Neebish Island

Neebish Island is an island in the U.S. state of Michigan in the St. Marys River between the United States and the Canadian province of Ontario. It is divided into two parts known as "Big Neebish" and "Little Neebish" which are divided by a river which is sometimes more mud than river and is known as 'the dark hole' or 'the black hole' by Neebish Islanders. Big Neebish is home to Neebish Island resort, and Little Neebish is host to family cottages, many of which have belonged to the same families for generations. There was once a small general store on Little Neebish, but it burned down in the nineties. Since then Neebish Island Resort and Campground has put up a store and run it seasonally for all of the islanders.

Description

The island lies south of Sugar Island and is to the east of the unincorporated community of Barbeau, Michigan on the mainland. It forms the southeastern part of Soo Township in Chippewa County, Michigan.

The name Neebish comes from an Indian word for "where the water boils," referring to the once-furious rapids along its western side. However, the rapids were greatly diminished when a shipping channel was dug for freighters using the Soo Locks to the north. Freighters heading up to the locks pass on the east side of the island. Freighters that are downbound from the locks pass on the island's west side.

While only 4 of its 21.5 square miles are state owned, the island is mostly undeveloped. There is one store and one church on the island. According to the 2000 census there were 66 people living on the island.

Ferry service operates April 1 to January 15.

Neebish Island was the birthplace and childhoold home of the late painter, Pat Norton whose work depicts the St. Mary's River, freighters that travel the river and other scenes of Neebish Island and surrounding areas. She was born in 1931 on Neebish Island to a lighthouse keeper.

"Guiding The Way From Middle Neebish" - Book about the Middle Neebish Lighthouse, Author Edward T. Cook - Bookstand Publishing(February 2007) Note: Author is the nephew of the late painter, Pat Norton. Author's Grandfather Hugh Cook was one of the Lighthouse Keeper's at Middle Neebish Lighthouse.

Pine River Camp

Just across from Barbeau Clifford Borbas opend a "canoe camp" on Neebish Island. The rustic camp was physcially little more than a collection of crude cabins. The dining hall was a pavilion with log poles and a dirt floor next to a camp fire where the meals were provided. However for the better part of 30 years children came from all over the United States to engage in a unique camping experience. Pine River Camp closed in 1993.