Station: Portage Lake/Portage River, MI, MI

The Portage River and Portage Lake extends from the Keweenaw Bay and heads west past Houghton and Hancock. Torch Bay branches off Portage Lake and heads north to Torch Lake, the home of Lake Linden, and to Hubbell and Mason.

The original Portage River ended northeast of Hancock.

Portage Lake was too shallow to allow large lake boats. Local mining and business interests formed the Portage Lake and River Improvement Company, which paid $30,000 to remove the sandbar at Keweenaw Bay and dredged to straighten the channel. The improved shipping lane opened in 1861. A toll was charged by the company to pay for the improvements. The Torch Bay branch was also improved.

In 1891, the U.S. Government purchased the improvement company and took over navigation in the area.

Notes

Time Line

1864. The Portage Lake and Lake Superior Ship Canal Company was organized to create a canal, 100 feet in width between the west end of the Portage River and Lake Superior, creating a through-route for shipping interests. It was completed in 1873. [HAL]