Saturday, February 25, 2012

Harbor and Point Names - Grand Traverse MI



The Grand Traverse Region 
by Alexander Winchell A. M. published 1866

Geological and Industrial Resources of
Lower Peninsula of Michigan
www.archive.org/stream/grandtraverse00winc#page/72/mode/2up 
A few of the harbor and point names 

The early French voyageurs in coasting from Mackinac southward found two considerable indentations of the coast line of Lake Michigan on the east side, which there were accustomed to cross from headland to headland.  The smaller of these they designated "La Petite Traverse" and the greater, "La Grande Traverse." These names were transferred to the two bays known as the Little Traverse and Grand Traverse Bays.
Grand Traverse Bay is a bay of lake Michigan, indenting the northwestern shore of the southern Peninsula of the State of Michigan. 
Not verbatim just a partial extraction ...  
Eastport is just founded by an enterprising gentleman from Detroit. Brownstown is at present a mere fishing station. 
New Mission Harbor also opened southward and separated from the bay by Shobwasson Point.  This harbor is a mile and a half wide deep, with an abundance of water for water navigation.
Four miles further south is Sutton's Bay, opening towards the northeast and separated from the West Arm by Stony Point.  The harbor is three miles long and a mile and a half wide with plenty of water.
Lee's Point, eleven miles from the head of the West Arm forms another shallow harbor.
Bower's Harbor, on the west side of the Peninsula, open's to the southwest, being isolated from the West Arm by Tucker's Point.  Off this point,, and connected with it by a reef, is Harbor Island--particularly extending Bower's harbor to the length of over three miles, while its width is about one and a half miles.
On the east side of the Peninsula,near the point, is Old Mission harbor, having a capacity of about one square miles.
Passing southward from the mouth of Grand Traverse Bay 
along the shore of lake Michigan, we find a broad indention at the mouth of Carp River, opening towards the northwest and partially protected from west and southwest winds by Mount Carp.  
Between Mount Carp and North Unity is a broad bay about five miles deep, affording protection from all winds except those proceeding from the north and northeast.
Between North Unity and Sleeping Bear Point is another broad bay about four miles deep, forming the harbor of Glen Arbor, affording shelter from all except north and northwinds. 

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