August 2020 - Page 2 of 4 - Lost In Michigan

The University Fort

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Schools, upper peninsula .

I was roaming around Sault St. Marie and a came upon Lake Superior State University. I saw the buildings and then I immediately thought that they looked like old military buildings similar to the ones at Fort Wayne. ( you can see my post HERE) The university was originally built as Fort Brady in the 1880s and was used through WWII. In the late 1940s the fort was sold to Michigan Tech and used as part of the University. In 1970 it was separated from Michigan Tech and became Lake Superior State College.

I was there over the summer and with covid restrictions, I did not poke around campus too much. I will have to go back sometime and find out if they give history tours to visitors.

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Thinking of Autumn in Michgian

Posted on August 21, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn .

I know it is still August and scorching hot and Autumn seems so far away. If you like to leaf peep in the Upper Peninsula it won’t be long and the leaves will be changing. By mid-September, the leaves will be vibrant colors in the Keweenaw Peninsula with the rest of the U.P. following after.

It has been my experience this summer that the campgrounds, hotels, and lodges have been full with the influx of visitors enjoying Michigan’s great outdoors. In the past, I have gone into northern Michigan during the fall and then just looked for a place to stay when I have the need to. This year if you plan to head up north I think it would be wise to have reservations somewhere just so you know you have a place to sleep for the night because I think it will be very busy with people.

I know this is a little different than my regular posts but I figured I would just send out a reminder to make plans for this fall before it is too late. I am not sure what is going to happen with many schools being online so I am wondering if summer vacations will slow down after Labor Day.

For tips on taking Autumn photos, check out my post HERE

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E. S. Swayze Drugstore

Posted on August 20, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Michigan Historical Markers .

When I was in Otisville, I saw this Subway and thought “wow what a beautiful old building” then I noticed it even had an historical marker sign next to it. I thought what a remarkable building for a national franchise chain to be in, and in an era where most chain restaurants bulldoze old buildings and build new ones, It’s nice that they restored this old building and continue to use it, and yes I stopped and had a sandwich and the inside is just as nice as the outside. I wish more people, and companies, would take an interest in using old buildings, instead of building new ones.

The Michigan Historical Marker Reads

E. S. Swayze opened a drugstore on this site prior to 1870. When the store burned in 1874, Swayze built this one. Members of the Free Methodist Church used the second-floor meeting hall for services from 1887 to 1890. In 1903 Masonic Lodge #401 and the Order of the Eastern Star bought the building which they owned until 1970. This intact commercial building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

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The Old Mill in New Troy

Posted on August 19, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Grain Elevators .

This old mill sits near the Galien River just outside of the town of New Troy. The town was going to be called Troy but that name was already given to a town a few miles to the west. It was given the name New Troy. The other town eventually changed its name to Sayer to honor the man who built a nearby sawmill.

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Delicious and Refreshing

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in cities .

The north branch of the Kalamazoo River flows through downtown Albion. This building hangs over the river and I marveled at the mural painted on the side. I like seeing the old advertising murals. It’s rare to see a new advertising mural, mostly it’s just billboards with their digital signs illuminating something you can’t read as you pass by at 70mph. Sometimes newer is not better.

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The Red Barn

Posted on August 17, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Barns and Farms, Thumb .

I saw this big old red barn somewhere near Bad Axe. I grew up in the big city nowhere near a farm, but I do like these old barns. Years ago farmers would seal the wood with linseed oil to help protect the wood from the weather. Many would add rust to the oil because it would prohibit mold and moss from growing on the side of the barn. The rust would give the oil a dark reddish color. As paint manufacturing evolved and became a better option for farmers many stayed with the traditional looking red color. At least that is my understanding of why barns are red and the prevalent theory on the internet.

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The Painted Lady in Muskegon

Posted on August 16, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

Not far from downtown Muskegon is this breathtaking old victorian mansion. With their colorful paint schemes some people refer to these old homes as “painted ladies” This house was built by Muskegon lumber baron Charles Hackley. He moved to Michigan with his father and began working as a laborer in the sawmills. Hackley worked his way up to become a bookkeeper at the mill and then he partnered with Thomas Hume to create a successful lumbering company. In 1887 he built this stunning Queen Anne style home in Muskegon. To keep his family warm in the winter the house has seven fireplaces. It’s really hard to capture the detail of the woodwork along with its ornate 13 color paint scheme.

