(Ed. Note: This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com.)
By Janelle D. James
Bridge Michigan
To understand Michigan’s lumber history, it helps to see it the way pioneers once did, from the waterline.
A new 90-minute cruise along the Kalamazoo River invites passengers to explore the rise and fall of Singapore, the vanished lumber town that has come to be known as “Michigan’s Pompeii.”
Organizers describe it as part history lesson, part ghost story.
Founded in 1836 by New England migrants, Singapore grew quickly along the dunes of Lake Michigan near Saugatuck. At its peak in the late 1860s, the town boasted sawmills lining the river and a population around 100. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Singapore’s mills supplied much of the timber used to rebuild the city.
But by the mid-1870s, demand for lumber was waning. During that time, carpenters had to measure and fit wood on site. But new industrial methods standardized the milling process, undercutting local businesses.
On Sept. 29, 1875, the lumber schooner OR Johnson departed for St. Ignace and the Straits of Mackinac, transporting equipment to reconstruct a mill in the Upper Peninsula.
The town lost its way of making a living. Its mills and sawmills shut down and business came to a halt. In the years that followed, many buildings were either taken apart or relocated to Saugatuck.
Because Singapore was built right into the dunes on Lake Michigan, over the course of the next two decades, the sand dunes began to cover what was left of the settlement, essentially burying the city.
Now, as the 150th anniversary of the town’s demise approaches, the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center is commemorating Singapore’s story with a new boat tour that highlights both “facts and fictions” about the ghost town.
“We’re commemorating the end of the mill era and of the village of Singapore but also the beginning of this kind of legend … of ‘Michigan’s Pompeii’ that has continued to fascinate people for over 100-plus years,” said Eric Gollannek, executive director of the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center.
Tickets cost $50 per person and can be purchased online. Each guest will also receive a drink ticket good for beer, wine, or a non-alcoholic option.
“It’s really the best way to experience the history of Singapore and the history of this time period of the lumber era,” he added. “The best way to experience history on location is by boat … the same way that travelers and migrants would have seen it back in the 19th century.”
By Janelle D. James
Bridge Michigan
To understand Michigan’s lumber history, it helps to see it the way pioneers once did, from the waterline.
A new 90-minute cruise along the Kalamazoo River invites passengers to explore the rise and fall of Singapore, the vanished lumber town that has come to be known as “Michigan’s Pompeii.”
Organizers describe it as part history lesson, part ghost story.
Founded in 1836 by New England migrants, Singapore grew quickly along the dunes of Lake Michigan near Saugatuck. At its peak in the late 1860s, the town boasted sawmills lining the river and a population around 100. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Singapore’s mills supplied much of the timber used to rebuild the city.
But by the mid-1870s, demand for lumber was waning. During that time, carpenters had to measure and fit wood on site. But new industrial methods standardized the milling process, undercutting local businesses.
On Sept. 29, 1875, the lumber schooner OR Johnson departed for St. Ignace and the Straits of Mackinac, transporting equipment to reconstruct a mill in the Upper Peninsula.
The town lost its way of making a living. Its mills and sawmills shut down and business came to a halt. In the years that followed, many buildings were either taken apart or relocated to Saugatuck.
Because Singapore was built right into the dunes on Lake Michigan, over the course of the next two decades, the sand dunes began to cover what was left of the settlement, essentially burying the city.
Now, as the 150th anniversary of the town’s demise approaches, the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center is commemorating Singapore’s story with a new boat tour that highlights both “facts and fictions” about the ghost town.
“We’re commemorating the end of the mill era and of the village of Singapore but also the beginning of this kind of legend … of ‘Michigan’s Pompeii’ that has continued to fascinate people for over 100-plus years,” said Eric Gollannek, executive director of the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center.
Tickets cost $50 per person and can be purchased online. Each guest will also receive a drink ticket good for beer, wine, or a non-alcoholic option.
“It’s really the best way to experience the history of Singapore and the history of this time period of the lumber era,” he added. “The best way to experience history on location is by boat … the same way that travelers and migrants would have seen it back in the 19th century.”
Consumers Energy Warns Customers Against Scams
Consumers Energy is alerting Michiganders to be on the lookout of scammers who have been contacting people and demanding immediate payment with a bogus threat that their service will be shut off.
“We know most people already are careful not to give their money and personal information to strangers, but we want to make sure they’re alert for these criminals who are persistent and determined to con people out of their earnings,” said Jim Beechey, Consumers Energy’s vice president of information technology and security.
“Consumers Energy looks out for the people we serve. We want to build awareness and encourage people to make sure they’re dealing legitimately with us and protecting their security and personal information.”
