January 2019 - Page 2 of 2 - Lost In Michigan

Dam Calendar Giveaway

Posted on January 14, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Giveaways .

I sold out of all my calendars except for one. I have a 2019 Dam Calendar and if you want to win it you have to be a subscriber to Lost In Michigan. If you have not subscribed to Lost In Michigan you can do it HERE . After you subscribed or if you are already a subscriber then comment on your favorite place to go in Michigan during the winter at the bottom of this post on my website. One of my favorite things to do is visit one of the many museums during the winter.

Lost In Michigan books are still available and perfect for reading on those cold Michigan days. You can order your book HERE

I will choose a winner from the comments at random and they will be announced in my post on Sunday, January 20th

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read my posts and especially to those of you that got a wall calendar or two from me. Your support really means a lot and I hope you enjoy looking at your calendar all year long.

I hope you subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts or giveaways,

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The Ruins of Camp Raco

Posted on January 12, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, upper peninsula .

Hidden in the National Forest in the Upper Peninsula among the trees is an old stone chimney not far from M-28 in Brimley Township. It’s the remains of Camp Raco, Michigan’s first Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) facility. The camp was created in 1933 by President Roosevelt’s New Deal plan. Two hundred young men from Detroit built the camp and lived there while working on conservation projects in the U.P. They built roads, planted trees and buildings for public use.

The camp closed in 1942 but was opened back up during World War II and used as a prisoner of war camp. It housed 267 German Nazis captured by the allied forces. After the war, the buildings were removed and only the foundations and the chimney remains. Next time you are driving along M-28 near Brimley look for the small wooden National Forest sign for Camp Raco.

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

I hope you will subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts or giveaways,

The Bay View Inn

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places, Michigan Historical Markers .

I have driven past Stafford’s Bay View Inn near the lake in Petoskey many times. I finally stopped and got a pic and read the historical marker which reads:

J. W. Howard completed this spacious inn in 1887, naming it the Woodland Avenue House because of its proximity to that street. Later he called the hotel the Howard House. In 1923 the popular resort became the Roselawn in honor of Horace Rose, innkeeper at that time. Renamed the Bay View Inn, this building is now Stafford’s Bay View Inn and is one of the oldest seasonal hotels in continuous operation in the area. Carved out of deeded railroad property next to the village of Petoskey in 1875, the summer colony of Bay View began as a religious retreat. Then it became a cultural and educational center complete with a college and Chautauqua series. This inn is a center of hospitality in the swirl of local summer activities.

One of these days I am going to have dinner at the historic Inn. If you have ever eaten or stayed there let me know in the comments.

REMINDER: Lost In Michigan books are ON SALE this weekend. be sure to get yours before the sale ends on Monday. you can order them HERE

I hope you will subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts or giveaways,

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The Charlevox Train Depot

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Train Depots .

The area around Charlevoix became a popular summer resort starting in the late 1870s with the establishment of Bay View in 1877, the Charlevoix Summer Resort (now the Belvedere Club) in 1878, and the Chicago Summer Resort (now the Chicago Club) in 1880. In response to the increase in traffic, in the early 1890s the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad extended its line from Traverse City north to Petoskey.

The railroad waited until 1892, 12 years after the rail line went through to Petoskey to construct the train depot because they believed most visitors traveled to Charlevoix by boat. After the war, the Pere Marquette merged into the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway in 1947, and service to Charlevoix was gradually scaled back. Passenger train service to Charlevoix was completely discontinued in 1962. Rail freight runs continued until 1982, and the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway abandoned all its lines in northern Michigan. Shortly after the railroad tracks and the bridge over the canal leading into Lake Charlevoix was removed.

In the 1980s, the Charlevoix Yacht Club occupied the building. In 1992, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pew donated the Charlevoix Railroad Station to the Charlevoix Historical Society. The Depot building was restored by the society and is now a venue for Historical Society events and programs.

I am doing a book giveaway and if you want a chance to win a copy of Lost In Michigan CLICK HERE to learn how you can enter

I hope you will subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts or giveaways,

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Big Sable Point Lighthouse

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses .

