Bear Lake was a settlement in Manistee County on the south side of a lake of the same name, about 15 miles northeast of Manistee, and five miles north of Onekama.
This village was settled in 1863 and was platted in 1874. It was incorporated as a village in 1893. [MPN]
Image info: Top, a logging train and workers pose for a photo at Bear Lake in 1890.
Bear Lake is the home of S. W. Hopkins, owner of the Bear Lake & Eastern railroad. The population of the village is set down at 300. It is a favored summer resort, now quite accessible from all directions.
The village was served by the Bear Lake and Eastern railroad which brought logs from the area to Pierport, which was five miles west of here on Lake Michigan.
Clipping Credit: [BCE-1926-0814]
1919. The department store, post office and Masonic Hall were burned to the ground and several buildings partially destroyed when fire swept a whole business block in this village. Fire apparatus from Arcadia, Onekama, Copemish and Kaleva, reinforced by a fire pump from Manistee, fought the blaze until early evening when it was checked. One person was injured. [BCE-1919-1003]
1926. The BL&E depot at Bear Lake is torn down. [BCE-1926-0814]
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