Baldwin, Michigan

49304

Baldwin, the county seat for Lake County, one of Michigan’s top water recreation areas, is located at the junction of M-37 and US-10. It is situated on the Baldwin River, about three miles north of where it runs into the Pere Marquette River, Michigan’s premiere canoeing experience. There are over a dozen lakes within only five miles of the city limits, including Big Star Lake in Lake Township, and Leverentz and Government Lakes in Webber Township.

Baldwin is known for its specialty fishing lure and equipment shops, not to mention gifts and antiques as well. This town is the center of activity for the many resorts and cottages in the area. It celebrates its Troutarama each summer and the Blessing of the Bikes each May - not to mention outdoor jazz!

First developed in the early 1870’s during the Lumber era, it was originally but unofficially named Hanibal, after an early settler to the area. In 1872, the first store was built by Issac Grant, who called a committee to give it an official name; they decided on "Baldwin City," after then Governor of Michigan, Henry P. Baldwin, with "City" dropped later. It was given a station on the Pere Marquette Railroad in 1873 and became the County Seat in 1874. It was incorporated as a village in 1887.

Following information located on the Michigan Historical Marker located 3 Miles South of Baldwin M-37 in the Shrine of the Pines parking lot:
On April 11, 1884, the first recorded planting of brown trout (Salmo fario) in the United States was made into the Pere Marquette River system by the Northville, Michigan Federal Fish Hatchery. The trout eggs from which the planting of 4,900 fry was made had been obtained from Baron Friedrich Von Behr of Berlin, Germany, by Fred Mather, superintendent of the Cold Springs Harbor Federal Fish Hatchery at Long Island, New York. Some brown trout eggs had been shipped to the United States and distributed to various fisheries in the country for observation in 1883, but the Northville station was the first to stock American waters with the fish. From this beginning, the species (known in Germany as Bachforelle) has become widely established throughout the United States.

Photos courtesy of: Ken Huisjen