The Big Sable Point Lighthouse is one of the few Michigan lights with a tower reaching over 100 feet. Completed in 1867, Big Sable’s tower built using cream city bricks measured 112 feet high. In 1900 the deteriorating brick tower was encased in steel. It was painted black and white for passing ships to recognize the landmark during the daytime. The keeper’s dwelling, which once housed a single family, has been enlarged over the years, resulting in the present three-family residence. Indoor plumbing and heating were added in 1953. along with power lines that were extended to the Point. It was one of the last lighthouses in Michigan to be wired for electricity. In 1966 was fully automated and the lighthouse was left unmanned. The lighthouse is now part of Ludington State Park and it’s well worth the mile and a half hike out to see it.

P.S. If you are a bird that has to be one of the most scenic locations for a birdhouse with a view of the sunset over Lake Michigan every night.

P.P.S. I am doing a book giveaway and if you want a chance to win a copy of Lost In Michigan CLICK HERE to learn how you can enter

I hope you will subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts or giveaways,

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A Bloody Sheet, An Abandoned School, and Robert Stack

Posted on January 8, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Murders .

South of Coldwater, near the Michigan border, stands an old abandoned school built in 1908. I would like to be able to tell you the story of one of its pupils that went on to do something inspiring, but unfortunately, I do not know of such a story. I only know the tragic and sad story of what happened here after the death of a Coldwater High School counselor. On Easter of 1990, Marilyn DePue and her husband Dennis got into a fight. After beating her he coaxed her into his van and then shot her in the head. He dumped her body behind an old church that has since been demolished, then drove down the road passing a brother and sister on an afternoon drive. The pair of siblings went past the old school and noticed the van that had passed them. They also saw a man hiding a bloody sheet behind the abandoned building. Afterward, Dennis fled and the police were not able to arrest him. Robert Stack featured the story on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. Several tips came in saying a man by the name of Hank Queen living in Dallas Texas fit the description. After a high-speed police chase, Dennis DePue committed suicide before he could be taken into custody. The story of Marilyn DePue’s murder is thought to be the inspiration for the opening scene of the movie Jeepers Creepers. The director and writer said it was not, but the similarities are uncanny.

P.S. I wonder how many people who read this even know who Robert Stack was. I was born in 1970 and I only knew him because of Unsolved Mysteries. I am thinking anyone younger than me probably never heard of him.

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

Oh, and one last thing. I hope my next post will be more inspirational than tragic. I hope you will subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts or giveaways,

Lost In Michigan Book Giveaway

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Giveaways .

It’s 2019, and my New Years resolution is to do more giveaways on my website. Here is your chance to win both volumes 1 and 2 of Lost In Michigan paperback books. To win you have to be a subscriber to Lost In Michigan. If you have not subscribed to Lost In Michigan you can do it HERE . After you subscribed or if you are already a subscriber then comment on what is your favorite thing to do in the winter is at the bottom of this post on my website. Of course, my favorite thing to do is go out exploring Michigan and taking photos.

If you like to read during a cold winters day, Lost In Michigan books are ON SALE this week. You can order yours before they sell out HERE

I will choose a winner from the comments at random and they will be announced in my post on Sunday, January 13th

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read my posts and especially to those of you that got a book or two from me. Your support really means a lot to me since it’s my book sales that help me with expenses to do this website.

I hope you subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts or giveaways,

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Alvah N. Belding Library

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Library .

In Belding, Near the center of town stands this magnificent old library. The historical marker in front of it reads:

Alvah N. Belding erected this library in 1917/18 as a memorial to his parents, Hiram and Mary Wilson Belding. Alvah and his brother Hiram began peddling silk around Belding (then Patterson’s Mills) in 1858. With the help of their brother Milo, they began the internationally known Belding Bros. & Company in 1863. Michigan’s first silk mill was erected here in 1886 and operated until 1932. This library, which cost $50,000, was dedicated and presented to the City of Belding on May 14, 1918. It is the only structure built by the Beldings still being used for its original purpose. An example of Classical Revival architecture, the limestone structure features a Spanish-tile roof. Its interior contains trim of marble oak and pine.

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