November 2016 - Lost In Michigan

Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses, Thumb .

The Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse and Lifesaving Station near the tip of the Thumb aided mariners for over a century, beginning in 1847. That year the U.S. Lighthouse Service built the first lighthouse on this site to mark the turning point of Lake Huron into Saginaw Bay and to warn of the shallow waters. Catherine Shook became Michigan’s first female light keeper when she took over for her husband, Peter, after he drowned in 1849. In 1857 the lighthouse and dwelling were replaced with the present 89-foot tower and attached house. In 1908, the brick assistant keeper’s house was built. The lighthouse was fully automated in 1934. Five years later the last keeper retired, and the lifesaving station, made up of 15 buildings was decommissioned.

I posted this slideshow I made on Facebook and thought I would post it here also in case you missed it, or if you’re like my dad, and not on facebook.

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The Old Firehouse On the Northeast Side

Posted on November 22, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Detroit, Fire Houses .

The old firehouse on Mount Elliott was the oldest operating firehouse in Detroit when it closed in 2012 and the city put it up for sale. It’s a beautiful old two story firehouse built in 1893, and designed by famed architect Gorge Mason, who designed the Masonic Temple, and the Ransom Gillis House in Detroit. I can only imagine all the emergency runs the firefighters went on over the years, from horses to the massive fire engines they have today.

P.S. Thank you to all the first responders working over the holidays and every day.

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You Can’t Get There From Here

Posted on November 19, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, upper peninsula .

On a recent trip to Whitefish Point, I wanted to go out to the old Vermilion Point life-saving station that sits along the shores of Lake Superior between Crisp Point lighthouse and Whitefish Point Lighthouse. There is a road a few miles north of Paradise that takes you out to Vermilion. Well, actually it’s more of a sandy logging path than a road. After heading down the trail about 15 minutes I finally came to a sign that said Vermilion Point Nature Preserve, and I knew I was getting close. I went down the road a little more, and then all of a sudden, the road was completely under water. I think they had gotten a lot of rain, and the marsh next to the road overflowed, covering the road with water for a far as I could see. I guess I am not getting any pics of the life-saving station on this trip. I will just have to go back again, but now I know I need to go in the summer when it’s dry. I am disappointed when I can’t visit the places I want too, but without going out and exploring, you will never learn what you don’t know.

Some of my trips get kind of expensive and calendar sales helps me with those trips to take photos and research stories, it would really mean a lot to me if you took a look at my calendars and shirts HERE

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The White Rock Lighthouse, Remembering a Great City Lost in the Fire

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses, Thumb .

The town of White Rock on Lake Huron between Port Sanilac and Harbor Beach has a very interesting story to tell. The town was named after a large white boulder that stood near the shoreline of Lake Huron, and by 1776 it was the largest village in the territory. It was used as a boundary marker for the northern point of the Treaty of Detroit with the Ottawa, Chippewa, Wyandot and Potawatomi Native American nations signed on November 17th 1807. In the 1830’s, the town was a thriving port, and in 1856 a lighthouse was built to safely guide ships into port. The community, along with the lighthouse, was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1871. The great fire also occurred on the same day as the Great Chicago Fire, and while Chicago was rebuilt, White Rock never grew to be the large town it once was, and the lighthouse was never rebuilt. In 1996 the privately owned White Rock Memorial lighthouse was built.

P.S. If I ever get the chance to build my own house, I would build a lighthouse, even if it was in the middle of a subdivision miles away from any lake.

Lost In Michigan books are ON SALE this weekend on Amazon HERE

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All Lost In Michigan Calendars and Shirts are ON SALE

Posted on November 12, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in calendars .

all Lost In Michigan wall calendars, and apparel is ON SALE this weekend with FREE shipping. Calendars are selling out fast, I am not sure when they will be gone, but I am past the point of being able to have more printed by the end of the year. Now is a good time to get one while I still have them available.

I made a bunch of shirts, and even some hoodies this past week, and have them in stock. I have a some of each size in stock, I hope you will take a look at them, I even have some dark gray ones too but I only have a few of each size and they can sell out quickly.

If you got a calendar or shirt already, THANK YOU. your support really means a lot to me, and helps me do this website. I don’t get any funding from any group or organization and rely on the kindness of my followers who purchase merchandise from my website. I hope you will check out my online store HERE

Semper Paratus, In Honor of Veteran’s Day

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

Thank You to all the men and women who have served, and continue to serve in the United State military. Thank You does not seem like a big enough pair of words to express by gratitude for the sacrifices you make in protecting our freedom. I also struggle with what photo to post on Veterans day, and feel that I can never post a photo that shows my appreciation. Here is a photos of the USCGC MACKINAW (WLBB-30) stationed in Cheboygan as a reminder of dedication to duty at home and abroad.

P.S. if your wondering, the Coast Guard motto is Semper Paratus (always ready)

The Inspiring Story of the Little Girl Raised in this Forgotten House

Posted on November 10, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Forgotten Places, Houses .

Near Arcadia Michigan, is this old farmhouse hidden in the trees, in which a little girl named Harriet Quimby lived with her family. When she was a teenager, she moved with her parents to California where she grew up with a love of writing. She wrote seven screenplays directed by D.W. Griffith, and even acted in a few movies. She eventually moved to New York, and began writing a column for Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly. She would publish articles about her journeys and adventures for the magazine, which lead her to an airshow, where she fell in love with aviation, and became the first woman to receive a pilot’s license on August 1st, 1911.

Harriet Quimby in her Purple Flying Suit : Wikipedia

She became a world famous pilot, traveling the world flying in her vibrant colored purple flying suit, and paved the way for female pilots like Amelia Earhart. She was the first woman pilot to fly across the English Channel in 1912, but received little press coverage, because the Titanic had sunk the day before her crossing.

on July 1st she was Tragically killed in a plane crash when her plane pitched upward and she, and her passenger, were thrown from the plane and fell to their deaths. Strangely the plane glided back down, and her accident still remains a mystery as to what happened.

Lost In Michigan books are ON SALE this weekend on Amazon HERE

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The Barn Near The Lighthouse

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Barns and Farms .

On my way out to the Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, north of Harrisville, I pass by this old barn. Every time I take a trip out to the lighthouse, I have to stop and take a pic of this old barn, and I sure could not pass up a pic in Autumn.

I don’t always say it every post, but thank you so much for following me and sharing my photos from around Michigan. Your kindness and support really means a lot to me.

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My Best Dam Photo

Posted on November 5, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Dam .

I was traveling along the roads that follow the AuSable River, and stopping at the usual photography spots along with other photographers, taking pics of the natural beauty at places like Iargo Springs and Lumberman’s Monument. When I got to the five channels dam there was no one around. I took this photo of the old bridge from the new bridge. I love Michigan’s natural beauty, but I have always been fascinated by the man made beauty too. I think about the amount of work that went into building the bridge and dam, and our ability to take control of the river and harness the power of it to generate electricity.

This weekend Lost In Michigan calendars are on sale HERE

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Day Farm Road and the Tunnel Of Trees

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Barns and Farms .

This is the Day Farm Road that runs next to the D H Day Farm, near Glen Arbor. I took this pic last year, unfortunately I missed the peek by a few days but it still hast that ” Tunnel Of Trees” look and a beautiful road to drive on anytime of year. You can see the world famous D. H. Day barn to the right in the background.

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