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Crawford County, Michigan
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==History== [[Image:1842 Negissee Okkuddo Cheonoquet Wabbassee Shawwano Oscoda counties Michigan.jpg|thumb|A detail from ''[[:File:1842 A new map of Michigan with its canals roads distances by H.S. Tanner.jpg|A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances]]'' (1842) by [[Henry Schenck Tanner]], showing Crawford County as "Shawwano" (a misspelling of Shawono, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.<ref name=Newberry/>) Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.]] The county is named for Col. [[William Crawford (soldier)|William Crawford]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n94 95]}}</ref> a Revolutionary War officer captured by Native Americans near [[Sandusky, Ohio]] and [[Death by burning|burned at the stake]] in 1792. Created by the [[Michigan Legislature]] as '''Shawono County''' in 1840,<ref>{{cite book |author=George Dawson |date=1840 |title=Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aDg4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA196 |location=Detroit |pages=196–200}}</ref> before being renamed in 1843 as Crawford County. "Shawono" was derived from an [[Ojibwe language|Ojibwe]] word, ''zhaawanong'', meaning "from the south".<ref>{{Cite web |title=zhaawanong (adv loc) {{!}} The Ojibwe People's Dictionary |url=https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/main-entry/zhaawanong-adv-loc |access-date=January 10, 2023 |website=ojibwe.lib.umn.edu}}</ref> The area was administered by other Michigan counties before 1879 when the county government was organized.<ref name=Newberry>{{cite web |url= http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/MI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |title= Michigan: Individual County Chronologies |author= Newberry Library |author-link= Newberry Library |website= Atlas of County Historical Boundaries |access-date= November 4, 2016 |archive-date= November 6, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161106151503/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/MI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name="clarke">{{cite web |url=https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/crawford.aspx |publisher=[[Clarke Historical Library]], [[Central Michigan University]] |title=Bibliography on Crawford County|access-date=November 4, 2016}}</ref> Due to the location in rural northern Michigan, Crawford County's greatest economic growth occurred in the 1800s when lumbering clear-cut most of the extensive forests of Norway pine, birch, maple, beech and hemlock.<ref name=PC /> With the trees gone, tourism became the center of the economy.<ref name="LOC">{{cite web |title=About Crawford avalanche. |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn96076998/ |website=Chronicling America.loc.gov |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=July 10, 2023}}</ref> In the 1870s Crawford County became a popular destination for recreational fishing. The [[Thymallus|Michigan grayling]], found in the [[Au Sable River (Michigan)|Au Sable River]], first gained the attention of anglers. The [[Crawford County Avalanche]] began publishing a weekly paper in 1879. Their first edition featured a fishing story on the front-page.<ref name=LOC /> By the end of the century, the grayling species vanished due to a combination of overfishing, river degradation due to logging, and the impact of human-introduced brown trout. The Au Sable River of today boasts large populations of brown and rainbow trout and remains a premiere trout fishing area in both Michigan and the nation.<ref name=LOC /> ===1900s=== A 1912 text, ''A History of Northern Michigan and its people'' by Perry F. Powers & Harry Gordner Cutler describes Crawford County: The topography is rolling hills but not so steep as to impede farm equipment. The Au Sable River, along with its tributaries, traverse the entire county, providing water and locations for ranching livestock. It also presents an opportunity for superb trout fishing. On the western county line is a natural reservoir that forms the Manistee River.