In the months prior to World War II the major topic was the US’s stance on with our stated isolationist policy. Yet the war had not yet been declared and rationing was not even thought of. Large portions of M25 were now paved and this Michigan Scenic Highway was viewed as tourist destination. Here is an interesting piece from the Huron Times in April 1940 highlighting the travel opportunities in the Thumb. Except for some spelling corrections the article is how it appeared in the Harbor Beach Times.

Michigan’s 90 Miles of Scenic Highway

1940 Huron County Travel Map

Climb aboard, everybody for a sightseeing jaunt on the 90-mile Scenic Highway of Huron County, Michigan. We’ll start at White Rock on the lower right of the map on U. S. 25. White Rock was an Indian altar or shrine. All land north of it was allotted to the Indians for hunting grounds in a treaty made in Detroit in 1807. The land south of this early-day boundary line become the property of the ‘White People’.

Next is Wagener Park, named to honor P. O. Wagener, pioneer physician of Harbor Beach. It contains the most beautiful stand of cedars in the Thumb district. That bathing beach flashes invitingly.

Harbor Beach – Starch and Bootlegging

Harbor Beach Light

Step on the gas. We’re now in Harbor Beach, home of Supreme Court Justice Frank Murphy. That industry, on the short front, is owned, by the Jenks family and is the largest specialty starch plant in the world.

Those lake breezes’ the ships on .the, distant horizon this is the life. We follow the shoreline to the thriving and beautiful village of Port Hope. We’ll relax, a few minutes in the W. R. Stafford Park, named to honor the founder of the village.

Whiskey Harbor — in the early days, to escape duty, whiskey was smuggled here from Canada. Several kegs are said to be buried in the harbor. Keep your seats, at Huron City, the summer home of Prof. Wm. Lyon Phelps is Lighthouse Park, a Federal gift to Huron County. There, goes a deer. This park is a refuge for these beautiful creatures.

Gateway to the Upper Thumb: Grindstone City

Scene At Grindstone City Port Austin

We pass Grindstone City, scene of the first industry of the county, and the beautiful summer resort Pointe Aux Barques, Thumb Nail of Michigan.

Along the rugged shoreline we see. Turnip Rock, Kimball Point, Twin Rocks, Broken Rocks, Sandstone caves and the site of an Indian pottery, factory, and village. “Poems from the hand of God” the natural scenery of Huron County is of the finest in the world.

Kimball Rock has an interesting Indian legend connected with it. Click’s Click’ — Hope those snapshots turn out okeh.

After getting an eye full of those, bathing beauties, look at those long strings of bass brought in by the lucky fishermen or women. Perch and Wall-eyed pike are also plentiful in Huron County.

All aboard, we’re on our way through country made famous by David Orr’s novel; “White Gold.’’

Those two parks, with a fine bathing beach, are the Murray Van Wagoner and W, L. Jenks and the A.C. McGraw parks.

The Ghost Town of Port Crescent

That 125. Ft. chimney stands as a lone sentinel guarding the ghost village of Port Crescent, a thriving port which vanished in 1884, with the lumber industry.

With 500 acres of parks, “in a natural paradise,” Huron County is the playground and recreational center of Michigan. We spin on, past the pot of gold buried somewhere on Loosemoore’s Point, to Oak Beach Park and summer resort colony.

Did you notice that everywhere along Scenic Highway 25 are found good hotels, restaurants, cottages, cabins, free camping grounds and every accommodation for the tourist.

We roll over the smooth pavement to the State Park. Those sand dunes overlooking the sparkling waters of Lake Huron are a favorite haunt of the American eagle. Every tree native to Michigan is found in this beautiful playground, planned for by V. V. Philp former FERA administrator.

Caseville The Campground and Playground of the Thumb

More, than 120,000 persons in 1939 signed this register in the county, park at Caseville, where, we have just written our names. This is the largest of the Huron county park units. The Pres. McKinley family lived in Caseville four years.

General George M. Meade placed that, U.S. survey, the marker near the tip of Sand Point. The “Hero, of Gettysburg” was called to the colors from here.

The Ora Labora Colony Ruins and Bay Port

Bay Port Fish Co. Operates Today

Those ruins of log buildings mark the site of Ora Labora colony, a religious-socialist experiment of the Civil War days. The marshes of Wild Fowl Bay are the best duck hunting grounds in Michigan.

We pass the Bay Port Stone Quarry and Bay Port, with its summer colony and “sportsman’s paradise.”

We see from the highway an Indian Tree, famous in Indian legend. A white man, “who discovered the secret lead mines of the Indians,” was said to have been tied to this tree and burned to death.

That landmark at the mouth of the Shebeyon, “Where the lead ore is hidden,” creek was the first church of Huron county. It was built by Rev. J. Auch, Lutheran missionary, in 1850.

Sebewaing; An Ancient Indian Village

Coal Miners at Sebewaing

Now we enter the thriving village of Sebewaing. The name is Chippewa and translates “near the winding creek,” An ancient battle was fought here between two large Indian tribes. ‘Skeletons of warriors were unearthed on the main street in recent years. Sebewaing has a fine park and many Industries including a large sugar factory.

One more park, near the Tuscola county line. Want to see a little of the beautiful farming country, of Huron County?’ Okeh !’ We turn east at Sebewaing, motor through Owendale, north to Pigeon and then east to Elkton and Bad Axe, the county seat of Huron County. At Ubly, we find the largest REA plant in the world.

The Bean Capital of the World

Yes! Kinde is the bean center of the world for pea beans. You’re right! Huron County is a garden spot, almost everything we eat is grown on the half million acres of its fertile land;. The county also leads in dairy products, in thoroughbred horses and purebred cattle. The population! About 32,000. Now introduced to this county of Huron, come enjoy, in full with us “the most pleasant spot in the world.”

From the Harbor Beach Times April 16, 1940

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