GIBBS CITY - ATKINSON

NAME: Gibbs City - Atkinson COUNTY: Iron ROADS: 2WD GRID: 1 CLIMATE: Cold, snowy winters; cool summers BEST TIME TO VISIT: Late Spring to early Fall

COMMENTS: Part of the old dam associated with Atkinson is still visible; both sites are located about 9 mi northwest of Iron River. REMAINS: Essentially nothing, though a careful search of the area will produce pieces of metal and wood; there are also a few pilings remaining in the river.

Founded as Atkinson in the 1890s, with a saw mill and a few residents. The village died in the early years of the 20th century; then, in 1915, R.F. Gibbs started another mill, and a new settlement grew around it, which eventually grew to over 200 inhabitants. The mill was destroyed by a fire in 1921, and the town was abandoned. In 1966, due to the danger which the remnants were feared to pose, the entire town was burned to the ground in a controlled fire. Submitted by: Kurt Wenner

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