The School closed in 1841 for lack of funds. government to Kansas, a march called the Trail of Death.ġ837 – The Michigan City Institute, a seminary (boarding school) is built at Tenth (Boston) and Franklin Streets. The state grants $20,000 for the creation of a port at Michigan City.ġ836 – The first commercial ship, the Sea Serpent, enters Trail Creek (July 4).ġ837 – The first harbor light is installed.ġ838 – Potawatomi Indians in Indiana are forcibly removed by the U.S. More than 1,500 people live in Michigan City. The boundaries encompass 15 square miles, making it one of the largest cities by area in the United States at the time. It served as an outfitting location for settlers and recreation spot for travelers.ġ834 – A survey for the purposes of creating a harbor is begun, but funding is insufficient to complete it (October 10).ġ835 – The Army Corps reports their survey of Trail Creek.ġ836 – Michigan City is incorporated on February 8 and chartered on July 4. Michigan City in the 1830s also included a blacksmith shop, a tinsmith shop, a bank, taverns, shops, and hotels.

Ames owned a hardware store and was a noted philanthropist.ġ834 – Joseph C. In the fall, the population of Michigan City is about 50 people.ġ833 or 1834- The first school building, known as the First Ward School, is erected at Fourth and Pine on land donated by Major Isaac Elston.ġ834 – George Ames arrives in Michigan City. Samuel Miller becomes the city’s first permanent resident.ġ833 – The plat for Michigan City is recorded at the La Porte County Courthouse (September 17). A survey of Trail Creek is ordered by the state legislature.ġ832 – Michigan City’s first mayor, Willys Peck, is elected.ġ832 – Michigan City loses its bid to be county seat to La Porte.ġ832 – Daniel Webster passes through Michigan City.ġ832-1833 – The first log cabin in the city is constructed by Joseph Furman for Samuel Miller at the present-day intersection of 5th and Franklin. The land is divided into 206 lots, a public park, and a marketplace, all sold to the Michigan City Land Company.ġ832 – Michigan City is selected as the endpoint for Michigan Road, having been called “the most suitable site for a commercial town and the place the best harbor could be had” by the selection committee. Elston, the first postmaster appointed by President Andrew Jackson, purchases land at the mouth of Trail Creek for $1.25/acre, sight unseen. Congress authorized the Indiana General Assembly to build Michigan road (March 2).ġ828 – A group of surveyors sent by the state of Indiana determines that the mouth of Trail Creek is ideal for a harbor and shipping port. Its boundaries are expanded to include a ten-mile strip on the south shore of Lake Michigan, originally part of Michigan Territory.ġ824 – Capital of Indiana moves to Indianapolis.ġ825 – New England settlers form the first congregation in the area.ġ826 – The Potawatomi cede a ribbon of land 100 feet wide from the Ohio River to Lake Michigan, for the creation of Michigan Road (Oct. 1800-1829ġ800 – Indiana Territory is formed, with Vincennes as its capital (May 7).ġ816 – The State of Indiana is formed, with Corydon as its capital. As the raiders returned home, British soldiers and allies overcame the colonials at a site along the Indiana Dunes. Joseph (near present-day Niles, Michigan). A small group of American colonials and Frenchmen successfully raided Fort St. After departing Green Bay for its return trip on September 18, it was never seen again, most likely sinking in Lake Michigan.ġ780 – The Battle of the Dunes, the only Revolutionary battle fought in Northwest Indiana. It was built by French explorer Rene’-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. STEAM Ahead Kids Summer Reading Programġ674-1675 – Father Marquette, a French missionary, travels through the Trail Creek region, preaching to the Potawatomi Indians.ġ679 – The Griffin (Le Griffon), the first ship larger than a canoe to navigate the upper Great Lakes, sets sail from the Niagara River, traveling through Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan to Green Bay (August 7).MCPL Podcast: Discussions with Miss Dana.

Michigan city news dispatch