April 2014 - Lost In Michigan

Sunset at the Track

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Schools .

Now for something a little different. I posted on Facebook yesterday I have been too busy too post much lately so I guess I should post why, with one of my favorite photos that I have ever taken. My son runs track for his middle school, and since the season started recently I have been busy with Track and Field meets, I am telling you that so I can tell you this. Since my son started running for the school last year, I have traveled to many towns in Michigan I would have never been visited. I found that many town in Michigan, no matter how large or small, they face the same challenges, but still have nice people and they all have something to be proud of the makes there community unique. That is one of the inspirations for doing this website. I would take photos of the places I would visit to watch my sons team compete. my sons middle school track team does not travel that far so I don’t get out to far away from home to get pics. I never played sports and don’t follow professional sports but I do enjoy going to the school events, even the away ones. my friends dad was the principal at our school and he always said, “A school is a reflection of the community” if that’s tru there are a lot of nice communities in Michigan.

The photo above I took at a middle school invitational at Bay City Western, we had a really bad storm come thru, but then the weather cleared, and we had this beautiful sunset and I took this pic. I wish it was my sons schools track, but I still like it.

Grand Trunk Depot in Lansing – Michigan Historical Marker

Constructed in 1902, this castle-like building with its square tower was the Lansing station for the Grand Trunk Western Railroad until 1971. For decades passengers streamed through its doors. Here servicemen left and returned from military duty. Children and adults alike associated this depot with the excitement of travel and vacations. This city’s joys and sorrows were reflected in this rail station; greetings and good-byes were the most vital ingredients. But gradually rail travel ebbed. Renovated as a restaurant in 1972, the building’s exterior remains unchanged. Gerald R. Ford from Michigan, the thirty-eighth president of the United States, dined here during a “whistle-stop” campaign tour on May 15, 1976.

Gratiot County Courthouse in Ithaca Michigan

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in small towns .

I am surprised there is not a historical marker for the courthouse but I found a description on Wikipedia.

In 1900, voters approved the construction of a stone courthouse.Plans were drawn by Jackson-based architect Claire Allen, and the cornerstone was laid in September 1900. However, work soon stopped as the contractor demanded more money, and lawsuits were initiated by the county and by the contractor’s bondsmen. The issue was soon resolved, and construction resumed, this time by A. W. Mohnke of Grand Rapids. The final cost of construction was $75,000. A clock was added to the clock tower in 1905.

Seville Twp. Library in Riverdale Michigan

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Library .

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”

Marcus Tullius Cicero

The Topinabee Train Depot Library

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Library, Train Depots .

There is a lot to love about the Topinabee Library, it was a former train depot and sits near beautiful Mullett Lake and one of my favorite features is the paving bricks surrounding the library are Saginaw Bricks.

Hoyt Library – Michigan Historical Marker

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Library, Michigan Historical Markers .

The Saginaw Evening News declared the Hoyt Library “a noble institution” and “the pride of all Saginawians” when it opened in 1890. The library was a gift to the people of Saginaw from New York businessman Jesse Hoyt (1815-1882), who had real estate and lumber interests in the Saginaw Valley. Hoyt’s will set aside $100,000 for a public library here. After a national competition among leading architects, the Hoyt Trust chose the Boston architectural firm of Van Brunt and Howe. When the Richardsonain Romanesque style building was completed it exemplified modern library construction. The present building includes a 1921 addition by Edward Tilton of New York and a 1960 addition by Frederick E. Wigen Architects of Saginaw.

Clifford Branch of the Lapeer District Library

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Library, Schools .

Continuing with Library week, this is the Clifford Branch of the Lapeer District Library in Clifford Michigan. It used to be the local school but was converted into a Library in the 70’s

“I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a good book.” Groucho Marx

Owosso Library

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Library .

Since the American Library Association has declared this week National Library week, I thought I would post some of my favorite photos of Libraries around Michigan. Even though we have the internet the library is a huge resource for me, there is stuff in books that just is’nt available on the world wide web and when I am traveling, I can usually pick up some free wi-fi when I need it. The Library is a Temple Of Knowledge and is an American institution started by Benjamin Franklin that I am truly grateful for.

“Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.” Lady Bird Johnson

Michigan’s Haunted Mansion

Posted on April 13, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Historic Places, Houses, Uncategorized .

Several sources have said this is one of the most haunted places in Michigan. I am not much of a believer in ghosts, but I do like a good story. Built in 1876, on M53 near Brown City is this old Second Empire mansion. It was the home of and built by John G. Bruce who owned the Bruce and Webster General Merchants with his brother-in-law in Burnside township which he was the postmaster for 16 years. The old house sold a few different times and rumor has it one of the mansion’s owners were said to have been taking the back roads in his automobile when he hit a pedestrian. Terrified at what he had done, he took the body back to the mansion and buried it somewhere on the estate. Some say the ghost of the victim, others simply guilt, caused the man to lose his fortune and drive him to commit suicide by hanging himself in the old bell tower.

Please note this house is not abandoned please be respectful and do not trespass.

I have more about the historic mansion and several other haunted places around the state in the Lost In Michigan books available on Amazon HERE

I hope you will Subscribe to Lost In Michigan

Owosso Water Tower

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in small towns, Water Tower .

Maybe it’s just me, but I notice water towers, probably because they are the tallest structure in a lot of towns across Michigan. I especially like this one in Owosso with yellow paint, or at least what’s left of its yellow paint, and the fact that its an older tower with its cone shape top. I am not sure what the letting on it used to say but it still is an interesting landmark in Owosso.

P.S. I need to get a photo of it’s sibling across town someday too the sun was not in the right place when I was there for a good pic.