North Unity, Michigan

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North Unity was a small settlement on Good Harbor Bay. It was first settled in the 1855 by Bohemian immigrants who came up the shore of Lake Michigan from Chicago to scout for a suitable place to start a settlement. The new settlers lived the first few years in a barracks that was 150 feet long and 20 feet wide with rooms partitioned off for each family. As more and more settlers arrived the village began to thrive. There was soon a schoolhouse, a sawmill and a store. In 1859 the town had a post office and gristmill. In 1871 the village was destroyed by a fire and the villagers moved inland to Shalda Corners. St. Joseph ‘s Catholic Church was built in 1888 and blessed by the first Bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Today nothing more remains of North Unity than St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at the intersection of S. Bohemian Road (County Road 669) and M-22.

Leelanau on Location

5 replies
  1. Christine
    Christine says:

    Does anyone have information about the immigrants that settled here? I know my relatives were some of them. Their last names were Houdek and Seelig.

  2. ootah
    ootah says:

    The North Unity School House, 1.5 miles south of the orriginal N. Unity Settlement remains and has been restored. It is near Narada Lake, and is visible from M-22.

  3. Shauna
    Shauna says:

    Where can I find the documents that prove this information? I am doing research on the area and would love the opportunity to see where this information originated.

    Thank you,
    Shauna Quick

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