This continues a series adapted from the book, “A Port Oneida Collection,” Volume 1 of the twopart set, “Oral History, Photographs, and Maps from the Sleeping Bear Region,” produced by Tom Van Zoeren in partnership with Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. Here we have a look at the old Millington Farm, which was along M-22 a mile north of Westman Road:
You’ve likely driven by this old Port Oneida farm site many times without noticing the remaining signs of a farm now long-abandoned. The Millington Farm stood on the west side of M-22, .6 mile south of the upper end of Thoreson Road. You can still pick out the old apple orchard and the big sugar maple that stood near the house. (The gnarly old sentinel now measures 12’ around the trunk.)
According to grandson Alvin Millington, Alfred Millington got away from late-1800’s England by going to work on a sailing vessel, and jumping ship in Glen Haven. There he went to work for D.H. Day while establishing his own farm in Port Oneida. According to Laura Basch, the Millington Farm had a nice herd of Guernsey cows—”They were considered some of the best cows around.” Mr. Millington delivered his milk around Glen Arbor.
