Progress made in preserving historic Ford Alberta Sawmill
Photo by Sydney Wilmot
One year ago, the L’Anse Sentinel reported on plans by Michigan Technological University to remove the historic sawmill and pump house at MTU’s Ford Center at Alberta, ten miles south of L’Anse. Sited personally by Henry Ford on Plumbago Creek, the sawmill opened in 1936 during the heyday of his Northern Michigan Operations. The NMO mills at L’Anse, Pequaming, Big Bay, Kingsford, and Munising provided the 254 board feet of wood needed to manufacture each Ford automobile. Alberta was unique – envisioned by Henry Ford as a sustainable community, it was a social experiment and state-of-the-art demonstration sawmill.
When wood for autos became obsolete, the Ford Motor Co. donated the village, sawmill and 1,700 acres of forest to MTU in 1954 for educational purposes that continue to this day. MTU ceased sawmill operations in the 1970s, and the Ford Motor Co. funded renovations to open the sawmill as a museum in 1996. It was closed in 2017 due to safety concerns. The looming loss of the historic icon inspired local citizens, including people who lived in Alberta as children of Ford employees, to organize a committee under the Baraga County Historical Society, Inc. to restore and preserve the buildings.
The committee sponsored well-attended public events – a presentation by Keith Whitman, who is writing a book about Henry Ford’s affection for the Upper Peninsula and its people, and an open house at Alberta. It has also received extensive media coverage from WLUC TV6, the Daily Mining Gazette, and Copper Beacon in addition to the L’Anse Sentinel. Committee chair Michael DesRochers said, “We appreciate the invaluable support to publicize this special place. When we met with the State Historic Preservation Office, they were amazed to learn that the Alberta village, forest and sawmill remain intact – they said ‘You never see that.’”
DesRochers added his appreciation for MTU’s support, “We look forward to Alberta being placed on the National Registry, thanks to the application being prepared by MTU’s Social Sciences Department.”
The committee is reaching out to other interested organizations, and will meet soon with an executive from the Henry Ford Heritage Association and retired Ford historian Bob Kreipke. Wayne Abba, who helps the committee with outreach, said, “These invaluable contacts will help us attract the resources needed to make this important historical exhibit sustainable for future generations.”
The committee and other volunteers are finalizing plans to reenergize Alberta Fest, which promises to return bigger and better on June 24, featuring vintage vehicle displays.
The Ford Center and the BCHS Committee are collaborating on YouTube and UP media projects to make the public aware of progress. They are pleased to announce that Jackie Rowlison, the K-12 art teacher at L’Anse Area Schools, is repurposing the pump house as Alberta Artisan House. Offering art, homemade goods, ceramics, jewelry, home decor and more by herself, other local artists and her students, Rowlison will hold the grand opening on June 23. Artisan House will include space for interim exhibits from the sawmill as renovation and preservation work is accomplished.
The Committee to Preserve the Ford Alberta Sawmill was established by the Baraga County Historical Society, Inc. a 501(c)(3) organization, to preserve the historic sawmill and pump house for future generations.
