The Beginnings of Montague and Whitehall, Michigan
The neighboring communities of Montague and Whitehall share a rich history shaped by the lumber industry, White Lake, and the people who helped build Michigan’s west coast. While each community developed its own identity, their stories have been closely connected from the very beginning.
The Founding of Whitehall
Whitehall traces its beginnings to 1859, when lumberman Charles Mears arrived in the area and established a sawmill along White Lake. Together with Giles Slocum, Mears platted the new settlement, laying out streets that still reflect the community’s early history today.
According to local tradition, the street names were intentionally chosen to honor family members and close friends. Streets running east and west were named after members of the Slocum family, while those running north and south were named for members of the Mears family.
The settlement was originally named Mears. In early 1867, however, many residents petitioned to change the name. The new name, Whitehall, is widely believed to have been created by combining the surnames of Charles Whitaker and Moses Hall, two mill owners who had established a sawmill near what is now Goodrich Park.
Whitehall received its post office in 1860 and was incorporated as a village in 1867. During the height of the lumber era, the community became an important center for processing timber and shipping lumber throughout the Great Lakes region.
The Beginnings of Montague
Across White Lake to the northeast, Montague developed during the same period as the lumber industry expanded throughout West Michigan. Sawmills, businesses, and homes quickly appeared as workers and entrepreneurs settled in the area.
The village received its post office and was incorporated in 1867, becoming another important center for the region’s thriving timber economy.
The origin of Montague’s name has been the subject of differing historical accounts. One widely accepted explanation is that the community was named in honor of Rev. William Montague Ferry, father of Major Noah Henry Ferry, who was killed during the Civil War at the Battle of Gettysburg. While other naming stories have appeared over the years, historians continue to examine the historical record, and this remains one of the most commonly recognized explanations.
A Shared Lumber Legacy
Although separated by White Lake, Montague and Whitehall grew together as neighboring communities during Michigan’s lumber boom. Workers harvested timber from nearby forests, floated logs down local rivers, processed them at area sawmills, and loaded finished lumber onto ships bound for Chicago, Milwaukee, and other growing cities.
Transportation played a major role in the region’s success. The opening of the White Lake Channel in 1862 created a direct connection between White Lake and Lake Michigan, making it much easier to ship lumber to markets across the Great Lakes. The project was funded through federal appropriations after years of advocacy by local lumber interests. Later, the arrival of the railroad expanded transportation options even further.
From Lumber to Community
As Michigan’s forests were gradually harvested, both communities adapted. Agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and small businesses helped sustain the local economy into the twentieth century. Visitors were drawn to White Lake’s natural beauty, leading to the growth of resorts, cottages, and summer recreation.
Today, both Montague and Whitehall celebrate their shared heritage while continuing to grow. Historic downtowns, museums, parks, marinas, and community events preserve the stories of the people who built these towns more than 150 years ago.
White Lake remains at the heart of both communities—not as a boundary, but as the connection that has united their history from the very beginning.
