Although the flag of 1851, the year of the first Fourth of July in Northport, had 31 stars, Sprague mentions thirteen stars.
This flag looks home-made and has, as near as I can count, 31 stars.

Gathering up in Northport, whether for Fireworks, band concerts, or other celebrations over the Fourth of July, has been a tradition since the very beginning here. According to a 1903 book entitled Sprague’s History of Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties, on the first 4th of July in 1851 “it was decided that it was proper to hoist the national colors and celebrate ‘Independence Day’.”

Baptisia Australis, otherwise known as False Indigo, is a large plant with many blue flowers.

Baptisia Australis, otherwise known as False Indigo, is a large plant with many blue flowers. You can see several at the museum garden in Omena.

What about the flag?

Apparently there was just one problem, they had no flag. And in none of the three families living there at the time, could the colors be found to “construct one.” One of the settlers, George Pierson who had fought in the war of 1812 and “in who’s veins the fires of patriotism still burned”, declared he would give his red flannel shirt for the red stripes if Mrs. McLaughlin would give cloth for the white ones. However, no one had any blue material for the field of stars.

Blue was a very scarce because in the New World people didn’t have Indigo dye which was imported from India. What they found for blue dye here was a plant who’s sap turns an inky blue and blue dye can be made from its roots. Its scientific name is Greek for Baptism, because people were dipping their cloth in it to produce blue cloth like a baptism, and Australis because it was thought it grew best in the south (however it grows here very well). They called it “False Indigo.” This blue dye is inferior to dye made from “real” true indigo, but an Inky blue dye can be made from it and it was better than nothing.

Although these early Northport settlers didn’t know about false Indigo yet, you can see it right here in Omena at the Putnam Cloud OHS museum. We have several plants which are hardy and beautiful and will be in bloom soon.

Where to find blue dye

So what did those early settlers do for their blue field for the thirteen stars? As the book says, “The boys were not easily deterred. On board the schooner was found a pot of lead-colored paint, which by a plentiful mixture of the laundry supply of indigo bluing was transformed into the required color.”

George N. Smith and his family

George N. Smith and his family

After marking the outlines of thirteen stars on the white fabric which was to be the field, they painted around them, and thus “triumphantly completed their flag.” On the morning of the fourth of July they “flung it to the breeze, while the cannon, made of a stout (hollow) log, charged with powder, aided by the three guns of the company, thundered a salute!

Later in the day Mr. Smith delivered a patriotic speech followed by a bounteous dinner”. And thus the first Fourth of July was celebrated in Leelanau County

Courtesy Sprague’s History of Grand Traverse and Leelanaw Counties, Michigan by Elvin L Sprague, Esq. And Mrs. George Smith