Ganges Township in Allegan County, Michigan has a rich and storied past dating back to the mid-19th century. From early settlements and sawmills to modern community life, discover the history that shaped our township.
Plummerville was founded in 1846 as a joint effort by Benjamin Plummer and Orlando Weed. A sawmill was set up near the creek, and a tannery was soon flourishing nearby. Mr. Plummer opened a store, and a pier measuring approximately 400 feet long was built. The sawmill operated until 1876. When operations ceased, most of the buildings were moved or torn down, and eventually the pier was washed away.
Pier Cove was laid out by Deacon Sutherland in 1851 as a platted town in Allegan County. A steam sawmill and wood shop were constructed. The wood shop was later made into a grist mill. Two piers, each measuring approximately 323 feet, were built. This area was thought of as a village, boasting about twenty families, four stores, a tavern, post office, grist mill, and three hotels. As the cord wood supply was depleted, the fire of 1871 occurred, and the railroad came to Fennville, the Village of Pier Cove diminished in population and importance. One pier remained in service into 1919. Both piers were destroyed by storms in the 1900s and were not rebuilt.
Ganges, located at the corners of 122nd Avenue and 68th Street, was formerly known as the “Johnson corners.” Mr. A. A. Johnson owned the land and had a blacksmith shop and later a general store. By 1916, Fred and William Haile purchased some property from Johnson and established a receiving station. They built a large garage with an open second floor used for community social gatherings and political meetings, known today as the Plummer Bros. Garage.
In 1901 the Ganges Canning & Packing Company began business. Although the company reported “fairly successful” years, in 1903 the local banks foreclosed on the cannery. By 1905, the machinery was sold and the building was transformed into a mint processing distillery.
Schools in the area began in April of 1847, with the first classrooms in the home of James Wadsworth. Between 1847 and 1880, ten school districts were organized. A “unit school system” was approved by voters in 1912 but lasted only two years. From 1960 to 1963, all districts except the Glenn School were annexed into the Fennville school system.
The Ganges Baptist Church held its first meetings in the Lewis School and built its own building in 1880. The Ganges Methodist Church was established around 1840 and constructed a building at Pier Cove in 1867. After a fire destroyed the wooden church in 1929, a new building was dedicated in 1931. The Vendanta Society came to the area in 1969, establishing a retreat and monastery, drawn partially by the name Ganges.
Ganges Township today is a steadily growing and changing community. Although farming still supplies a base to the area, an extensive amount of farmland has been converted to residential uses. The township has grown to include a public school, two fire stations, three general stores, a winery, four cemeteries, and many other small businesses. Both the Allegan County and Ganges Township parks provide lake recreational uses for residents and visitors.
This information was excerpted from the Ganges Township Land Use Plan (2012).