<ref name="PC">{{cite web |last1=Perry F. Powers |first1=Harry Gordner Cutler |title=A History of Northern Michigan and its people |url=http://genealogytrails.com/mich/crawford/history.html |publisher=Genealogy Trails |access-date=August 4, 2023}}</ref> Transportation is primarily provided by the ''Michigan Central'' railroad. The ''Detroit & Charlevoix'' railroad has track to [[Frederic, Michigan]] to the northwest. Half of the land is the county is a gravel loam soil which can produce standard crops. Thousands of acres of clear-cut old growth pine in Crawford County is available to settle. Potatoes, clover and root crops will thrive in this soil. Growing clover seed has become recognized as a “money crop”. Fruit trees are becoming a popular choice with apples being prolific and flavorful. “Plains” soil supports native grasses which stockmen are using for profitable sheep and cattle ranches throughout the county. There are few swamps and lowlands, all along narrow strips beside waterways, which can be productive with proper drainage.<ref name=PC /> Over a hundred years ago, people journeyed "up north" for rest, recreation and their health. Hunting has always been popular, and for wild game, large tracts of second-growth timber on land originally clear-cut provide better food and protection than the original forests did. Deer populations are stable despite the hundreds that are taken every year by settlers and sportsmen.<ref name=PC /> ===Winter Sports Park=== The ''Grayling Winter Sports Park'' (GWSP) was opened in 1929. It started as a [[toboggan]] run that grew into Michigan's first ski resort.<ref name="UPN" /> Following the popular [[1932 Winter Olympics]], Grayling constructed a 66-foot [[ski jumping|ski jump]] in 1934. A few years later, a [[Winter festival|Winter Carnival]] was started that included a parade, [[ice sculpture]] competition, and a Snow Queen pageant. The park's popularity increased to the point where a "Snow Train" was established to bring skiers to Grayling from across the state.<ref name="UPN">{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Jim |title=The way it used to be |url=https://www.upnorthvoice.com/features/crawford-features/2020/10/the-way-it-used-to-be/ |website=Upnorthvoice.com |publisher=AuSable Media |access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref> Transportation from Lodges in Grayling to the park was provided by flat-bed trucks. [[Snow grooming|Groomed]] trails were provided for [[Cross-country skiing]] and [[snowshoe]]ing.<ref name="UPN" /> The ''[[Cass City, Michigan|Cass City]] Chronicle'' noted in March 1941, "Due to generous support of the [[National Park Service|federal park service]], [[Michigan Department of Natural Resources|state conservation department]], and [[Civilian Conservation Corps]], Grayling offers today the finest public toboggan set-up in the entire United States, and this isn't paid ballyhoo. Six steel slides are the only ones of their kind anywhere not excluding [[Lake Placid Olympic Ski Jumping Complex|Lake Placid]] or [[Sun Valley, Idaho|Sun Valley]] (Idaho). Two ski tows have been in operation; next season there will be three."<ref name="CCC">{{cite news |title=Grayling Winter Sports |agency=Cass City Chronicle |publisher=Cass City Chronicle |date=March 14, 1941}}</ref> The Crawford County operated the GWSP into the late 1960s when [[Fred Bear]], owner of [[Bear Archery]], and other local businessmen assumed operational control. It was renamed, ''Bear Mountain'' and they attempted to create a commercial ski area to compete with resorts further north.<ref name="HIST" /> A legal challenge in 1973 resulted in a judgement giving control back to the county, which has operated it since then as ''Hanson Hills Recreation Area'' by the Grayling Recreation Authority.<ref name="HIST">{{cite web |title=Hanson Hills - Our History |url=https://hansonhills.org/our-history |website=Hansonhills.org |publisher=Grayling Recreation Authority |access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref> The annual canoe / kayak race record winning time is held by Scott Norman in his significantly modified kayak, which not only gave him the speed record, but also the distance record, as his brakes failed to deploy and he was retrieved by snowmobile outside of the park near M-93. "<ref name="CCC">{{cite news |title=Grayling Winter Sports |agency=Cass City Chronicle |publisher=Cass City Chronicle |date=March 14, 1941}}</ref> ===Military=== {{Main|Camp Grayling}} In 1913, lumber baron Rasmus Hanson donated 147,000 acres (590 km2) of harvested timberland to the state of Michigan for military training. Most of the land is situated in Crawford County, with parcels in [[Kalkaska County, Michigan|Kalkaska]] and [[Otsego County, Michigan|Otsego]] counties. Troops first began training there in 1914. It is the primary training facility for the [[Michigan National Guard]] and is the largest [[National Guard (United States)|National Guard]] training facility in the United States.