June 2014 – Lost In Michigan

The old Library in Petoskey built by Carnegie and visited by Hemingway

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places, Library .

On East Mitchell Street in Downtown Petoskey there is this old Library building of which Andrew Carnegie donated money to build. I liked the architecture, but then I noticed there was a small sign near the steps about Ernest Hemingway.

It Reads

When living in Petoskey in 1919 the library was a favorite haunt of Hemingway’s and, in December, wearing his Italian cape and Red Cross uniform, he spoke here to the Ladies Aid Society about his world war I experiences. At that event he met the Connable family who led to his connection with the Toronto Star newspaper and his employment as its European Correspondent

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Kempf House – Michigan Historical Marker

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, Michigan Historical Markers .

Cast iron grilles in an ancient Greek floral motif highlight the frieze of this temple-front Greek Revival house. Built in 1853 for Henry D. Bennett, Secretary and Steward of the University of Michigan, it became the home and studio of local musicians Reuben H. and Pauline Widenmann Kempf in 1890. Trained in Germany, Mr. Kempf (1859 – 1945) taught piano and organ, Mrs. Kempf (1860 – 1953), a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory, taught voice. The city of Ann Arbor purchased the house in 1969, and in 1983 it became the Kempf House Center for Local History.

Michigan School for the Deaf – Michigan Historical Marker

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, Michigan Historical Markers, Schools .

The Superintendent’s Cottage, completed in 1890, is the oldest building on the campus of the Michigan School for the Deaf. With the exception of the masonry work, the cottage was built almost entirely by male students. In addition, students made the furniture for the house in the school’s shops. The building reflects the craftsmanship of the boys who studied under instructors Edwin Barton and James Foss. Student labor saved the state money while preparing the boys for future employment. Construction of the cottage began during an 1880s diphtheria epidemic when faculty housing was reorganized to make room hospital space. Beginning with Francis Clarke and his family, who lived in the house from 1892 to 1913, every superintendent has resided in the cottage.

In 1848 the Michigan legislature established the Michigan Asylum for Educating the Deaf and Dumb and the blind. Flint was selected as the site for the new institution. The first student arrived on February 6, 1854. After the School for the Blind opened in Lansing in 1880, the Flint facility began serving only deaf children. The curriculum, which combined academics and practical training. emphasized “market gardening and general farming.” Boys studied carpentry, printing, tailoring and farming, while girls learned the sciences of cooking, sewing, darning and patching. The schools mission was to educate deaf children so that they “may earn a living … may have culture enough to enjoy that living … (and) may be fitted for citizenship.

Ann Arbor Engine House

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places .

Walking around downtown Ann Arbor, from a distance, I saw the tower on this building which I thought was an old church, but then as I got closer I noticed the doors on the front and then realized it was an old fire station. It is now the the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum but above the doors carved into the stonework it says “Engine House 1882”. a building like that its easy to imagine the horses coming out of those doors pulling a steam pumper galloping down the Ann Arbor streets off to fight a fire. The Bell tower was used to summon the volunteer fireman to the fire station to fight a fire. if you want to know more about the fire station, I found this interesting article HERE by the Ann Arbor Observer.

Remembering D-Day, June 6th 1944

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

My grandfather was listed as a clerk and a cook in the army during WWII. He rarely ever talked about the war, other than he said he was in France. He passed away about 20 years ago and going thru his belongings my mother found a lot of photographs and then we realized he was there at D-Day. My grandfather always liked taking photographs, but we never knew he had a stack of a couple hundred photos that he had taken in France. Among the photos were a couple of pictures that I can only assume were taken shortly after D-Day showing the landing crafts unloading supplies and equipment on the beaches of Normandy.

70 years later I feel compelled to share these photos. We take photos with our cell phone of everything and everywhere and don’t really think about it how amazing it is to be able to do that. I am not sure what my grandfather had for a camera, probably a Kodak Brownie Camera, but whatever he had, he took a lot of photos with it. I thought I would share some with you since photos were meant to be shared and seen, even if it has been 70 years.

Ste Anne de Détroit Church – The Oldest Church in Michigan

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Churches, Detroit, Historic Places .

I like posting photos of churches around Michigan since in many places churches are central to the community, it’s where people are married, baptized, and remembered at the end of their life. When I posted a photo of St. Stephens church in Hamburg the historical Marker said it was the oldest church building still operating in Michigan. But it got me to do some research to find out what the oldest church in Michigan is. When I found Ste Anne de D’etroit and read it’s history it struck me how important this church is, not only to the local community, but to the state of Michigan.

founded July 26, 1701 Ste. Anne’s original church was the first building constructed in Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit, which later grew into the city of Detroit. Ste Anne’s is the second oldest continuously operating Roman Catholic parish in the United States with parish records dating back to 1704. From 1833 to 1844, Ste. Anne’s was the Cathedral Church for the diocese of Michigan and the Northwest. The church also has the oldest stained glass in Detroit.

In the Early 1800s Father Gabriel Richards, started a school that evolved into the University of Michigan. Started the First newspaper The Michigan Essay or Impartial Observer. From 1823 to 1825 Richard was Michigan Territory’s delegate to the United States Congress. As a delegate, he was instrumental in gaining support for the Territorial Road, which linked Detroit and Chicago

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Springtime at Dow Gardens in Midland

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

While I was in Midland getting some photos for Memorial Day weekend I stopped by Dow Gardens and was surprised to see it all decked out in tulips and blossoms on the trees. With this crazy weather we are having I guess spring was a little late, and I guess I am posting these a little late since I wanted to get my photos for Memorial Day posted first.

Dow Gardens is such a magical place to visit if you love nature and flowers and is amazing in spring. but like all good things it does not last forever and the spring blooms are gone so if you want to see them for yourself you will need to visit next year.

State Finals Track and Field Meet in Rockford

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

It’s not something I would normally post, but since I went to Rockford to watch the MHSAA Division 1 State Finals at the Ted Carlson Memorial Stadium. and since I took some photos I thought I would post a few. Rockford School has a beautiful stadium and the people were welcoming and friendly, The Ram wieners at the concession stand were good, but from the suggestions I got from friends on my facebook page I went to The Corner Bar after the meet and those chili dogs were ” like taking a bite out of heaven” as my son puts it.

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