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Stagecoach
and rail lines soon followed and in 1848, the Grand Old City was platted
and named for the Potawatomi Indian word meaning, "foraging ground".
Several interesting books chronicling our City's history have been
written and are available on loan from the Dowagiac District Library.
Windows to the Past, Volumes I & II are available for purchase
exclusively through the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce's Whistlestop
Gift Shop in the restored train depot.
The City's logo says it all…..Creating Tomorrow.
Dowagiac's history brings great pride to its citizens. However,
taking a lesson from our forefathers, we will not rely on yesterday's
successes for our city's future. We will harness today's energy
while Creating Tomorrow.
So what are we creating? Tomorrow's hope, tomorrow's leaders, tomorrow's
history.
| Important
Dates in Dowagiac's History |
| 1821 |
— Cass County Established |
| 1831 |
— William Renesten established
the first mill in Dowagiac |
| 1833 |
— Dowagiac Creek Dam Built,
Mill Pond created |
| 1836 |
— Stagecoach route established
through the City |
| 1848 |
— Area platted as City of
Dowagiac
— First school established, the first of its kind west
of Detroit
— Railroad lines established |
| 1859 |
— Philo Beckwith started
Round Oak Stove Company
— Judd Lumber started, now the oldest lumber company in
the state |
| 1898 |
— James Heddon started Heddon
Lures
— Hospital Built |
| 1903 |
— Depot Built |
| 1922 |
— Caruso's Candy Kitchen
opened and still in operation |
| 1964 |
— Southwestern Michigan
College Built |
| 1969 |
— Jessco manufacturing
plant established, known today as Ameriwood Industries |
| 1970 |
— NiDow Industrial Park
established in Dowagiac, became Dowagiac Industrial Park in
1988 |
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