Consumers Energy said customers last week began reporting receiving phone calls and emails from scammers who encourage them to make immediate payments after being threatened with power shut-off. They are spoofing company phone numbers, telling the caller they need to pay a balance immediately, and insisting on using prepaid debit cards or gift cards to make payment.
If you have made a payment and think you were the victim of a scam, call (800) 477-5050, and Consumers Energy will collect details. If you did not make a payment, file a police report with local law enforcement.
Beechey offered the following advice for people to protect themselves:
• Consumers Energy does not demand specific methods to pay bills, such as prepaid debit cards. Go to ConsumersEnergy.com/ waystopay to see how you can pay your bill.
• Consumers Energy never asks for your credit card information over the phone, and instead will transfer you to a secure system for payments.
• Call Consumers Energy’s toll-free number, (800) 477-5050, or go to ConsumersEnergy.com if you need to interact with us.
• If someone is asking for personal information and says they’re from Consumers Energy, hang up and call 800-477-5050.
Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
“We know most people already are careful not to give their money and personal information to strangers, but we want to make sure they’re alert for these criminals who are persistent and determined to con people out of their earnings,” said Jim Beechey, Consumers Energy’s vice president of information technology and security.
“Consumers Energy looks out for the people we serve. We want to build awareness and encourage people to make sure they’re dealing legitimately with us and protecting their security and personal information.”
Consumers Energy said customers last week began reporting receiving phone calls and emails from scammers who encourage them to make immediate payments after being threatened with power shut-off. They are spoofing company phone numbers, telling the caller they need to pay a balance immediately, and insisting on using prepaid debit cards or gift cards to make payment.
If you have made a payment and think you were the victim of a scam, call (800) 477-5050, and Consumers Energy will collect details. If you did not make a payment, file a police report with local law enforcement.
Beechey offered the following advice for people to protect themselves:
• Consumers Energy does not demand specific methods to pay bills, such as prepaid debit cards. Go to ConsumersEnergy.com/ waystopay to see how you can pay your bill.
• Consumers Energy never asks for your credit card information over the phone, and instead will transfer you to a secure system for payments.
• Call Consumers Energy’s toll-free number, (800) 477-5050, or go to ConsumersEnergy.com if you need to interact with us.
• If someone is asking for personal information and says they’re from Consumers Energy, hang up and call 800-477-5050.
Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
Nessel, Lawmakers Announce Legislation to Combat Human Trafficking
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, state Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Novi), and state Sen. John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs) have announced a bipartisan package of bills aimed at combating human trafficking.
The legislative package would strengthen Michigan’s law against human trafficking and provide vital protections for survivors.
“Human trafficking will not disappear overnight,” Nessel said in a news release. “It is entrenched, organized, and fueled by billions of dollars, but we can make Michigan a far more dangerous place for traffickers to operate and a far safer place for survivors to heal with this legislation.”
“There aren’t words to describe how sickening it is that so many women, children, and men are literally enslaved by criminals who use another person’s life for their own pleasure or profit,” Damoose said. “No matter what one’s background or political ideas may be, we can all unite around the fact that human trafficking is a grave moral evil, and it is time to stand up to ensure that Michigan has the toughest laws in the country to clamp down on both those engaged in the trafficking and those who prey upon the victims who are being abused.”
Human trafficking can take on many forms, including forced labor and sexual exploitation. Labor trafficking is found in many different markets that consumers might not suspect, such as convenience stores, nail salons, massage parlors, farming and agriculture, and restaurants. Those being trafficked often do not realize they are victims of human trafficking or are not aware of how to get help.
“We must strengthen prevention efforts, close the loopholes traffickers exploit, and ensure survivors are treated not as criminals, but as victims deserving of dignity and care,” Breen said. “Human trafficking thrives in silence and inaction. Let us not be silent. Let us not delay. Let us stand together, across party lines, to confront this evil with the urgency it demands.”
The legislation has the backing of the Michigan Anti-Trafficking Project.
"The Michigan Anti-Trafficking Project is inspiring communities across Michigan and beyond to take action against human trafficking and the culture that perpetuates exploitation,” said Dawn Connors, executive director of the Michigan Anti-Trafficking Project. “We do this through our community groups across the state, through training and education for professionals and communities, and through grassroots advocacy efforts. We encourage legislation that supports survivors and holds buyers and traffickers accountable.”
The legislative package seeks to strengthen protections for human trafficking survivors and enhance accountability for traffickers. The package consisting of House and Senate bills would:
• Allow survivors of human trafficking to have criminal convictions set aside if those offenses were a direct result of their victimization;
• Provide an affirmative defense for survivors if a crime was committed as a consequence of being trafficked;
• Modify safe harbor protections for minors who are victims of sex and labor trafficking;
• Set criteria for expert testimony in human trafficking cases;
• Replace the term “prostitution” with “commercial sex”;
• Increase fines and sentencing guidelines for violations involving commercial sex and human trafficking;
• Expand protections for children, giving courts and child welfare systems the authority to intervene when a child is trafficked by their parent or guardian; and
• Increase penalties for trafficking offenses.
