the community of Prudenville were dually listed as a Michigan State Historic Site.
Later, the Michigan Central Railroad built a branch line that left its Mackinaw Branch at Hauptman, going west into Roscommon County, terminating at Prudenville.
Prudenville was never incorporated, and has no official boundaries, as the CDP boundaries are for purposes of the census only, and are without legal status.
The focus of this part of our guide is on the unincorporated community and census-designated place known as Prudenville, Michigan. Government agencies, businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities within the CDP are appropriate topics for this category.
Recommended Resources
The Pentecostal, full-gospel, congregation meets at its sanctuary on West West Branch Road in Prudenville, Michigan. The address, directions, and a map showing the location of the church is published on the site, along with church office hours, weekly schedules, and a calendar of events, as well as a telephone number and an online contact form. Its mission, vision, core values, and a statement of beliefs are provided, and its ministry team, ministries, and outreach activities are outlined.
https://www.abundantgraceag.org/
Founded in 1959 by a group of Independent Baptist Churches in Michigan, the camp offers a growing summer camp ministry, year-round camping experiences for people of all ages and needs, retreats, and family camps. Situated on Co Be Ac Lake, south of the Prudenville, Michigan CDP, the facility's camps for juniors, teens, young adults, men, women, and others, as well as special events, are featured, with schedules posted on the site. Its partnerships are also acknowledged, along with schedules.
https://cobeac.org/
Situated on the East Bay of Houghton Lake, the Prudenville, Michigan property includes five units, each fully furnished, from bed sheets to kitchen utensils, as well as a patio set and gas grill. Also included is 160 feet of lakefront property on Houghton Lake, a 63-foot beach, and a 200-foot dock. An overview of the facilities, a map, and a gallery of photographs are available, along with its telephone number, email address, and an online contact form. Rates and guest reviews are posted.
https://www.jacksonthebay.com/
Affiliated with the Pentecostal Church of God, New Hope is located on Cove Street in Prudenville, Michigan. Its location is shown on a map, the address is stated, and a telephone number, email address, and an online contact form are included. An introduction to its services is provided for those who may be attending for the first time, and a statement of beliefs, and an overview of its ministries to children, parents, and the community are included. Special event schedules are posted.
https://www.newhopechapelpcg.com/
The congregation meets on Sundays and at various times during the week at its facilities on West Nestel Road in Prudenville, Michigan. Service times and upcoming events are published on the site, which includes the address, driving directions, a telephone number, and an email address. An introduction to the pastor and the pastoral staff is included, along with a statement of beliefs, sermon videos, church newsletters, photographs, and links to other online resources.
https://pbcupnorth.com/
