May 2018 - Lost In Michigan

Some Gave All

Posted on May 27, 2018 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery .

There are times when words elude me and it’s difficult to express my thanks and appreciation for the people who so valiantly served in protecting our freedom. I guess in this instance I will let my photo speak for itself.

The Great Lakes National Cemetery is a few miles north of Holly and borders Fagan Lake on a portion of land granted from the Federal Government to Terrance Fagan in 1836. In the 20th century, the property was purchased by Bryson Dexter Horton, a Spanish-American War veteran-turned-industrialist who invented the “Square D” switch which dramatically improved electrical safety. Mr. Horton constructed a small house on the property in 1927, and reportedly entertained prominent people such as Henry and Edsel Ford, who both hunted and fished on the property. In 2005, the Great Lakes National Cemetery was established and the first burial took place on October 17 of that year. it’s a few minutes off I75, and if you are near it, I recommend stopping for a visit, it’s an awe-inspiring site to see.

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Guardrail Stickers

Posted on May 22, 2018 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

If you have ever entered onto southbound I-75 at the 202 exit you have probably seen the guardrail covered in stickers. The 202 exit is where M-33 meets up with I-75 near Alger. I am not sure what the story is with the guardrail or who stuck the first sticker on it but its been accumulating the sticky decals for years. I don’t know if the road commision is leaving the sticker intentionally but I get a kick out of seeing all the different decals on it and it’s like a continually changing work of art.

Where ever you are heading to in Michigan drive safe a courteous.

I hope you will subscribe to email updates since facebook prioritizes your friends and family. They will not show you many of my posts, I promise I won’t email you a bunch of junk email, it’s only to notify you of a new post which will be two or three times a week.

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House In The Woods

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Houses .

I saw this old house hiding in the woods near Mayville. I wonder what its story is. It’s amazing what you see wandering the back roads.

P.S. I don’t trespass, I just take pics from the side of the road.

I hope you will subscribe to email updates since facebook prioritizes your friends a family they will not show you many of my posts, I promise I won’t email you a bunch of junk email, it’s only to notify you of a new post which will be two or three times a week.

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How A Desk Clerk Purchased the Grand Hotel

Posted on May 6, 2018 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places .

The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island is one of Michigan most Iconic and historic locations, but do you know the amazing story of how a young desk clerk became the owner of one of the most famous hotels in the world. W. Stewart Woodfill began working at the Grand Hotel in 1919 as a desk clerk welcoming guests into the luxurious hotel on Mackinac Island. A hardworking and young Woodfall took over managing the hotel at the age of 27 after the current manager had died in 1923. Getting a chance to purchase the magnificent hotel he formed a partnership with a few other men. After the banks refused to loan the group money he pitched a proposal to James Kraft, yes that James Kraft of Kraft Foods, the food magnate supposedly fell asleep during the presentation but then woke up and told Mr. Woodfill that he and his wife stayed at the hotel on their honeymoon. He said it was the most beautiful place in America and helped finance the hotel in 1925 with Woodfill as the managing partner. The hotel struggled to make ends meet and after a few years without paying dividends to its owners W. Stewart Woodfill sold his portion of the hotel in 1927. Without knowing it at the time, he made the smartest decision of his life. A few years later the stock market crashed and the American economy was in shambles in 1929. The hotel fell on hard times and went up for auction in 1930. W. Stewart Woodfill, a one-time desk clerk, was the only bidder purchasing the stately hotel with the money he received from selling his share of the hotel a few years earlier. He owned the historic hotel until he sold it to his nephew in 1979.

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Michigan’s Old West Town of Coopersville

Posted on May 3, 2018 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in small towns .

If you are looking for someplace different to visit that few people know about you need to stop by the old western town of Coopersville. You won’t find it on a map of Michigan since it’s not an official town. It was built by Spike Cooper who is a big fan of westerns and John Wayne. Over the years he has built an old west style town and welcomes people to come visit.

It’s full of interesting antiques and funny signs adorning its many buildings. the town has a general store, livery, jail, and a cemetery. I visited the interesting and quirky little town late last fall in the early morning and there was no one there so I did not get a chance to talk to anyone. I will have to go back later this summer and check it out more. If you are on Facebook you can follow the Coopersville Facebook page HERE

the address is:
1860 Fire Tower Road
Lewiston, MI 49756

It has a Lewiston address but its centrally located between Lewiston Grayling and Mio. you can see it on google maps HERE

It’s not far from Hartwick Pines and would be a good place to check out along with the logging museum and chapel at Hartwick Pines State Park.

P.S. Thank you to a couple of my readers for telling me about this place, I would have never known about it if they did not tell me.

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The Spirits at the Jewett House

Posted on May 1, 2018 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Haunted Places, Houses .

The grand old home about a block south of downtown Mason is known as the Jewett Home. In the 1930’s the Jewett family converted it into a funeral home and operated it until the 1990s. I was told that it was not uncommon for early funeral parlors to be in a house where the family that owned the business lives in the house. That seems really strange to me to live in a house with dead bodies, but it was normal back then. The house was originally built in 1855 by a wealthy developer, J.P. Coatsworth. Former Lansing Mayor Orlando Barnes once lived in the home and during the Great Depression, it was operated as a tea house. I wonder what kind of “tea” they sold during Prohibition and if there were spirits in the tea. It wasn’t until the Funeral home closed and the house was rented out when people who lived there have said they heard strange noises in the home. I am not sure if it’s haunted, but I am intrigued by the cupola on top of the roof. I wonder what the view is like from that little room. The house sold recently and is a private residence.

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