Once Prosperous, Now a Shadow Town: Prescott, Michigan

"SHADOW TOWN: A town that was once a growing and prosperous community, but thanks to unforeseen circumstances is now a shadow of its former self."

Prescott began in 1879 as a railroad encampment for the Tawas and Bay County Railroad. It was originally the Lake Huron and Southwestern Railroad until it was purchased that year by C. H. Prescott, who immediately made it into a settlement called 'Prescott's Camp Six'. In 1882, the name was chopped to simply 'Prescott'.

Tragedy struck in 1895 when summertime fires blazed in the northwest section of town. Two lumber camps were completely burned, a couple of residents lost their barns, and a good handful of cattle were lost as well. The fire was so intense, the railroad ties were burned and the rails were warped beyond use...no rail traffic could come through. The loss was estimated at over $15,000 dollars ($561,000 in 2024 economy).

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One of Prescott's main sources of income came from beets. In the summer of 1903, the Tawas Sugar Company transported a train load of people to Prescott in order to work in the beet fields. Everyone – men, women, children, of all ages came to labor in the hot sun – approximately 200 of them.

Prescott was incorporated as a village in 1947.
The 2010 census showed only 266 residents.

It is not considered a ghost town – more of a 'shadow town' – a shadow of what it once was, with a good number of old business buildings still standing and empty homes. Today, Prescott hangs in there with its small population. There is no small town restaurant or cafe' that I could see, which was disappointing.

The gallery below shows some vintage photos of Prescott as well as a few current ones with a few abandoned shops and buildings.