Environment
Decades change landscape as town dies, lake moves
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By EVAN KREAGER
Capital News Service
Buried under huge, rolling sand dunes on Michigan’s southwest coast lies a town once called Singapore. Until about 130 years ago, this Lake Michigan port town was near what is now Saugatuck. Founded in 1836, it was made up of 23 buildings and about 100 people, according to Kit Lane, author of “Buried Singapore: Michigan’s Imaginary Pompeii.”
It was surrounded by dense forests. But they were cut to help rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871 nearly destroyed that city almost 100 miles away. Little did Singapore residents know that by deforesting the area, they were bringing the dunes to life.