I know where a Voyageur cabin site is in the City of Jackson. I found it when I was a kid. My friend and I found a clay pipe bowl sitting on tree roots and the last vestiges of bottoms of logs that formed the base of the cabin, long rotted away. The year was 1958 and I was ten years old at the time.
My neck of the woods. Been on the grand 100’s of times. Used to be very polluted but now is in really decent shape considering the amount of farmland and cities developed along its path. Very solid fishery now.
I grew up in Muskegon, I've been to Grand Haven more times than I can count. Went to college in Grand Rapids. The early lumber industry on the Grand River was eventually eclipsed by the lumber industry on the Muskegon River, which drains the entire northern area of the Southern Peninsula, but without the earlier industry on the Grand there wouldn't have been the later successes. And that bit about the dynamo in GR in 1880 was something I'd never heard before! The video of crossing under the US-31 drawbridge at Grand Haven was just cool. I've driven over that sooooo many times, never had an opportunity to cross under it. That was a treat. Thanks! Great channel and awesome video. Thank you for sharing!
I stumbled upon this great video this evening. I live in Ottawa County and have traveled through Lamont, Eastmanville, GVSU and visited the Riverbend Airstrip. All of which you do a story of from your boat on the Grand River. Thank so much for sharing the history of the Grand River as it wonders through my West Michigan communities.
I really enjoyed your work immensely, you have such a wonderful ability to describe the history and beauty of our wonderful state. I grew up on a farm along the Grand River in Lowell. They were some of the best memories of my life. My Dad showed me the deed to our farm and Rix Robinson was the original owner. I left Lowell,as a young man and have traveled all over the world and have lived out west for the last 55 years and I have never seen a place that means more to me than Lowell does.
That’s a pretty epic canoe trip! Great historical nuggets about the river that, as a lifelong West Michigander and local trivia buff, even I didn’t know. Great work with the maps! I also think it’s noteworthy how few bridges span the river from Grandville to Grand Haven. It is so costly to build a bridge as the span is so wide only 4 cross along that 30 mile stretch you showed us. Just another way the river impacts people’s lives still today.
We've had a drone since the beginning, but the main drone was lost last year in the Canadian wilderness. Now, we use a 9ft selfie stick and some voodoo for the "drone like" shots. Trade secret tho. . . 😀😂
You mentioned Lake Chicago. A very small remnant of its ancient shoreline can be found in the Indiana Dunes National Park at the intersection of Hadenfeldt and Furnessville roads. Just past this intersection to the south is a small rise. That is the old shoreline. Lake Michigan's shoreline is about a mile north of the intersection.
LOVE this....way back, our rivers were our roads. This is so much like the Keweenaw...water routes for fur trading, and like my bro's Nahma Inn...Nahma had the Bay de Nocquet lumber company, who made tons of wood for Chicago after the big fire...then Chicago got what they needed and the lumber company shut down. Nahma is one of the lil' touristo type places. Right on Lake Michigan. (Lake Chicago....I ALWAYS learn something from you!)
greetings from GR! i fish the grand every weekend with my girl and her boy. it's a fantastic piece of MI history and scenery. if you get a chance, you may want to look into the history of Singapore, MI and it's sandy fate on the north side of the Muskegon River.
Well who wants to know about these facts? You'd think from this video that the Grand River actually starts about in the middle. Jackson County always gets the short end if the stick. When I first saw the headline of this video, I figured they would start at the head waters (Jackson) for those who didn't know and move up to Lansing and so on. I'm disappointed to say the least.
Thanks for the time and research gone into making this video. I'm a sixth generation Michigander on my moms side, and my dad's family can be traced back before Michigan was a state! But your video even taught me a few things about the state I didn't know.
For someone who has never been to Michigan, I know a fair bit about the state. This video was packed with new information! Thanks, Chuck! Thanks, Poppinsyou have excellent videos!
I really enjoyed your video and taking the time to learn about and share some of the more interesting aspects of the region. There's also a lot of history about the Boynton families going back to when 3 brothers first arrived in the area in the 1830s. My mother's side is descended from one of those brothers, and we've enjoyed family reunions at Bill's property on the river and more recently on his Grand Lady Riverboat. Thanks for sharing!
New subscriber here. I myself am a Viking too. A lot of my ancestry comes from Norway. Great video. I'm not from Michigan, but live here now with my wife.
Nice video. You did miss mentioning Jubb’s Bayou, which is named after local pioneer Orange Jubb. He was a colorful character who was instrumental in the settling of the area around the bayou of his namesake.
