MICHIGAN GHOST TOWN: The Pie-shaped Village That Lasted Only Seven Years

The non-existent town of Hubbard in Midland County is reportedly the only Michigan village that was "laid out in pie-shaped lots around a circle" (according to the book 'Michigan Ghost Towns of the Lower Peninsula'). The plots were specifically laid out in the form of a huge pie with many slices, each being a hunk of land for business owners and prospective residents. To see what this village looked like back in the 1890's, go to the Larkin Township web page and see the pie-wedge plots as depicted in an 1892 map by CLICKING HERE.

This short-live village only lasted 7 years...it was platted in 1892, made it's mark as a lumber town, and was a ghost town by 1899. It's now mostly farmland.

For a town that lasted roughly less than seven years, it had a blacksmith shop, grocery store, hotel, office building, post office, saloon and school...and every one of 'em is dust in the wind.

The town disintegrated thanks to the Grand Rapids lumber company, who fulfilled their agreement to buy lumber, then discontinued their business contact with Hubbard. The 12-mile railroad between Midland and Hubbard was torn up in 1899, as officials said it had "outlived it's usefulness" of hauling lumber. This heralded the end of Hubbard.

The post office finally shut down in 1918.

Nowadays, no sign of Hubbard exists, as it never really had a chance to fulfill the townspeople's dream of a pie-shaped community with a park in the center circle where neighbors could congregate and keep each other company. But you can definitely tell where it was. 

It's known today as "Section 12" of Larkin Township in Midland County...if you want to roadtrip there, you can drive around "Hubbard" by beginning at the intersection of N. Waldo Road and E. Parrish Road. Head east on Parrish until you reach N. Mid-Bay County Line Road. Turn left until you come to Hubbard Road, which only goes left. If you turn down Hubbard, it'll take you right to the center of the circle (N. Ehlers Road), now a lonely intersection (SEE PHOTOS ABOVE).

Take a look at the photo gallery above to see what it looks like today. You can tell from the satellite photos that there was definitely some pie-shaped plots! The circle of land that was surrounded by the pie-wedge-plots is almost undecipherable, but you can see where it used to be.

If you head north on a roadtrip this year, make a detour and check out the site of this long-gone Michigan lumber town!