Lost In Michigan
  • HOME
  • Books
  • the Images
  • The Artist
  • The Journey

Monthly Archives: May 2017

The Crosses Alongside the Road

Posted on May 24, 2017 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Landscapes .

crosses thumb

While I am out traveling around the Mitten State, I notice the crosses and memorials next to the road. While I was out in the Thumb, west of Peck, at the intersection of Peck and Shepherd roads I notice a group of crosses that reminded me of how fragile life is. I don’t want this post to be a public service announcement, and would rather post uplifting and positive stories, But I have to post things I notice.  It seems like a fitting post with Memorial Day coming up.

 

The Old Barn Near Howell

Posted on May 20, 2017 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Barns and Farms .

howell michigan barn

I was out roaming the back roads around Howell and I came across this old barn with the ivy growing up the sides. Like most of the old barns I photograph, I don’t know any history or stores about it. I can only imagine the farmers horses had a nice home when it was built, but then again I am a city boy and not a farming expert either, but I do know a pretty old barn when I see one.  I was not able to spend a lot of time in Howell but it is a beautiful town, I need to get back there soon.

Lost In Michigan T-Shirts are on SALE this weekend,  I hope you will take a look at them HERE

If you like what I post it would really mean a lot to me if  you will subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts,

enter your email for updates on new posts I promise I won't send you a bunch of spam, it's just an email to let you know there is a new post to read.

[fbcomments]

 

The Wizard of Oz Castle in Michigan

Posted on May 18, 2017 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in castles, Historic Places .

castle park michigan

 

Standing near the shoreline of Lake Michigan, south of Holland, is an old brick castle.  The castle was built in 1894 by German Immigrant and Chicago businessman Michael Schwarz.  The family with their six daughters lived in the castle for about a year but then moved to Holland and left the old castle abandoned. In 1896, Dr. John Parr purchased the Castle making it into a summertime camp for the boys and girls of Chicago Preparatory School in Chicago where he was the head minister.

It must have been a magical place for a summer camp and many of the children’s parents loved the area so much that they built summer homes near the camp.  Dr. Parr and his wife ran the camp until 1917 when his nephew Carter Brown and his wife took over the duties of running the camp. Over the years their children took over managing the camp. by 1960 the camp had grown tremendously, and the taxes and maintenance had become too much and the camp became Camp Park, a private association. The association owns the magnificent castle and it is used as a library and meeting place.

But as Paul Harvey would say, here is the rest of the story. Author L. Frank Baum had a summer cottage nearby in Macatawa and it is said that the castle partly inspired the Wizard of Oz. and that some of the residents of castle park were his inspiration for a few of the characters in the book, such as the tinman.  Exactly how much the castle inspired Baum is unknown but west Michigan was where he went to relax and get away from the pressures of daily life.

Castle Park remains as a private community.

If you like this story you will love my Lost In Michigan books, you can order your copy  HERE

 

If you like what I post it would really mean a lot to me if  you will subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts,

enter your email for updates on new posts I promise I won't send you a bunch of spam, it's just an email to let you know there is a new post to read.

 

The Grand Traverse Lighthouse

Posted on May 3, 2017 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses .

grand traverse lighthouse

At the tip of the leelanau Peninsula is the Grand Traverse Lighthouse guiding ships into Grand Traverse Bay.  The current lighthouse was built in 1858 replacing the first lighthouse constructed on the point. It was poorly built and only lasted about 6 years. The current lighthouse was deactivated in 1972 when it was replaced by an electric light on a steel skeletal tower.  The Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum, a non-profit group, renovated the old lighthouse in the 1980s and it is open for tours. The times that I have visited, the museum was closed, and I have never been inside but I hope to soon. There are rumors of the old lighthouse being haunted, you can see my post about it HERE

The lighthouse is in the Leelanau State Park and an excellent place to visit and have a picnic next time you are up in the Leelanau Peninsula.

If you like my posts it would really mean a lot to me if you Subscribe to Lost In Michigan

Do you want to know when I post something new? enter your email address, I promise I won't send you any spam, I hate spam, its just an automated system that lets you know there is a new post

[fbcomments]

The Big Green Bridge

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Bridges .

mackinaw bridge

Every time I am in Mackinaw City I have to stop and get a pic of the Mighty Mac.  I must have hundreds of photos of it, but it’s really hard to capture its immense size and awe-inspiring beauty in a single photo. Here is a pic I took last fall as the sun set on a beautiful northern Michigan day.  I can’t wait to get back up to the straights again, as soon as I leave I want to go back.

If you like what I post it would really mean a lot to me if  you will subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts,

enter your email for updates on new posts I promise I won't send you a bunch of spam, it's just an email to let you know there is a new post to read.

[fbcomments]

 

 

Subscribe to Blog

Enter your Email to receive new posts notifications

Categories

  • Artesian Springs
  • autumn
  • Barns and Farms
  • Bars and Restaurants
  • Benchmarks
  • Bridges
  • calendars
  • castles
  • Cemetery
  • Churches
  • cities
  • courthouses
  • Dam
  • Detroit
  • Fire Houses
  • Forgotten Places
  • General Store
  • Ghost Murals
  • Ghost towns
  • Giveaways
  • Grain Elevators
  • Haunted Places
  • Historic Places
  • Houses
  • Iconic Buildings
  • island
  • Landscapes
  • Library
  • Lighthouses
  • Michigan Historical Markers
  • Michigan State Parks
  • Mills
  • Murders
  • Nature
  • Parks
  • people
  • Photography Tips
  • presentations
  • Restaurants
  • Schools
  • Ships and Boats
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes
  • small towns
  • SP March Madness
  • State Parks
  • Thumb
  • Train Depots
  • Uncategorized
  • upper peninsula
  • Water Tower
  • Waterfalls
  • Winter Wonderland

Archives

Pages

  • Books
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • My Account
  • Shopping Cart
  • Store
  • the Images
  • The Journey
  • The Artist

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013

Categories

  • Artesian Springs (2)
  • autumn (73)
  • Barns and Farms (91)
  • Bars and Restaurants (5)
  • Benchmarks (1)
  • Bridges (23)
  • calendars (11)
  • castles (10)
  • Cemetery (65)
  • Churches (120)
  • cities (8)
  • courthouses (26)
  • Dam (16)
  • Detroit (22)
  • Fire Houses (26)
  • Forgotten Places (213)
  • General Store (24)
  • Ghost Murals (3)
  • Ghost towns (63)
  • Giveaways (21)
  • Grain Elevators (34)
  • Haunted Places (69)
  • Historic Places (122)
  • Houses (242)
  • Iconic Buildings (37)
  • island (1)
  • Landscapes (9)
  • Library (26)
  • Lighthouses (115)
  • Michigan Historical Markers (85)
  • Michigan State Parks (22)
  • Mills (4)
  • Murders (15)
  • Nature (28)
  • Parks (18)
  • people (32)
  • Photography Tips (5)
  • presentations (12)
  • Restaurants (13)
  • Schools (99)
  • Ships and Boats (23)
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes (3)
  • small towns (78)
  • SP March Madness (5)
  • State Parks (12)
  • Thumb (69)
  • Train Depots (68)
  • Uncategorized (153)
  • upper peninsula (198)
  • Water Tower (11)
  • Waterfalls (36)
  • Winter Wonderland (24)

WordPress

  • Log in
  • WordPress

CyberChimps WordPress Themes

© Lost In Michigan