DENVER

NAME: Denver
COUNTY: Newaygo
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 1
CLIMATE: Typical West Michigan Climate (snow in the winter, hot in the summer)
BEST TIME TO VISIT: late spring to early summer
COMMENTS: Site of old town currently inhabited. M20 east out of Hesperia. Turn left (north) on Stone Rd and go around curve. About 1/2 mile after curve you will see the old schoolhouse standing on small hill next to house trailer on left side of road. Continue to next stop sign (Green Rd.) and turn left to get back on M-20)
REMAINS: Schoolhouse still standing as of 1/08/2001
Listed as post office in 1870 with Lewis Martin as postmaster. 1877 Gazeteer showed it as having population of 60 with L.E. Paige as postmaster and proprietor of a drug and grocery. also at this time had a sawmill, gristmill, carding (wool) machine, Mansfield Sawmill and General Store, planing mill, restaurant, flour mill, and blacksmith. Still shown as a post office in 1890 but not in 1893. I have seen a 1900 plat book just yesterday (1/8/2001) for Newaygo Co. which still shows a school and store in operation. Most of this biographical information was gotten from the series of books entitled "Michigan Ghost Towns" by the late Roy L. Dodge. He wrote these books from 1970 to 1973 from information that he compiled over years of research and personal visits to old townsites. The books contain dated information but are still being published by Glendon Publishing, PO Box 80807, Las Vegas, NV 89810-0807. It is my intention to research and visit all of the sites that he listed and then publish an updated companion series to his original books. This will take YEARS so I also plan a website which will include updated townsite info (with photos) during the course of this endeavor. I am currently 35 years old and hope to finish it sometime before I commence to pushing up daisies. I will also list info on this site as I get it. Submitted by: Tom Kamrowski


Denver
Courtesy Tom Kamrowski


Denver
Courtesy Tom Kamrowski

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