<ref name=MIL /> ===Hartwick Pines=== {{Main|Hartwick Pines State Park}} [[Edward Hartwick]] graduated from Grayling High School in 1888 and received an appointment to [[United States Military Academy|West Point]] in 1889. Four years later he graduated with high honors and was assigned to the [[4th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|4th Cavalry]]. He soon transferred to the [[9th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|9th Cavalry]], known as the [[Buffalo Soldier]]s on the western frontier. With the advent of the [[Spanish–American War]], his unit was sent to [[Cuba]] where he participated in the [[Battle of San Juan Hill]]. At wars end, he returned to Grayling and married Karen Bessie Michelson, then resigned his commission nine months later. He engaged in the banking and lumber business, prospered, and later moved to [[Detroit]]. When the United States entered [[World War I]], he volunteered for service at age 46 and was commissioned an Army [[Major (rank)|Major]]. After just a few months in France, he contracted [[meningitis]] and died. In 1927, Karen Michelson Hartwick purchased {{convert|8000|acre}} including the last {{convert|85|acre}} of virgin old growth pine forest in Michigan's lower peninsula and donated it to the state of Michigan to honor her husband. [[Hartwick Pines State Park]] is the largest state park in the lower peninsula. ===Fire=== The ''Stephen Bridge Road Fire'' of 1990 was a significant event in [[Northern Michigan]] and was reported in the national news.<ref name="PET">{{cite news |last1=Block |first1=Kelsey |title=Caution can help prevent human-caused wildfires |url=https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2018/05/23/caution-can-help-prevent-human-caused-wildfires/116520706/ |access-date=28 June 2023 |agency=News-Review |publisher=Petoskey News.com |date=May 23, 2018}}</ref><br> On a snowy day in March 1990, a homeowner was preparing to burn large brush piles from a section of land he recently cleared. He obtained a burn permit before setting the fire and monitoring it. The large piles smoked and smoldered for a couple of weeks before the fire seemed to burn out. One month later, the fire rekindled, burned for a day, then appeared to go out again. Three weeks passed, and a property owner nearby noticed the pile burning, and less than 20 minutes later had spread to the neighboring woodland.<ref name=PET /><ref name="CASE">{{cite web |title=Stephan Bridge Road Fire Case Study |url=https://www.denix.osd.mil/dodpif/denix-files/sites/37/2018/03/1990-National-Fire-Protection-Association.-Stephan-Bridge-Road-Fire-Case-Study.pdf |website=denix.osd.mil |publisher=National Fire Protection Assn |access-date=28 June 2023}}</ref><br> An investigation determined that the fire had been continuously burning at the base of the pile from the middle of March until May 8. On that day, a strong wind brought fresh air and the fire took off. Crews contained the fire in less than two days. But, by the time it was all said and done – almost seven weeks after the first flame was sparked 5,916 acres along 8 miles had burned, $5.5 million in property including 76 homes, 125 other buildings, 37 vehicles & boats<ref name="CASE" />and $700,000 in timber had been destroyed.<ref name=PET /><ref name="CASE">{{cite web |title=Stephan Bridge Road Fire Case Study |url=https://www.denix.osd.mil/dodpif/denix-files/sites/37/2018/03/1990-National-Fire-Protection-Association.-Stephan-Bridge-Road-Fire-Case-Study.pdf |website=denix.osd.mil |publisher=National Fire Protection Assn |access-date=28 June 2023}}</ref> The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) produced a case study in 1991 titled, "1990 Stephan Bridge Road Fire, northern Lower Michigan".<ref>{{cite web |last1=M.E. Alexander |first1=D.A. Thomas |title=WILDLAND FIRE BEHAVIOR CASE STUDIES AND ANALYSES: OTHER EXAMPLES, METHODS, REPORTING STANDARDS, AND SOME PRACTICAL ADVICE |url=https://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/pubwarehouse/pdfs/23684.pdf |website=cfs.nrcan.gc.ca |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=28 June 2023}}</ref>
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