Saginaw boasts a rich and colorful history. After the early explorers and small Native American villages came the lumbermen, shanty boys, and a bustling commercial center. Later the coal, salt, and sugar beet industries replaced lumbering in the economy. Many of Saginaw's businesses were known worldwide and are still important after more than 100 years. Saginaw was home to a bevy of famous and infamous characters. Among the early ruffians were Fabian Fournier (Saginaw's Paul Bunyan), Silver Jack Driscoll, and the Opera House Rogue, Warren Bordwell. Saginaw's more illustrious residents include 'King Clothier,' Little Jake Seligman, educator Alice Freeman Palmer, boxer George 'Kid' Lavigne, and many others. Many of the postcards in this book represent the businesses and personalities that made Saginaw's distinctive character what it is today.