The Grand River story is likely the most impressive of all Lower Michigan river histories, but it has parallels - the Saginaw and the Muskegon Rivers. Both help provide timber to state and national industries. The Saginaw River virtually grew up on the logging business; if you canoe the Muskegon River you can still see the ghosts of the railways that brought the logs to the water.
Interesting! My family come from Grand River Ottawa and I recently traced back to ancestors which include fur trader Joseph Bailly, who lived on Mackinac Island and owned a trading post on the Grand River. In fact, one of his daughters was adopted by Mme La Framboise. I keep trying to learn more family and Michigan history so thanks for the tour!
Thanks for the info. I have been trying to find videos on the grand river, I'd like to do a trip with my barrel boat camper there, love your channel and all the info is awesome, I'm from SE michigan.
Cool canoe, it reminds me of a pirogue. I like reading or hearing stories about the old lumber industry. Our great grandfather came down from Canada to be a teamster at the Michigan camp where he met our great grandmother. The story goes on. It would be interesting to see what the area as it used to be with white and red pine.
The headwaters of the Grand River are only a few miles from the headwaters of the River Raisin which flows southeast into Lake Erie. A short portage got folks across the peninsula almost entirely on water.
In the late 70's, I attended Grand Valley State Colleges. It later changed the name to Grand Valley State University . . . GVSU. The River was . . . right there and the rowing team had a dock.
RV and Poppins: As a lifelong ( so far ), resident of Michigan, I still learnuch from your videos. Keep up the good work. A question; Have you ever considered doing a video or videos on Michigan Ghost Towns that sprang up due to the lumber industry then when the lumbering died, the town died. Just a thought.
Shout-out to Steamboat campground! I live in an RV full time and stayed with them for two winters. Wonderful campground with great amenities, if you don't mind paying a premium for the RV sites! Great videos!
Enjoyed every second, you guys do a great job. Stumbled across a great channel to fulfill my adventurous spirit. Lol. Thanks very much and Happy Exploring.
I grew up in Jenison and graduated from GVSU (became a university while I was there-started out as an alternative style colleges, with 4 campus in one location). The riverboat wasn’t there when I was growing up, but there were two outhouses along that stretch. Always funny to see if one or both floated down the river in the spring thaw 🤣😂🤣
This was a great episode really enjoyed it. I love the back-and-forth between the two of you pouring out the knowledge. How long a trip was it or did I miss that? I hope you’re following continues to grow.
Hey, how long have you lived in Lowell? I’m from Lowell myself. Brother still lives there. My wife and I now live up in northern Kent County a few miles west of Greenville. I’ve been watching your videos for a good bit but wasn’t aware you call Lowell Home! Good for you two. My name is David Chrisman/class of 81.
David, We've lived in Lowell since the early 90's. I taught first and second grade at Bushnell and Cherry Creek. I had Autumn Chrisman, any relation? Thanks for taking time to comment! Martha
My Brother Daniel lives there still and his name is Daniel Chrisman and his wife teaches currently in Belding at the Middle School in Spec Ed and her name is Michelle. They have two kids that went through Lowell Schools named Zach and Nicole but they were in school there during the 2010/20’s. I was not aware of other Chrisman’s in the Lowell Area but our family that far back? We moved there from Grand Rapids the summer (77) before my Freshman year and we lived on Monroe Street. My mother passed in 2018 so we sold the house (Dad passed in 2003). I was watching this video on the Grand River and was just excited to hear you were from Lowell! Thanks for the stories/history. Love them! Have a great weekend, David Chrisman
Just found you guys, I’m surprised to hear that Lowell is your hometown! Hope to bump into you sometime at The Flat River Grill or possibly hiking the new foot bridge across the Grand River to Riverside Park!
I know where a Voyageur cabin site is in the City of Jackson. I found it when I was a kid. My friend and I found a clay pipe bowl sitting on tree roots and the last vestiges of bottoms of logs that formed the base of the cabin, long rotted away. The year was 1958 and I was ten years old at the time.
Wow. As a lifelong Michigander, I learned something new. Really well done!
Great history research and unique presentation. Proud of your presentation for everything Michigan.
My neck of the woods. Been on the grand 100’s of times. Used to be very polluted but now is in really decent shape considering the amount of farmland and cities developed along its path. Very solid fishery now.
