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A 2003 photo of the
general store at Sparr. [Dale Berry] |
Sparr, Michigan was created around 1913 with the building of the eastern
extension of the Boyne City, Gaylord and Alpena Railroad. It was
located about five miles east of Gaylord and was named after Phillip Sparr
who settled in the area in 1873. According to Ghost Towns of
Michigan Vol. II, the railroad had a switch yard at the town for loading
32" drums of "chemical wood" which was used to make
alcohol, turpentine and other wood by-products at a plant in
Gaylord. Logging in the area was performed by Salling Hansen Lumber
Company at "Camp 54". Sparr had a saw mill and blacksmith
shop and saloon. The Sparr area also had potato farms, loading 156
car loads per year in the early 1930's. Sparr was occasionally used
as a meeting point for trains of the BCG&A. The small town began
its decline in the early 1930's with the closure of the BCG&A. Bibliography.
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