The Michigan Shadow Town of Clifford, Lapeer County: 1860s-2020s

Michigan's thumb has plenty of small towns, ghost towns and historic villages. Here we go with another one.

Clifford sits in the Lapeer County township of Burlington. In the 1860s, travelers stumbled across the dirt crossroads that would later become the hub of town. After seeing a spurt of growth, it was decided that the community needed a name. So, it was named after the first baby born in the area, Clifford Lyman.

Around 1880, two railroads were laid that came through town: the Port Huron & Northwestern Railroad and the Pontiac, Oxford & Port Austin Railroad.....and with those, the town began to prosper.

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Soon, the town of Clifford boasted three blacksmiths, depot, two drug stores, two elevators, furniture store, four general stores, grist mill, hardware store, two harness shops, two hotels, meat shop, millinery store, post office, two sawmills, two shoe shops, three wagon shops, and other businesses. According to Clifford's web page, "The modern-day village is much smaller than the original version. While the Baptist and Catholic churches are still here; we only boast a post office, a restaurant, a car wash, laundry mat, one factory, an exercise facility, a fire hall and the village hall.  The schoolhouse is now a library with a room available for rent.  There is a very nice park with skate park and playground equipment.  Only one of the elevators still stands, due to recent renovations."

There are lots to see in Michigan's thumb...and Clifford is one of them. Scroll down a way to see images of the current-day Clifford along with a few old photographs.