Nessel has been prosecuting criminal cases under state laws banning human trafficking and working with law enforcement task forces through the Human Trafficking Unit to help put an end to trafficking in the state. Attorneys from the Attorney General’s office also conduct trainings for law enforcement and prosecutors and work with community members and advocates to raise awareness of this crime. To date, the Department has trained more than 3,000 law enforcement agencies, charged 40 individuals, and secured 29 trafficking convictions.
The Michigan Human Trafficking Commission was formed in 2015 after the 2014 Human Trafficking Commission Act became law. The Commission is comprised of nine members appointed by the governor and includes designees from the Department of Attorney General, Michigan State Police, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
Victims of human trafficking or those who have identified someone they think may need help can contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at (888) 373-7888 or text 233733. This is a national, toll-free hotline that is available to answer calls, texts, and chats from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. All calls are confidential. People who live in the State of Michigan who suspect human trafficking can call (855) MICH-TIP for assistance.
The legislative package would strengthen Michigan’s law against human trafficking and provide vital protections for survivors.
“Human trafficking will not disappear overnight,” Nessel said in a news release. “It is entrenched, organized, and fueled by billions of dollars, but we can make Michigan a far more dangerous place for traffickers to operate and a far safer place for survivors to heal with this legislation.”
“There aren’t words to describe how sickening it is that so many women, children, and men are literally enslaved by criminals who use another person’s life for their own pleasure or profit,” Damoose said. “No matter what one’s background or political ideas may be, we can all unite around the fact that human trafficking is a grave moral evil, and it is time to stand up to ensure that Michigan has the toughest laws in the country to clamp down on both those engaged in the trafficking and those who prey upon the victims who are being abused.”
Human trafficking can take on many forms, including forced labor and sexual exploitation. Labor trafficking is found in many different markets that consumers might not suspect, such as convenience stores, nail salons, massage parlors, farming and agriculture, and restaurants. Those being trafficked often do not realize they are victims of human trafficking or are not aware of how to get help.
“We must strengthen prevention efforts, close the loopholes traffickers exploit, and ensure survivors are treated not as criminals, but as victims deserving of dignity and care,” Breen said. “Human trafficking thrives in silence and inaction. Let us not be silent. Let us not delay. Let us stand together, across party lines, to confront this evil with the urgency it demands.”
The legislation has the backing of the Michigan Anti-Trafficking Project.
"The Michigan Anti-Trafficking Project is inspiring communities across Michigan and beyond to take action against human trafficking and the culture that perpetuates exploitation,” said Dawn Connors, executive director of the Michigan Anti-Trafficking Project. “We do this through our community groups across the state, through training and education for professionals and communities, and through grassroots advocacy efforts. We encourage legislation that supports survivors and holds buyers and traffickers accountable.”
The legislative package seeks to strengthen protections for human trafficking survivors and enhance accountability for traffickers. The package consisting of House and Senate bills would:
• Allow survivors of human trafficking to have criminal convictions set aside if those offenses were a direct result of their victimization;
• Provide an affirmative defense for survivors if a crime was committed as a consequence of being trafficked;
• Modify safe harbor protections for minors who are victims of sex and labor trafficking;
• Set criteria for expert testimony in human trafficking cases;
• Replace the term “prostitution” with “commercial sex”;
• Increase fines and sentencing guidelines for violations involving commercial sex and human trafficking;
• Expand protections for children, giving courts and child welfare systems the authority to intervene when a child is trafficked by their parent or guardian; and
• Increase penalties for trafficking offenses.
Nessel has been prosecuting criminal cases under state laws banning human trafficking and working with law enforcement task forces through the Human Trafficking Unit to help put an end to trafficking in the state. Attorneys from the Attorney General’s office also conduct trainings for law enforcement and prosecutors and work with community members and advocates to raise awareness of this crime. To date, the Department has trained more than 3,000 law enforcement agencies, charged 40 individuals, and secured 29 trafficking convictions.
The Michigan Human Trafficking Commission was formed in 2015 after the 2014 Human Trafficking Commission Act became law. The Commission is comprised of nine members appointed by the governor and includes designees from the Department of Attorney General, Michigan State Police, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
Victims of human trafficking or those who have identified someone they think may need help can contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at (888) 373-7888 or text 233733. This is a national, toll-free hotline that is available to answer calls, texts, and chats from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. All calls are confidential. People who live in the State of Michigan who suspect human trafficking can call (855) MICH-TIP for assistance.