I grew up in Muskegon, I've been to Grand Haven more times than I can count. Went to college in Grand Rapids. The early lumber industry on the Grand River was eventually eclipsed by the lumber industry on the Muskegon River, which drains the entire northern area of the Southern Peninsula, but without the earlier industry on the Grand there wouldn't have been the later successes. And that bit about the dynamo in GR in 1880 was something I'd never heard before! The video of crossing under the US-31 drawbridge at Grand Haven was just cool. I've driven over that sooooo many times, never had an opportunity to cross under it. That was a treat. Thanks! Great channel and awesome video. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by. Agreed! The Muskegon has quite a history related to logging for sure!
GRCC alum?
I stumbled upon this great video this evening. I live in Ottawa County and have traveled through Lamont, Eastmanville, GVSU and visited the Riverbend Airstrip. All of which you do a story of from your boat on the Grand River. Thank so much for sharing the history of the Grand River as it wonders through my West Michigan communities.
That snacklbox is brilliant.
I really enjoyed your work immensely, you have such a wonderful ability to describe the history and beauty of our wonderful state. I grew up on a farm along the Grand River in Lowell. They were some of the best memories of my life. My Dad showed me the deed to our farm and Rix Robinson was the original owner. I left Lowell,as a young man and have traveled all over the world and have lived out west for the last 55 years and I have never seen a place that means more to me than Lowell does.
Thanks for the kind words! Lowell is a good place. And a title with Rix Robinson as the original owner. . . amazing!
Another great presentation. Really enjoyed the lesson and the travel on Michigan’s “Grand” river.
How good was that!!! I loved it. America, its who we are!!
I've canoed along the Grand River. Need to fish for pike next. Thanks for showing.
Great history lesson. We are headed to Grand Haven in a few weeks to camp on the Lake Michigan beach.
Did you have fun and go to the coast guard festival?
As a Michigander, I'm glad I found your channel. It's good, interesting stuff!
LOVE your channel! Another wonderful, informative video.
I grew up in Grand Haven. I have fished all the bayous off of the Grand River. Its a great place to grow up.
Outstanding, informative!! So glad I found you both.
That’s a pretty epic canoe trip! Great historical nuggets about the river that, as a lifelong West Michigander and local trivia buff, even I didn’t know. Great work with the maps! I also think it’s noteworthy how few bridges span the river from Grandville to Grand Haven. It is so costly to build a bridge as the span is so wide only 4 cross along that 30 mile stretch you showed us. Just another way the river impacts people’s lives still today.
I just kayaked part of the Grand River last weekend. Thank you Chuck and Poppins for the history tour!
Look at you guys - with a drone now! 👍
We've had a drone since the beginning, but the main drone was lost last year in the Canadian wilderness. Now, we use a 9ft selfie stick and some voodoo for the "drone like" shots. Trade secret tho. . . 😀😂
I grew up in this area and have had some good fishing experiences, from the rapids in Grand Rapids to Lake Michigan.
You mentioned Lake Chicago. A very small remnant of its ancient shoreline can be found in the Indiana Dunes National Park at the intersection of Hadenfeldt and Furnessville roads. Just past this intersection to the south is a small rise. That is the old shoreline. Lake Michigan's shoreline is about a mile north of the intersection.
The same for Ridge Rd from Lansing IL to Hobart. It was built on the "ridge" of the old Lake Chicago shoreline.
Live on Lake Creek in Saranac, a tributary to the Grand
Thanks for your videos from the west side of lake Huron. Wow, a Grand river grander than our Grand river. Love from the south end of Georgian Bay.
LOVE this....way back, our rivers were our roads. This is so much like the Keweenaw...water routes for fur trading, and like my bro's Nahma Inn...Nahma had the Bay de Nocquet lumber company, who made tons of wood for Chicago after the big fire...then Chicago got what they needed and the lumber company shut down. Nahma is one of the lil' touristo type places. Right on Lake Michigan. (Lake Chicago....I ALWAYS learn something from you!)
Plus, they cut 90 plus percent of the trees down, so that also may be why the industry tanked.
@@skypilotrg no....not at all.
Love the drone pictures
buttons were a pretty big business near Eastmanville. the river clams made very colorful buttons
greetings from GR! i fish the grand every weekend with my girl and her boy. it's a fantastic piece of MI history and scenery. if you get a chance, you may want to look into the history of Singapore, MI and it's sandy fate on the north side of the Muskegon River.
The headwaters of the three longest rivers in the state are in Jackson County, The Grand, Kalamazoo and the River Raisin.
