The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

EXPLANATION OF PLACE NAME: COMMERCE TOWNSHIP

THE TOWN IN WHICH I LIVE IS PART OF COMMERCE TOWNSHIP.
A SMALL TRIBUTARY OF THE ROUGE RIVER RUNS THROUGH COMMERCE,
ON WHICH A MILL WAS BUILT IN THE 1800'S. THE TOWNSHIP
WAS NAMED COMMERCE IN THE BELIEF OR HOPE THAT THE MILL AND
THE RIVER WOULD MAKE IT A PLACE FOR COMMERCE.

Submitter comment: THIS IS VERY IRONIC BECAUSE IT BECAME A RESORT TOWN AND
IS NOW A SLEEPY SUBURB, RATHER THAN A BUSTLING PLACE OF
COMMERCE AND TRADE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNION LAKE

Date learned: 09-00-1984