Burt Lake Burn-Out: The Shocking & Cruel Removal of Indians, 1908

As beautiful as Indian River and Burt Lake are, a shameful thing happened there in 1900: The Burt Lake Burn-Out.

It was on the morning of October 5th when a group of Cheboygan men arrived at Burt Lake's Indian Village. They stopped at the settlement in order to get the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians to leave their homes and properties.

John Walter McGinn was the instigator, and claimed he owned the land and needed to get everyone off his property. He said he owned it through his 'questionable' purchases of supposed delinquent back taxes. Aided by the sheriff, the men took the families' possessions and set them out in front of the cabins.....then McGinn set the houses on fire, burning everything the Indians owned. This regrettable act has been forever named the “Burt Lake Burn-Out”.

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History has unfortunately labeled this cowardly event as "Legalized Arson" among a few other choice names.

Even though the stink of this event still lingers, Burt Lake and Indian River are, to this day, favorite destination for vacationing Michiganders. I remember swimming in the lake and could go wayyy out there before it got up to your chest. It can get a little freaky when you turn around and can barely see the shore.

Scroll down and see a handful of old photos of the Burt Lake area.....