Well who wants to know about these facts? You'd think from this video that the Grand River actually starts about in the middle. Jackson County always gets the short end if the stick. When I first saw the headline of this video, I figured they would start at the head waters (Jackson) for those who didn't know and move up to Lansing and so on. I'm disappointed to say the least.
Not in that canoe, lots of logs and tight bends in those areas.
@@blauer2551the vid was excellent, but a sequel would be much appreciated.
Muskegon river is the second longest river in Michigan and does not run through Jackson county.
Thanks for the time and research gone into making this video. I'm a sixth generation Michigander on my moms side, and my dad's family can be traced back before Michigan was a state! But your video even taught me a few things about the state I didn't know.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Good information! I hadn't realized that Grand Valley State University had been there that long!
Another great video. Always enjoy watching your videos and look forward to the next one. Keep them coming !
Wonderful video . Great information . You put the story back in History . Thank you .
For someone who has never been to Michigan, I know a fair bit about the state. This video was packed with new information! Thanks, Chuck! Thanks, Poppinsyou have excellent videos!
I really enjoyed your video and taking the time to learn about and share some of the more interesting aspects of the region.
There's also a lot of history about the Boynton families going back to when 3 brothers first arrived in the area in the 1830s. My mother's side is descended from one of those brothers, and we've enjoyed family reunions at Bill's property on the river and more recently on his Grand Lady Riverboat.
Thanks for sharing!
Snackle box 💯🙂
Excellent video. I hope you do one on the Kalamazoo and Muskegon Rivers as well
You both seem to be such fun people. You do such fun things using the in-depth knowledge you’ve attained which makes everything even more fun.
Aww Shucks Mary. . . thanks!
@@RestlessViking Golly Jeepers….you’re welcome.
Great history! Love the "snacklebox". Great idea! 😀
😂
New subscriber here. I myself am a Viking too. A lot of my ancestry comes from Norway. Great video. I'm not from Michigan, but live here now with my wife.
Welcome aboard!
Great stuff ! Thanks so much for doing this 👍
What a great tour! Thanks for showcasing more of Michigan's beauty ❤ Love the SnackleBox!
Great video! Loved the history lesson from your adventure.
Loved learning the history. Thank you.
I love the fun fact about the bugler❤
Great story. Excellent drone footage and soundtrack.
Nice video. You did miss mentioning Jubb’s Bayou, which is named after local pioneer Orange Jubb. He was a colorful character who was instrumental in the settling of the area around the bayou of his namesake.
The Grand River story is likely the most impressive of all Lower Michigan river histories, but it has parallels - the Saginaw and the Muskegon Rivers. Both help provide timber to state and national industries. The Saginaw River virtually grew up on the logging business; if you canoe the Muskegon River you can still see the ghosts of the railways that brought the logs to the water.
You guys are great! My mind starves for facts and information, and you provide it! I subbed.
What a great history lesson. Makes me proud to be a Michigander! Great video guys!
Also, as a lifelong Michigander, I learned something too. I had no idea that the Grand River is the longest. I just figured it was the Muskegon.
Interesting! My family come from Grand River Ottawa and I recently traced back to ancestors which include fur trader Joseph Bailly, who lived on Mackinac Island and owned a trading post on the Grand River. In fact, one of his daughters was adopted by Mme La Framboise. I keep trying to learn more family and Michigan history so thanks for the tour!
I know this family and live right 5here in grandville..sooo cool. Nice work guys and AWESOME snackle box!!
Thanks for the info. I have been trying to find videos on the grand river, I'd like to do a trip with my barrel boat camper there, love your channel and all the info is awesome, I'm from SE michigan.
Cool canoe, it reminds me of a pirogue. I like reading or hearing stories about the old lumber industry. Our great grandfather came down from Canada to be a teamster at the Michigan camp where he met our great grandmother. The story goes on. It would be interesting to see what the area as it used to be with white and red pine.
The Grand River has been a part of my life. Grew up in Grand Ledge, hiked the river trail through the Ledges often. Great Video!
The headwaters of the Grand River are only a few miles from the headwaters of the River Raisin which flows southeast into Lake Erie. A short portage got folks across the peninsula almost entirely on water.
Thanks for the history lesson that wasn't supplied in this video.
Very cool !!😊
Informational & historical. Very cool river adventure. Thank you 😊
Hey, I grew up in Lowell. 👍
In the late 70's, I attended Grand Valley State Colleges. It later changed
the name to Grand Valley State University . . . GVSU. The River was . . . right there
and the rowing team had a dock.
RV and Poppins: As a lifelong ( so far ), resident of Michigan, I still learnuch from your videos. Keep up the good work.
