County note shelf
Arenac County Porch Notes
Stories, practical details, outdoor places, tax quirks, and local history connected to Arenac County. This shelf has 4 practical notes and 12 local stories.
16 notes
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- History and cultureThe Standish prison that was almost the home for Guantanamo's detaineesWhen Standish Maximum Correctional Facility was slated to close in 2009, the town briefly volunteered it to house detainees moved from Guantanamo Bay — a plan that fell apart, leaving the prison empty.
- History and cultureStandish's stone depot, built from fieldstones farmers hauled by wagonThe 1889 Michigan Central depot in Standish was built from fieldstones local farmers carted to the site by wagon, and now serves as the welcome center at the south end of the US-23 Heritage Route.
- History and cultureArenac: a county name a man invented from Latin and OjibweThe name 'Arenac' isn't old or native to the place — Henry Schoolcraft built it from the Latin word for sand and an Ojibwe ending, to mean 'a sandy place for good footing.'
- OutdoorsAu Gres: a French name for sandstone, and a walleye port on Saginaw BayAu Gres takes its name from French voyageurs who called the sandy point 'aux grès,' for sandstone — and today its river mouth is a busy walleye and perch port on Saginaw Bay.
- OutdoorsCharity Island: a 1857 lighthouse and a bird sanctuary out in Saginaw BayBig Charity Island sits alone in the middle of Saginaw Bay with an 1857 lighthouse, and most of it is now a national wildlife refuge where colonial waterbirds nest by the thousands.
- History and cultureOmer's old courthouse: built fast after a fire, lost the county seat, sold to the Masons for $500Omer rebuilt its courthouse in 1890 right after the first one burned, then lost the county seat to Standish a year later — so the empty building went to the Masons for $500 and still stands.
- History and cultureSaganing Eagles Landing: the tribe's casino on a sliver of restored landThe Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe opened Saganing Eagles Landing Casino near Standish on its Saganing Reservation in 2007, later adding a hotel and a marina on the bay.
- History and cultureOmer: one of Michigan's smallest cities, and its spring sucker runOmer is one of Michigan's smallest cities, with the Rifle River and Suckerfest at the center of local life.
- History and cultureStandish: the county seat and gateway to the Sunrise CoastStandish is Arenac County's county seat, crossroads, and practical gateway to the Sunrise Coast.
- Money and taxesNo city income tax in Standish, Au Gres, or OmerStandish, Au Gres, and Omer all skip the city income tax; the nearest city that levies one is Saginaw, whose 0.75% nonresident rate hits commuters.
- OutdoorsLiving on the Saginaw Bay shoreArenac County's Saginaw Bay shore offers Lake Huron frontage, boating, fishing, and shoreline questions buyers should check.
- OutdoorsInland Arenac: rivers, woods, and the RifleInland Arenac County is shaped by the Rifle, Au Gres, and Pine rivers, state forest, hunting, paddling, and rural space.
- Home and propertyOut in the township? Plan on a well and septic -- and check them before you buyArenac County townships are buyer-beware for private wells and septic systems at sale.
- OutdoorsSaginaw Bay's walleye: a comeback for the record booksSaginaw Bay's once-collapsed walleye fishery recovered so completely that it's now ranked among the best in the country, with millions of fish and a busy charter fleet.
- Money and taxesBuying in a township? Watch for special assessments on top of your taxesMichigan township buyers should check for special assessments that can add separate road, sewer, water, lighting, sidewalk, or drain charges.
- Money and taxesIn Michigan, you get two property-tax bills a year — not oneMost Michigan property owners get separate summer and winter tax bills, with local rules deciding what lands on each bill.