Eschol: The Michigan Village That Doesn’t Exist

Don’t bother trying to find what's left of this Michigan ghost town; chances are, you’ll never find anything.

The village of Eschol was once upon a time located in St. Joseph County, in what is now known as Lockport Township. There are other sites who claim the township was Constantine or Fabius, but the exact location was approximately two miles south of Three Rivers. Eschol was located on the southeast side of the St. Joseph River, just across the bridge, where a mill once stood.

Eschol only lasted seven years: 1833 to 1840. Platted in 1833, it had plenty of streets: Cass, Fayette, LaGrange, Nottawa, Short and Water, all ran east-to-west. Lake, Pigeon and St. Joseph streets ran north-to-south. What's left of this village? Not much. But some say if you brave the underbrush you can find old rocks & stones that were from the old mill, a few old wooden cottage posts and lilac bushes that were planted in the 1830s. Some old apple trees that were planted at the same time are still there as well. You can find a lilac bush on the high hillside that overlooks the Prairie River. Good luck if you attempt a search.

Get our free mobile app

Benjamin and Martha King were the first settlers to arrive in 1832. The following year, the village was platted by Charles Fitch and Asa Wetherbee based on an earlier survey by John Barry.

So what happened to the town?
In 1832 a dam was constructed across Hog Creek (now known as Prairie River). According to hmdb.org, "The mill race made an island of about sixty acres of highland, on which stood the hamlet of Eschol. Where the race entered the St. Joseph (River), Judge Fitch installed a busy water wheel to drive a sawmill, later a shingle mill and two run of small gristing stones."

The village of Eschol was prospering and gave the neighboring Three Rivers a run for its money. But then, in 1840, the dam collapsed, businesses were abandoned, and the townsfolk deserted. No one ever had the ambition to rebuild the dam and Eschol became a forgotten village - and footnote - in Michigan history.

Eschol is not totally forgotten...it has its own stone marker near Three Rivers on Constantine Road just a few feet north of Shorewood Drive. It reads: “Pioneer Village Platted 1833 - Erected by Abiel Fellows Chapter D.A.R. Oct. 1925.”

The site stands on what is now the Frank Fitch farm, south of Three Rivers. Check out some photos by scrolling down.