Traveling through the Upper Peninsula I pass through many towns and cities. I notice many old and historic buildings. It’s hard to miss the City Hall in Negaunee with its clock tower the reaches high above the roof. The city began in the mid-1800s when iron ore was discovered in the area and named Negaunee for the Chippewa word for pioneer.
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M-119 travels along the Lake Michigan shoreline thought the famous ” Tunnel of Trees.” The small town of Good Hart is located on the scenic route and the General Store is a popular stop. Not far away is the historic St. Ignatius Catholic Church and a path that leads to a deck overlooking Lake Michigan. It is a beautiful and peaceful area to enjoy a sunset.
About 50 years ago in June of 1968 the small resort community was rocked by the murder of the Robison family. Richard Robison was an advertising executive in Metro Detroit. He and his wife Shirly had a summer cabin not far from Good hart. The couple along with their four children were murdered in their cabin one summer night. The murder, for the most part, remains unsolved to this day.
Author Mardi Link has written about the murder in her book When Evil Came To Good Hart. I have read a lot of Michigan history books doing research for my website and this is one of my favorites. It is a tragic tale but well written. Link has done an excellent job of telling the facts but also telling the story of what life in a rural northern Michigan town was like back in the 60s. You can see more about the book on Amazon HERE, Be sure to check with you local book store to see if they have a copy, maybe they offer pickup so you can help them out and have a good book to read.
P.S. The Robison family cottage has been razed and no longer stands in Good Hart so I figured I would post a pic of the sunset to remember them by. If you are ever in the area, be sure to stop and take a break at the Lake Michigan overlook and remember how precious life is.
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Northeast of Ann Arbor on Plymouth Road is the small town of Dixboro. In 1824, retired sea Captain John Dix purchased about 500 acres of land. He built a house and a sawmill and then plotted a section of land that became the town of Dixboro. The little village was growing quickly until the railroad decided to lay tracks through Ypsilanti instead of Dixboro.
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The small town of Vickeryville is located in the central Lower Peninsula west of Carson City. It was plated in 1857 by John Vickery in Bloomer Township. The town was originally called West Bloomer but its name was changed to Vickeryville. The little town thrived at the turn of the century, ( yes I mean the early 1900s) but over time the little town declined. By 1953 the post office closed and not much remains of the little town today. A few houses and some old buildings. The most prominent building is the old grain elevator. It still has a faded sign that reads: CENTRAL BEAN AND GRAIN.
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I was traveling through the southwestern the town of Watervliet and I saw this old church across a park near the center of town. I don’t know anything about it but I thought it was a pretty little brick church. It looks like it has been a while since it has held a baptism, a wedding, or even an Easter Service.
I hope you are doing well. I am looking forward to being able to travel again, but for now, I have been posting photos from my archive.
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I was traveling through Bad Axe, and I saw this old mansion boarded up. I thought there has to be some history, or something significant about the house. Thanks to my followers on facebook, after I posted a pic, they told me that it was former Michigan governor Albert Sleeper’s Mansion. It was turned into a funeral home that was now closed. Sadly the house sits abandoned and forgotten about. It was a magnificent home, and I think that is what got my attention to photograph it. I hope someone will step up to restore it. The interesting thing is what I learned about Governor Sleeper in 1917, Governor Sleeper created the Michigan State Troops Permanent Force which became the Michigan State Police. Governor Sleeper also signed the State Parks Act creating the State Park system In 1919. Huron State Park in Caseville, was renamed Albert E. Sleeper State Park in his honor.
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A few days ago, I asked Where Am I? ( I should have said where was I since I am not traveling right now) I posted this photo of an American flag. Before I get to the answer just a reminder I have lost In Michigan books available on my website HERE or on Amazon HERE
Some of you may have noticed the pattern of stars looks a little different. That should have been the clue for the location of the flag which is at Fort Wilkens in the tip of the Keweenaw. You can find out more about the flag and fort on my post HERE
Congratulations to Art Brabbs he was the winner of the t-shirt chosen at random from the correct answers. Please email me the design color and size along with your shipping info to mike@huronphoto.com
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I like taking a break from the expressway in northern Michigan and take Old 27 to see the sights on the back roads. The small town of Wolverine was originally plated by the name of Torrey in 1881. After the post office was built that same year, the town was named Wolverine after the state animal. Old 27 or South Straights Highway passes through the town but most people just see the sign for it as they zoom past on I-75.
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Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state in the union. I have been slowly visiting all of them but sometimes I come across a lighthouse that I did not expect. I saw this lighthouse tower constructed with fieldstone standing in Scidmore Park where the Rocky River combines with the St Joseph River in the southwestern town of Three Rivers.
I was not able to find any history on the little inland lighthouse but it looks as if it has been standing quietly in Three Rivers for a long time.
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Time for you all to guess where I was in Michigan. I had been writing riddles and clues but this time I am posting a photo for you to look at and guess where it was taken. In the comments below tell me where in Michigan this flag is proudly waving. Please only post the location and not anything else like why you think it is where so you don’t help the people who guess later on after you.
I will pick a winner at random on Friday, April 24th from the people who guess the correct location and send them a t-shirt of their choice from my Teespring store which you can see HERE
The past few contests I figured would be somewhat difficult and someone knew the answer right away so let’s see how difficult this one is. I have a strange feeling a couple of people will recognize the location but if they don’t I will give a clue and then extend the contest.
I hope you enjoy these little trivia challenges and it passes some time for you. If you want to burn some more daylight check out the Lost In Michigan books available on my website HERE or on Amazon HERE
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