Wetmore, Michigan is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) south of Munising, in the central-northern Upper Peninsula. It is in Munising Township, Alger County.
In Michigan, unincorporated communities don't have defined boundaries, but Wetmore has CDP-defined boundaries for the purpose of the US Census, although this doesn't necessarily correspond to the area that might locally be considered part of Wetmore.
The CDP boundaries are irregular, with its northern border defined by M-94 in the west, and M-94/M-28 in the east, with a northern section extending north along the Anna River and I-94, where it abuts Munising. Most of the southern boundary for the CDP is the railroad, although, in the east, the southern boundary follows Cedar Street as far as Federal Forest Highway 13, although a small section extends south, between Knox Street and FF Highway 13. The CDP's western boundary is an unnamed stream that extends from the Anna River in the north to the railroad tracks. Its eastern borders are irregular.
Cities and villages within fifty miles of Wetmore include Munising, Chatham, Manistique, and Marquette, while the unincorporated communities of Star, Juniper, Munising Junction, Doty, Au Train, Coalwood, Christmas, Stillman, Shingleton, Kentucky, and Vail are within ten miles of the village.
Several waterways flow through or into the community, including the Anna River, Wagner Creek, and a few other unnamed streams. The Wagner Falls Scenic Site is in the northern part of the CDP, just south of Munising. The 23-acre park is built around Wagner Falls, a waterfall on Wagner Creek, near the junction of M-28 and M-94, accessible by a short trail and a boardwalk. Water flowing over the falls joins the Anna River below the falls, and into Lake Superior, to the north.
The Alger Correctional Facility, in the southern part of the CDP, is a Level II and Level IV facility with six housing units. Three of them are general population, Level IV. Another is general population, Level II, and two are used for segregation. The Level II housing unit has a rescue dog training program.
The state correctional facility is a major contributor to the area's economy, but Wetmore also enjoys traffic from travelers, tourists, and outdoor recreationists, particularly given its proximity to the Hiawatha National Forest, Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Munising. Nearby rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and forests draw year-round traffic to Wetmore.
Wetmore began as a small settlement called Floeter, and a post office was established under that name on July 2, 1883, with Francois X. Brusette as postmaster. At that time, its population was mostly Native American, probably Ojibwa.
The post office was closed on July 28, 1884, but was restored on December 26, 1884, with William Floeter as postmaster. The office was closed again on June 1, 1888, but was again restored on October 23, 1888. A year later, it was renamed Munising; at that time, the current city by that name was known as Old Munising.
The Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad established a station and water tower, largely to transport locally manufactured charcoal to market.
William L. Wetmore came to the area to cut hardwood for charcoal around 1871, building kilns to produce charcoal, and he also opened a general store. When he retired in 1894, the village was renamed for him, and the post office took that name when it was restored on December 3, 1895.
Camp Evelyn was established as a logging camp in 1901 by Alphonse Miron, and named for one of his children. It later became a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, and was converted to a World War II Prisoner of War camp in 1944, housing German POWs who had served in Field Marshall Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps. While there, they were paid eighty cents a day to cut wood in the forests surrounding the camp. The wood was used to make crates for shipping munitions, food, clothing, and other supplies. Not much remains of the camp today.
The unincorporated community known as Wetmore, Michigan is the focus of this portion of our web guide. Although many of these do not currently exist within the CDP, local government facilities, businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities in Wetmore are appropriate resources for this category.
Recommended Resources
Open since 1990, and operated by the Michigan Department of Corrections, the state correctional facility has six housing units for Level II and Level IV prisoners. General information about the facilities is presented, and the prisoner programs that are available are listed, along with security information. The warden's name, mailing address, a map showing the location of the facility, a telephone number, facility demographics, and an overview of the MDOC are noted.
https://www.michigan.gov/corrections/prisons/alger-correctional-facility
The 16-room motel and two housekeeping cottages are situated at the picturesque falls in northern Wetmore, Michigan, just north of Wagner Falls and south of Miners Falls. Motel options include rooms with two queen beds, one king bed, or one queen bed, while the larger cottage features a cathedral ceiling, and is capable of sleeping up to ten people, and the smaller cottage can sleep up to six. Photographs are displayed, a list of amenities is included, and rooms may be booked online.
https://www.algerfallsmotel.com/
Building custom log cabins, the company is based in Wetmore, Michigan, south of Munising, in the Upper Peninsula. A description of its process is presented, along with featured homes, cottages, cabins, and other components, log beds, saunas, half-log siding, and commercial buildings. Package descriptions, profile styles, various floor plans, and contacts. The company has a travel reimbursement program making it easier for customers to visit the facilities. Dealership opportunities are outlined.
https://hiawatha.com/
Situated near the Hiawatha National Forest, rental cabins in Wetmore, Michigan offers opportunities for guest to enjoy the natural beauty of this part of the Upper Peninsula. A brief history of the community is presented, along with an overview of things to do, as well as featured rental cabins. Photographs, pet policies, a list of amenities, nightly and weekly rates, maximum number of people, descriptions, and other details are provided, and bookings are available online.
https://www.rentmichigancabins.com/location/wetmore-mi
Planted by Hiawatha Land Independent Missions in 1942, the church met in private homes until their first sanctuary was built in 1950. The congregation later became part of the General Association of Regular Baptists. Located in Wetmore, Michigan, the church is named for the previous name of Wetmore, which was Munising, as the current city of Munising was originally known as Old Munising. Its history, location, schedules, and K-12 school are highlighted, along with its ministries and leadership.
https://www.munisingbaptistchurch.com/
