Potluck Dinner and a Program (Antrim County Iron Works)

Potluck dinner at 6 pm.  Admission:  a dish to pass
Antrim County Iron Works
Presenter:  Herb Tipton, member of the Mancelona Historical Society.
In 1882, an organization by the name of "John Otis & Company" built a large charcoal furnace in Antrim County.  The company also platted a town around the furnace, naming it "Furnaceville."  Soon after this, the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad built a station of the town.  The furnace flourished, and in 1886 a group of businessmen from Grand Rapids bought out the company, and renamed the company Antrim Iron Works and the town Antrim.  A large blast furnace and iron works was built on the site and the new company began doing business.  Eventually the town name of Antrim was changed to Mancelona.