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November 6, 2019
Michigan’s Great Thumb Fires:
A presentation by author Alan Naldrett
@ the Croswell Library
November 6 @ 6 pm
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"It is unimaginable to picture whole cities burning, much less whole counties, but that was the case in 1871, and then remarkably, ten years later again in 1881. The whole Michigan Thumb suffered two disastrous fires. The Thumb Fire of 1881 brought the American Red Cross to the first major disaster they brought relief to. The combination of the two fires marked the end of the lumber industry in the Thumb and the clearing of the land for agriculture. But that was the only benefit, as each fire brought over 200 dead, tens of thousands homeless, and thousands suffering burns, inhalation, smoke blindness, and more from the fires."
The book is available at the library for checkout and we will be raffling off a copy for one lucky attendee.