Congratulations, New Baltimore! You are the WCSX City of The Week! We are celebrating by highlighting 5 fun things to do in New Baltimore, Michigan, and giving you some interesting info on the history of New Baltimore. Scroll down to learn more!
New Baltimore History Fun Facts
Before the arrival of European settlers, indigenous tribes are known to have inhabited much of New Baltimore’s shoreline for thousands of years. In the 1800s, the land was reported to have many ancient burial mounds and man-made earthworks.
In the middle 1800s, New Baltimore took advantage of its waterfront location by operating port facilities, exporting agriculture, and manufacturing products. The area was known for the manufacturing of barrels, brooms, bricks, coffins, corsets, and creamery products. Lumber products and building materials were shipped by boat from the local mills.
New Baltimore was originally the Village of Ashley after Alfred Ashley. Mr. Ashley was a businessman from Mt. Clemons. In 1845, he platted the first 60 acres of land in what would become New Baltimore. He also built the first sawmill and dock.
Next up, we check in with Joel Morgan of City of The Week. He’s our man on the streets of New Baltimore!
Joel’s Notes in New Baltimore
It was a sunny winter morning visit to New Baltimore. I started by heading to Walter and Mary Burke Park to get a look at the tallest flag pole in Michigan. The massive American flag gently waving in the morning sun with the sparkling water of Anchor Bay behind it made for a spectacular sight. This awesome park is right downtown and is the location of many New Baltimore events such as Winterfest which will take place next weekend (Feb 21-24, 2024).
I noticed a few cars parked at the VFW Hall so I stopped. I met New Baltimore VFW Post 7573 members Denise, Joe, and Dawn who were preparing pierogis, paczki, and other great food for a Polish Dinner the post was hosting later in the evening. The VFW Hall’s kitchen smelled so good! Denise wanted me to thank Big Jim & Ryan, Donielle Flynn, and Screamin’ Scott for the tickets that she won to Brett Michaels last summer and to let everyone know that she had a BLAST!
Denise won Brett Michaels tix from Big Jim’s House last Summer! Joe and Dawn at the New Baltimore VFW Hall. Joel found them in the VFW Hall Kitchen preparing a giant Polish Dinner feast for the members later that night! Thanks to all our Veterans!
A Bit of Shopping in New Baltimore
The New Baltimore Trade Center is a vendor booth-type mall that always has cool stuff and cool people. They were having a Reptile Show so I had to check it out! I met some Herpetologists (reptile experts) like Matt from Raising Reptiles and Gabriel from Rock’in Retics & Reptiles. There were a few reptiles on display, but it was mainly reptile-related stuff like reptile food (crickets & mealworms Yum!), warm lights, habitat stuff, and reptile-related wearables.
A couple of reptiles are on display at the Reptile Show inside the New Baltimore Trade Center, New Baltimore, Michigan. They call themselves “The Mini-mall with it all.” The venue is pet (and reptile) friendly.
New Baltimore is also home to Ditto Consignment & Design, a very cool store! You can find THOUSANDS of vintage & antique Art Deco, Tiki Style, Mid Century, Kitsch, Boat/Lake style items. Customers come from all over to shop at Ditto Consignment & Design. There is so much there to see… you have to explore it! Owner Nancy is a lifelong Eastsider who is like an Antiques Roadshow Expert as well as having the distinction of attending more rock concerts than anyone else I’ve ever met!
Nancy and Theresa are long-time WCSX Classic Rockers at Ditto Consignment and Design in New Baltimore! There are thousands of awesome, collectible, and vintage artifacts to discover there! Looks like Nancy & Theresa found a cool Rolling Stone logo circa 1972!
5 Fun Things To Do In New Baltimore
The Tallest Flag Pole in the State
The tallest flag pole in the state is in New Baltimore. The flagpole stands at 160 feet tall on the shores of Anchor Bay at Walter and Mary Burke Park. It was installed in 2016 at the cost of $107,000 raised by the New Baltimore Lion’s Club. Being 160 feet tall, it requires nearly 80 tons of concrete in a foundation 7 feet in diameter by 30 feet deep. The three lights shine at 23,000 luminaries each and a red solar navigational light at the top allows the 30×60 foot flag flying above to be seen at night and be visible for several miles.
5 fun things to do in New Baltimore calls for a trip to Anchor Bay. Nice playscapes for the kids, beautiful walking trails, and the tallest flag pole in Michigan standing 160 feet in the air.
The flag makes for a beautiful view of Anchor Bay. Nice playgrounds and walking trails surround the flag at Walter and Mary Burke Park.
