History of the pre-European indigenous people
Some artifacts and place names such as “Bwansibi” (Sioux River) indicating the presence of indigenous peoples have been found along the shore of Lake Superior and other locations in Bayview.
Ongoing research is being done to identify locations that may have been villages or trading sites in Bayview
Bayviews's History from European arrival to present
Artifacts of the Past
Many artifacts have been found along the lake shore area suggesting that there may have been fur trading post activity.
Houghton Village was developed in the 1880s for the workers of the brownstone quarries. This included a boarding house, post office and homes. The school and the depot still exist today.
By 1890, immigrants from Finland arrived and developed a settlement west of the Sioux River. Today, remnants of the Finn settlement remain and its location is identified by a historical markers located at the north end of Big Rock Road and Friendly Valley Road.
Though we know a lot about Bayview, much remains unknown. Members of the BHC are actively looking for information on Bayview’s history with a goal of producing a complete history of this area and offering educational programs in the restored depot.
