In this episode of End of the Road in Michigan, we spotlight the remarkable story of Carl Heisterman, a Prussian immigrant who made a lasting mark on the remote islands of Saginaw Bay.

From his arrival in Michigan to his entrepreneurial ventures and influence in the region, Heisterman’s life offers a glimpse into the immigrant experience and the rugged independence that helped shape Michigan’s Thumb coast. Recorded straight from Thumbwind’s archives, this story connects the dots between personal history and place in a part of the state often overlooked.

We found Carl Heisterman’s life, a riveting story of a Prussian translator who shaped Michigan’s early days. From battlefields, founder of early Bay Port and political arenas, his journey is an amazing story of the diverse fabric of 19th-century America.

A production of Thumbwind Publications