Carl Sandburg Historic Plaque in Harrbert Community Park

     Carl Sandburg

In 1926, author and poet Carl Sandburg (1878–1967) and his family rented a summer home on Lake Michigan, near the town of Sawyer, MI  Two years later, Sandburg purchased several lots in Harbert, MI.  His wife Lillian (1883-1977), whom he called Paula, designed and supervised construction of a beachfront three story home that would become their year round residence for the next 17 years. Sandburg  rode the train from Harbert to Chicago to  return to his office at the Chicago Daily News as needed. When he stayed up all night writing, his wife Lillian left breakfast and coffee by his office door.  While living near here, Sandburg completed several books  including a volume of poetry called The People: Yes, Steichen the Photographer,and the Pulitzer Prize winning multi-volume set Abraham Lincoln: the War Years.