384 GENERAL HISTORY. 



ALPENA COUNTY. 



Alpena was laid off as a separate county and named Anamickee by act of 

 the Legislature, approved April 1st, 1840, and, by an act approved March 8th, 

 1843, the name was changed to Alj^ena. 



The organization of the county i^as effected in pursuance of an act ap- 

 proved February 7th, 1857, which provided for the completion of its organiza- 

 tion on the first Monday of January, 1858, 



The county seat was located at Fremont, the name of the town being 

 changed to Alpena by act of the Legislature, approved February 25th, 1861. 

 It is situated on Thunder bay, at the mouth of Thunder Bay river. 



With the exception of a couple of limited tracts near the coast, the entire 

 county lies within the valley of Thunder Bay river. 



From about fifty feet near Lake Huron the surface rises to an elevation of 

 about six hundred feet near the western boundary of the county. 



Lumbering has been, and still is, the leading business in the county, agri- 

 culture and horticulture having been merely incidental and subsidiary thereto. 

 Still, as early as 1875, these interests had grown to such importance as to 

 warrant the organization of a County Agricultural Society on August 3rd of 

 that year, although its first fair was not held till October, 1878. 



Two years later, in 1880, its report to the State Board of Agriculture says : 

 ^'The general verdict of those competent to judge is that vegetables, roots 

 and garden plants even surpass those grown in the southern portions of the 

 State. Here the farmer finds a ready market for all he produces. Being 

 near the great lakes, he has the means of cheap transportation." 



In reporting the third annual fair — that of 1880 — the secretary states : 

 •'The exhibits, though not as large as anticipated, were still encouraging, 

 owing to the very fine specimens of grains, roots and vegetables spread to the 

 gaze of the interested spectator. Especially was this the case in the exhibits 

 of fruits. Many varieties which cannot stand a more rigid clime south of 

 us seem to do well whenever tried with us." 



In a " Brief of Horticulture " A. 0. Tefft, of the Pioneer, remarks : " Land 

 is good and very reasonable in price. Potatoes and all vegetables grow luxu- 

 riantly. The home market will be good for all fruits that are grown for 

 twenty years. The hardy varieties of small fruits, apples, plums and cherries 

 succeed here, and as very few have yet entered this field it is a very promis- 

 ing one for men somewhat skilled in horticultural methods." 



According to the census of 1884 Alpena county had of apple orchards 147 

 acres, 2,581 bearing trees, yielding, in 1883, 422 bushels of fruit. 



Peach orchards, none. 



The value of orchard products of all kinds sold or consumed in 1883 was 

 $419.00. 



Vineyards, 5 acres; grapes sold in 1883, none. 



wine made in 1883, none. 



Nurseries, 1 acre; products sold in 1883, $255.00. 



Market garden products sold in 1883, $2,465.00. 



