Sites
Blendon Landing (20OT73)
In the mid-nineteenth century a site called Blendon Landing was located
in Allendale, Michigan (Ottawa County) on the Grand River. Blendon was
organized in 1854 and named for the Blendon Lumber Company.
A logging train hauled timber seven miles from the pine forest to the landing for shipping. White pine and hardwoods were transported from this location and used to manufacture ships, railroad cars and guns.
Blendon's sawmill, logging operations and shipyard sustained a community of about 200 people in the early 1860s. The sawmill operated between 1857 and 1864. Approximately 35 individuals worked in the mill and shipyard. The sawmill produced 30 million board feet/year. The entire cut for a year of some National Forests. The Blendon Landing sawmill fed the desire for timber as the settlement of the area west of the Mississippi began.
The shipyard functioned from 1861 - 1864. The Eveline was built in 1863. The George W. Westcott was built in 1863, refit at Blendon Landing in 1864, and dismantled in 1918. The Major Anderson was built in 1861 and sank in 1864. The Lumberman was built in 1862 and sank near Milwaukee in 1893.
The sawmill and some other buildings burned in 1864 and by 1870 the railroad was abandoned. Some of Blendon Landing's buildings were moved to other locations in the area. By 1912, Blendon was deserted.
In 1965, Grand Valley State College professor Richard E. Flanders began excavating the Blendon Landing site as part of the university's archaeology program, until the 1980s. In the 1990s & 2010, Grand Valley State University professor Janet G. Brashler continued surveying & excavating the Blendon Landing site. Blendon Landing is owned by the Grand Valley State University Club.
Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State
Registered Local Site No. 1743
Property of the State of Michigan, 1990
A logging train hauled timber seven miles from the pine forest to the landing for shipping. White pine and hardwoods were transported from this location and used to manufacture ships, railroad cars and guns.
Blendon's sawmill, logging operations and shipyard sustained a community of about 200 people in the early 1860s. The sawmill operated between 1857 and 1864. Approximately 35 individuals worked in the mill and shipyard. The sawmill produced 30 million board feet/year. The entire cut for a year of some National Forests. The Blendon Landing sawmill fed the desire for timber as the settlement of the area west of the Mississippi began.
The shipyard functioned from 1861 - 1864. The Eveline was built in 1863. The George W. Westcott was built in 1863, refit at Blendon Landing in 1864, and dismantled in 1918. The Major Anderson was built in 1861 and sank in 1864. The Lumberman was built in 1862 and sank near Milwaukee in 1893.
The sawmill and some other buildings burned in 1864 and by 1870 the railroad was abandoned. Some of Blendon Landing's buildings were moved to other locations in the area. By 1912, Blendon was deserted.
In 1965, Grand Valley State College professor Richard E. Flanders began excavating the Blendon Landing site as part of the university's archaeology program, until the 1980s. In the 1990s & 2010, Grand Valley State University professor Janet G. Brashler continued surveying & excavating the Blendon Landing site. Blendon Landing is owned by the Grand Valley State University Club.
Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State
Registered Local Site No. 1743
Property of the State of Michigan, 1990
Documents
1876 Historical Atlas of the Counties of Ottawa and Kent
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1969 Paper on Blendon Landing
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1980s Field Work Crew
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1980s Field Work Crew
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1980s Field Work Crew
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1980s Fieldwork Crew
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1980s Landscape of Blendon Landing
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1980s Landscape View from North of Blendon Landing
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1980s Landscape View from Southwest of Blendon Landing
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1982 Map of Blendon Landing
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1985 Excavation photo
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1985 Excavation photo
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1985 Excavation photo
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1985 Excavation photo
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1987 Public Archaeology
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1987 Public Archaeology
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1987 Public Archaeology
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1987 Public Archaeology
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1987 Public Archaeology
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2004 Allendale Historical Recognition Plan
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Anthropology Lab
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Anthropology Lab
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Anthropology Lab
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Anthropology Lab
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Anthropology Lab
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April 07, 1999 - State Archaeological Site File
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Blacksmith Shop
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Blendon Landing 1969 USGS Quad Map
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Blendon Landing Ceramics by Diane Adams
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Crew 2010
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Blendon Landing Excavation Map
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Blendon Landing Excerpt
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Blendon Landing Hotel
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Blendon Landing Hotel, 1965
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Blendon Landing Landscape 2010
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Blendon Landing Landscape 2010
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Blendon Landing Landscape 2010
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Blendon Landing Landscape 2010
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Blendon Landing Landscape 2010
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Blendon Landing Landscape 2010
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Blendon Landing Map by Mrs. A.V. Skinner
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Blendon Landing Paper by Mary Bradley
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Blendon Landing Paper by Susan V. Keeler
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Blendon Landing Sign
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Blendon Landing Soils Map
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Blendon Saw Mill Machinery For Sale
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Blendon Shipbuilding 1861
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Blendon Township Information
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Blendon Township Information
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Bottle Glass
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Brick and Mortar artifacts
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Bridge Street Ferry
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Bustling era of sawmills ends as 20th Century begins
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Ceramic Items
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Charcoal
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Children's Items
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Clear Glass
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Clothing Items
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Decorative Ceramic Items
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Decorative Ceramics
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Dr. Richard E. Flanders
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Dr. Richard E. Flanders article in the Ottawa Advance, November 30, 1982
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Draft Copy of Historical Marker Sign
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Earthenware Ceramics
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Field Crew
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Field Crew
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Field Crew
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Field Crew
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Field Crew
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Field Crew
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Flanders Excavation Crew
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Flanders Site Map
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General Litchfield
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Glass Items
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Grand Rapids Press Procter & Gamble article, 1985
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Grand River Map
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Grand Valley State University's
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Great Lakes Informant, Michigan History Division, Series 2, Number 8
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GVSU Archaeological Site Report Form for Blendon Landing
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Hackley & Hume lumber schooner Thomas Hume
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Historic Railroad ties
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Household Goods
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Industrial Goods
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John Ball
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Kaolin Pipe Fragments
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Kaolin Pipe Fragments
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Kaolin Pipe Items
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Letters from Sherry Schouw and Dr. Flanders, 1982
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Lithic Items
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Log House of Peter Elenbaas in Blendon Township
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Logging Railroads
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Logging Railroads in Ottawa County, Michigan Map
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Map of Georgetown Township, 1860s
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Map of local landings
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Metal artifacts
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Metal artifacts
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Michigan Archaeology Day, October 2, 2010
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Michigan History Division, Great Lakes Informant, 1975
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Nails, Mortar, & Ceramic artifacts
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Our Troubled Ravine Sanctuary, by Patricia Clark
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Public Archaeology
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Research at Blendon Landing
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Road to Blendon Landing
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Satellite Map of the Blendon Landing site
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Stoneware Ceramic Items
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The Grand River
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The Lumberman
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The Lumberman
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The Lumberman
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The Lumberman
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The Railroad
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The Yesterdays of Grand Rapids
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Thomas Hume ship
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Township Map
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Township Map
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Trail to Blendon Landing
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Trail to Blendon Landing
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Trail to Blendon Landing
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Trail to Blendon Landing
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Trail to Blendon Landing
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U.S. Geological Survey Map
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Unique artifacts
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Utility Goods
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Why Settle Here?
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Zoning Map of Allendale Township
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