PICKFORD

Region: Les Cheneaux Islands, Drummond Island & the St. Mary's River

The eastern Upper Peninsula has some outstanding farmland. Pickford, on M-129 between Cedarville and Sault Ste. Marie, is an important agricultural center. It was first settled by Euro-Americans in 1877, largely by Scots-Irish and English Canadians who wanted to farm.
Today hay is one of the area's most important crops. It's too cold here to grow corn, but the weather and soil are right for hay. Summers are hot, followed by dry days to cure the hay. There's enough year-round precipitation to support the perennial grasses and legumes that comprise hay. Hay is fed to cattle, horses, and many other animals when pasture is not available due to winter, drought, or other reasons.

Many Pickford farmers raise hay to feed Mackinac Island's horses. (The island's horses themselves spend winters in pasture just west of Pickford.) Some farmers truck square or round hay bales to racetracks in Kentucky and Florida. Everybody in Pickford likes to mention the time a buyer for the Queen's stable came to Pickford to buy hay.

Two attractions in downtown Pickford:
♦ Watson's Shoe Store. (906-647-5255), 120 E. Main. Men's work books are the big attraction. Limited women's selection. In same space with Wilderness Treasures. Open Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30, to 5 Sat.
♦ Main Street Café. (906-647-2000),165 E. Main east of M-129. Small-town café with big Friday and Saturday fish fries (4-5 kinds including local whitefish). Summer hours: Tues-Sat 7-7, Mon 7-2. Call for off-season hours, open Sun.

Return to Les Cheneaux Islands, Drummond Island & the St. Mary's River

PLACES AROUND PICKFORD TO

Eat Sleep Camp