This is part of a map from Atlas of the State of Michigan by Alexander Winchell published in 1873. This map shows the Lake Michigan shoreline between southern Benzie County and northern Manistee County.
In 1873, the only piers identified in this entire area are the Huntington Pier south of Arcadia and Turner’s Pier in Pierport.
Construction on Arcadia’s pier would begin in 1880. Arcadia’s safe harbor opened in 1893.
Bridge Pier at Pierport
Note the small railroad engine pulling cars. This was the western end of
the Bear Lake and
Eastern Railroad. At one point, Pierport had two
bridge piers extending into Lake Michigan.
The first one was built in
1866 by the Turnersport Pier Co. The second one, probably the
one shown
above, was built in 1879 by the Bear Lake Pier Co.
(Arcadia
Area Historical Society)
Bridge Pier Probably in Arcadia after 1880
Unlike Pierport, Arcadia’s railroad did not extend onto its pier, but as
the two tracks in this photo
indicate, a wagon or carriage of some kind was used to haul goods to and
from the end of the pier.
(Arcadia Area Historical Society)
Burnham,
north of Arcadia
This is part of a plat map of Manistee County published in 1903
showing the Lake Michigan shoreline for Arcadia Township. Note the town
of Burnham to the north. Founded in 1882, Burnham had a bridge pier used
primarily to haul lumber from the Burnham Wood & Pier Co. sawmill.
The Burnham pier is not shown in the 1903 map. The Burnham Wood & Pier Co. closed around 1895. It is likely that the pier was abandoned, which led to its rapid deterioration and destruction.
The map shows Arcadia’s safe harbor was open. By this time its bridge pier had disappeared too.