Gladstone is a city in Delta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. First settled in 1877, Gladstone’s original name was Saunders Point. The population was 5,032 at the 2000 census.

U.S. Routes 2 and 41 run concurrently through the city, connecting with Escanaba, nine miles to the south. US 41 runs north to Marquette and US 2 runs east to Manistique. M-35 runs northwest 52 miles to Gwinn and merges with US 2/US 41 south to Escanaba.

Gladstone is often referred to as “The Year Round Playground” because of its myriad of parks and activities. Gladstone’s main park is Van Cleve, which hosts a playground (Kid’s Kingdom), a skateboarding park, a beach and boardwalk, as well as a harbor with boat ramps.

Another Gladstone attraction is the Gladstone Sports Park, which hosts skiing and snowboarding runs and a tubing facility. The Park itself is often rented out for other activities, including wedding receptions, and high school graduation parties.

Gladstone also hosts the Days River Trails, which are hiked and biked in the spring, summer, and fall. In the winter, these trails are used primarily for cross-country skiing.

Until 2002, Gladstone was the first stoplight a driver would have to encounter on US-2. If this driver had been coming from I-75, Gladstone would be the First stop light since Florida. This distinction is now held by Manistique, MI.

Because of its natural port and its access to iron ore, Henry Ford at one time considered Gladstone as a spot for his first automotive plant.

Gladstone is mentioned in the now canceled Television Program, Capitol Critters. In the third episode, “The Rat To Bear Arms”, Trixie talks about spending her childhood living on the shores of Lake Michigan. She then states: “What I wouldn’t give to be back eating those Gladstone perch!”

Gladstone is sometimes referred to as “Happy Rock” or “Gay Pebble” by its residents, both plays on the town’s actual name.

The Gladstone High School Track team currently holds the record in the state of Michigan for most consecutive Division 1 championships with 6.

History

Throughout the early 19th century, the area where Gladstone exists was largely uninhabited other than the occasional trapper or fisherman. Gladstone was first settled in 1859 when the Hamilton Corporation of Fayette, MI began using it as a shipping point for selling and transporting of their iron ore.

The town was originally named Saunder’s Point after the Hamilton Company’s then-president, David Saunders. Today, Saunder’s Point still exists as a small peninsula east of Gladstone’s city park system, located in Little Bay De Noc.

Expanding beyond its iron ore roots into a shipping point for lumber, coal, and copper during the American civil war, throughout the 1860s and 1870’s, Saunder’s Point grew into a busy port.

Change of Name

In 1876, the Hamilton Corporation had to move its operations when their mine dried up. The new mine location, further south, meant shipping their ore through the Escanaba port. Arthur Delano, the president of Soo Line Railroad, had commissioned a train depot built in Saunder’s Point during the previous winter to start land shipping for the Hamilton Corporation. However, since this was no longer possible, Delano began commissioning local industries.

Geography

The city is on a small projection into the Little Bay de Noc, which opens onto Green Bay on Lake Michigan.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20 km2), of which, 5.0 square miles (13 km2) of it is land and 2.9 square miles (7.5 km2) of it (37.14%) is water.

Climate

Due to the city’s close proximity to Lake Michigan, Gladstone consistently has high humidity and experiences four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid, with average high temperatures in the mid 80’s and average lows in the mid 60’s. Winters are cold, snowy and windy with temperatures often below freezing. Spring and Fall are mild with low humidity. According to the National Weather Service, Gladstone’s record low comes in at -60 on January 7, 1896. To this day, this storm is referred to by Gladstone residents as “les morte a doigts,” since so many of the city’s residents lost fingers due to frostbite.

Neighborhoods

Although Gladstone is a relatively small city, it has several distinct sections: Downtown (which hosts most of the local businesses), The Buckeye (located on the western side of the city, bordering the Brampton, MI township), and the Bluff (which hosts most of the new residential expansion, as well as Gladstone High School).

Culture
Tourism and Parks

Gladstone is often referred to as “The Year Round Playground” because of its myriad of parks and activities. Gladstone’s main park is Van Cleve, which hosts a playground (Kid’s Kingdom), a skateboarding park, a beach and boardwalk, as well as a harbor with boat ramps.

Another Gladstone attraction is the Gladstone Sports Park, which hosts skiing and snowboarding runs and a tubing facility. The Park itself is often rented out for other activities, including wedding receptions, and high school graduation parties.

Gladstone also hosts the Days River Trails, which are hiked and biked in the spring, summer, and fall. In the winter, these trails are used primarily for cross-country skiing.

Economy

Despite economic troubles in the region, Gladstone is the home of many thriving businesses including Marble Arms, Besse Forest Products, VanAire Inc, Independent Machine Co., Pardon Inc., Bramco Containers, Hoeghe Pet Caskets, Brampton Bike and Ski, Bay de Noc Lure Company (makers of the “Swedish Pimple” and “Do-Jigger”), Main Street Pizza, The Dairy Flo, and Front Row Video. Many of Gladstone’s residents also find work in Escanaba, particularly with one of the New Page Corporation’s mills, which is the area’s largest employer.