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July 31, 2025 - August 3, 2025

History of Beal City

The area was first settled around 1880 by Nicholas Beal, who opened a general store and post office in 1881. The settlement was originally unnamed and centered around a lumber camp. The settlement was named after Nicholas Beal.

The post office in Beal City operated from 1892 to 1910. In 1905, Edward N. Smith purchased the store and added a tavern and meat market annex. In 1961, Walter Rau moved the business to a new building and renamed it Rau's Foodland.

From 1871 to 1875, settlers moved to the Beal City area to purchase farmland. Most of these settlers came from Westphalia and the surrounding area.

The parish was founded by German settlers from Westphalia, Michigan. The church was originally named "Saint Philomena" but was changed to Saint Joseph the Worker in 1961.