October 2019 - Page 2 of 3 - Lost In Michigan

Farmhouse in the Fall

Posted on October 19, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Houses .

I saw this old farmhouse where the town Wildwood once stood. I am thinking nothing remains from the town although this old house might have been around back then. If it was, its walls are not going to share any stories but I am thinking they are enjoying watching the leaves change.

P.S. Autumn is my favorite time of year. I wish I could freeze time so the leaves could stay at their peak a little longer.

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A Historic Haunting in Flint

Posted on October 18, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Haunted Places, Houses .

Not far from downtown Flint is the Stockton Mansion. It was built by Colonel Thomas Stockton. Both he and his wife died in the house. After their deaths, the house was used as a hospital and later a nursing home. The house is now used as a museum and undergoing renovation. Workers have said to hear strange unexplained noises. During a tour, someone said they saw a little boy but there was no child on the tour or in the house at that time. He has told others his name is Jonathan and he is looking for his toy train. I am not sure about the haunting but I am sure about its historical significance to Flint and it is good that it is being restored.

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The Most Peaceful and Secluded Chapel in Michigan

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Churches .

Hidden among the pine trees far away from any large city or even a paved road is a small chapel. It was built as a memorial in the 1960s by George Mason’s family. After his death in 1954, Mason willed his land to the State Of Michigan. His property consisted of Almost 1500 acres on the south branch of the Au Sable River.

George Mason was the CEO of Kelvinator and then chairman and CEO of American Motors Corporation. He was an avid outdoorsman and purchased the property somewhat located between Grayling and Mio. He enjoyed the tranquility and solitude fishing in the river. He specified after his death he wanted the property is to be used as a game preserve and camping is not allowed. The area is known as the Mason Tract and has 8 miles of hiking paths and is maintained by the DNR.

A dock along the Au Sable River allows canoers and kayakers to access the chapel from the river. I reached the building by taking an un-named two-track a couple of miles to a small parking area. It was a short hike to the somber little chapel where you could listen to the babbling waters of the Au Sauble flow past. If you decide to drive to the chapel, I recommend a truck or SUV with high ground clearance. I never had to put my Jeep in four-wheel-drive, but I did splash through a lot of water holes and soft sand.

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

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Autumn Road 2019

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn .

I took a trip up to the northern Lower Peninsula yesterday. The fall colors are spectacular. The weather was not the greatest but I did not let that stop me. I took this pic on a backroad somewhere between Vanderbilt and Gaylord. This is the perfect weekend ( October 19 and 20th ) if you want to do some leaf-peeping around Gaylord and Grayling area. The trees will be at peak color.

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” John Muir

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did. I have plenty of Autumn posts coming up I am sure you will enjoy.

The Island Cemetary

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery .

Saint Ann’s Cemetery on Mackinac Island in behind the fort near Skull Cave. It was not always at this location. I was originally next to Ste Anne’s Catholic Church near downtown. One of the oldest headstones in the cemetery is for Mary Biddle, She was eight years old when she fell through the ice and died in 1833. In the 1850s the cemetery could no longer accept new burials because it could not expand into the city. The bodies were exhumed and moved to the current cemetery further into the island.

Years later after the cemetery was moved, headstones were found among the weeds at the old location. Workers found them before the construction of the buildings that now stand near the church. It makes you wonder how thorough they were at moving the bodies of those laid to rest. One thing that is odd about the cemetery is the name. On the gate, it reads St Ann’s Cemetery but the church is Ste. Anne’s. Legend also has it the gate was build to accommodate a horse-drawn hearse but they forgot about the driver. That fueled the legend of the headless horseman or in this case hearseman.

It is a beautiful old cemetery and the carriage tours travel along the road next to it. And if you are wondering, to be laid to rest in the cemetery, you either need to have been born on the island or been a resident or owned a business on the island for more than 15 years

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

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Schools Out Forever

Posted on October 15, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Schools .

I took a photo of this old schoolhouse a few years ago. It stands, or more like stood, on old M-21 between Capac and Imlay City. I was scrolling through Facebook and I happen to notice a photo of an old school. someone commented that it was recently demolished. I then realized it was the schoolhouse near Imlay City

I am glad I got a pic of it while it was still standing. slowly the old schoolhouses are disappearing. They are a reminder of days past and how things have changed over the decades. I am not sure if they changed for the better or worse, but they have changed.

Reminder, I will be giving a presentation at the library in Marysville on October 21st. at 6:30pm you can find out more info HERE http://www.stclaircountylibrary.org/EventInfo.aspx?id=27001

I will be at the Tamarack District Library in Lakeview on Tuesday, October 29th at 6pm

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The Old Building in Eau Clair

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators, small towns .

This old building with the peeling red paint stands in the center of Eau Claire. I am not sure what it is or was but I am thinking some sort of granary. The name of the town is French for “clear water” and is named after a nearby spring.

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Lost In Michigan Wall Calendars are ON SALE

Posted on October 13, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in calendars .

Lost in Michigan wall calendars are ON SALE this weekend. Last year I sold out of them early so now is a good time to order one before they are gone.

Thank you so much to everyone who got one. It helps me with my expenses to do this website and continue posting. Calendars can be ordered from my website HERE https://lostinmichigan.net/shop/

Police Radio Broadcast

Posted on October 12, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Detroit, Historic Places .

This castle-like stone building in the center of Belle Isle State Park seems like an ordinary building. Thousands of visitors pass by it, but I wonder how many realize how much it affected society. This was the first police radio dispatch station in the United States. In 1928 the Detroit Police broadcasted from this building on their own frequency to patrol cars around the city. They chose Belle Isle to avoid interference with other radio stations.

Before the station was constructed the department did not have a dedicated frequency band to broadcast on. In 1921 the station experimented with broadcasting to officers between songs on station KOP. Between songs, they would read a list of stolen cars or alert them to missing children.

A modern patrol car today is filled with electronics and the officer is surrounded by a computer, radar guns, and communication equipment. It’s hard to imagine a day when the police did not have a basic radio in their car.

Lost In Michigan Wall Calendars are ON SALE this weekend, now is a good time to get one, you can order them from my website HERE https://lostinmichigan.net/shop/

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The Short Barn Part 2

Posted on October 11, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Barns and Farms .

This is the first time I have done a follow-up on one of my posts. After reading all the comments that the barn I posted about was in the side of a steep slope I went back on google streets and looked at it. I guess I did not notice it when I went past it, but it is on a hillside. It still seems a little short but others have suggested that it was a dairy or sheep barn which would make sense because there is a row of windows along the side like cows could get some fresh air.

Thank you all for your comments hand helping this city boy learn something new. I think schools should teach kids where their food comes from. I bet if you ask most of them would say ” the cafateria”

Reminder, If you live near Marysville ( south of Port Huron ) or want to take a trip, I will be giving a presentation at the library on Monday, Oct, 21st at 6 pm, you can find out more info and register HERE http://www.sccl.lib.mi.us/EventInfo.aspx?id=27001

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

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