A question; Have you ever considered doing a video or videos on Michigan Ghost Towns that sprang up due to the lumber industry then when the lumbering died, the town died.
Just a thought.
Thanks for the suggestion.
You guys are too much. What a good life. Production of scenery, adventure and history is captivating. Thank you.
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your journeys - just subscribed and am binge watching. Really appreciate the on-site history.
Shout-out to Steamboat campground! I live in an RV full time and stayed with them for two winters. Wonderful campground with great amenities, if you don't mind paying a premium for the RV sites! Great videos!
I live on the grand, amazing river and all the feeders are some of the best fishing!
Thanks for sharing insights
Good job. Interesting tidbits about the area. Creative delivery!
Love your videos. Always learn a lot about the history of the state I thought I knew!
Keep them coming!!!
Hey Chuck greetings from the sunrise side of Michigan 😊
A Grand Video of the Grand River. Great job. Very Interesting.
Great video guys! I was raised on the backwaters of the Ada dam on the Thornapple river. I know the area well, bravo on a great presentation.
Listening from Mackinac Island Michigan
Always a learning adventure 👍🏻
Back some 60 years ago the river was a nasty opaque brown. Good to see it looking like water.
That was Awesome guys!! Lot's of info there we didn't know about the river!! J & C
I grew up in Ionia, I would enjoy seeing a video of the Grand River from Ada to Webber Dam. You could talk about Shimnecon and Chief Okemos.
You guys are so fun 😊
Thanks for the great tour and history lesson , the snackle box look great 😀
Thanks Chuck and Poppins, another great video.👍
Thanks 👍
Enjoyed every second, you guys do a great job. Stumbled across a great channel to fulfill my adventurous spirit. Lol. Thanks very much and Happy Exploring.
Thanks so much!
Another fantastically informative video. Thank you!
I grew up in Jenison and graduated from GVSU (became a university while I was there-started out as an alternative style colleges, with 4 campus in one location). The riverboat wasn’t there when I was growing up, but there were two outhouses along that stretch. Always funny to see if one or both floated down the river in the spring thaw 🤣😂🤣
Thank you! What a wonderful history lesson.
This was a great episode really enjoyed it. I love the back-and-forth between the two of you pouring out the knowledge. How long a trip was it or did I miss that? I hope you’re following continues to grow.
It was about 3 hours with our goofing around and taking video.
Hey, how long have you lived in Lowell? I’m from Lowell myself. Brother still lives there. My wife and I now live up in northern Kent County a few miles west of Greenville. I’ve been watching your videos for a good bit but wasn’t aware you call Lowell Home! Good for you two. My name is David Chrisman/class of 81.
David, We've lived in Lowell since the early 90's. I taught first and second grade at Bushnell and Cherry Creek. I had Autumn Chrisman, any relation? Thanks for taking time to comment! Martha
My Brother Daniel lives there still and his name is Daniel Chrisman and his wife teaches currently in Belding at the Middle School in Spec Ed and her name is Michelle. They have two kids that went through Lowell Schools named Zach and Nicole but they were in school there during the 2010/20’s. I was not aware of other Chrisman’s in the Lowell Area but our family that far back? We moved there from Grand Rapids the summer (77) before my Freshman year and we lived on Monroe Street. My mother passed in 2018 so we sold the house (Dad passed in 2003). I was watching this video on the Grand River and was just excited to hear you were from Lowell! Thanks for the stories/history. Love them! Have a great weekend,
David Chrisman
@@davidchrisman855
I believe Dan was my classmate. Small world.
I have always enjoyed your videos
Because they are entertaining and educational
Thanks, you have to do a review of that canoe someday..
Just found you guys, I’m surprised to hear that Lowell is your hometown!
Hope to bump into you sometime at The Flat River Grill or possibly hiking the new foot bridge across the Grand River to Riverside Park!
We'll see you around!
Very entertaining ❤
The Grand River who knew? Awesome job y'all as always. What kind of boat is that super cool.Snacklebox LMAO.
Thanks for the great history lesson , you guys are awesome !
My dad, Thomas Clelland, was the fabricator/builder of the Grand Lady.
Great video! thank you
I would love to hear the story on us 12 that runs Detroit to Chicago
Territorial Rd in Berrien County was supposed to be one of the first roads running that route.
Awesome, Thanks !
Great Video!
you guys do a great job
Loved it. Thanks.
Love your videos!!!
I love this channel keep it up!!!
Great video! Thank you!!