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The Stone Chapel in Clinton’s Cemetery

Posted on August 15, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Churches .

This beautiful little stone chapel stands among the headstones in Riverside Cemetery in the southern Michigan town of Clinton. The historical marker next to the chapel tells a little bit of its history and reads:

This chapel, completed in 1913, embodies the dream of Cemetery Superintendent George Kies, the design of Clinton-born architect Wirt Rowland and the artistry of the mason, a “Mr. Uhr” of Manchester. It also reflects livestock dealer Solomon Tate’s sense of color and design. Tate chose the stones, donated by local farmers. The Clinton Culture Club, later the Federated Women’s Club, led the chapel building effort.

Early in his long career in Detroit, Clinton native Wirt C. Rowland designed this chapel, which reflects medieval inspiration. Wirt Rowland (1878 – 1946) worked for George D. Mason, Albert Kahn, and other leading Detroit architects. He is best known for designing three Detroit skyscrapers, the Buhl Building, the Penobscot Building, and the Guardian Building during the 1920s, while employed by Smith Hinchman & Grylls. These buildings defined the Detroit skyline for almost fifty years

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The Historic Mill Site

Posted on August 14, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Dam, Historic Places .

I have been going through some of my old photos because I have not been traveling much. I took this pic of the old historic mill site on the Shiawassee River in Corunna. The nearby sign said it was the site of the mill that was constructed in 1843. I read somewhere a while ago that there were plans to remove the old dam. I am not sure if it still there but I thought I would share this photo from my archives.

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Places to Explore in Da Upper Peninsula Eh

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in upper peninsula .

A lot of people ask for places to visit in the Upper Peninsula. I put together a list of places and things I think are interesting. I know this is not a complete list of everything you can see or do in the U.P. but these are places I have been to and enjoyed visiting. Many places I have done a post about them and have a link to the post.

I also added a few restaurants that I have eaten a meal at and enjoyed. I know there are a lot more restaurants, but I am listing the ones I have been to and liked.

You can find out more information about some of these places, along with detailed locations, in the Lost In Michigan books series available on Amazon HERE

Feel free to post in the comments below places you liked

St. Ignace and eastern U.P. Area

St. Ignace Lighthouse

St Anthony’s Rock

Clyde’s Drive Inn St Ignace

Lehto’s Pasties

Castle Rock

Mystery Spot

Fiborn Quarry

Lake Michigan shoreline on US-2

Hessel

Detour

Drummond Island

Lime Island

Allenville

Soo Area

Holly Angel’s Church on Sugar Island

Soo Locks

Valley Camp Ship

Sault St Marie Historic Water Tower

Lake Superior State Campus

West Pier Drive Inn

Clyde’s Drive Inn Sault St. Marie

Spectacle Lake Lookout

Mission Hill Cemetery Myron Memorial

Point Iroquois Lighthouse

Dollar Settlement

Camp Raco

Newberry Area

Whitefish Point Lighthouse

Tahquamenon Falls

Vermillion Lifesaving Station

Crisp Point Lighthouse

Oswald Bear Ranch

Two Hearted River

Old Sheriff’s House in Newberry

Manistique area

Cut River Bridge

Seul Choix Point Lighthouse

Manistique water tower

Clyde’s Drive Inn Manistique

Kitch-iti-kipi big springs

Fayette ghost town

Peninsula Point Lighthouse

Watson

Pictured Rocks Area

Bickle Barrel House Grand Marais

Sable Falls

Au Sable Point Lighthouse

Wagner Falls

Munising Falls

Sand Point Lifesaving boathouse

Grand Island

Muldoon’s Pasties

Bay Furnace Ruins

Upper Au Train Falls

Trenary for Trenary toast

Marquette Area

K I Sawyer Air Force Base Museum

Marquette Lighthouse

Ore Dock

Vango’s for a cudighi sandwich

Superior Dome at NMU

Alder Falls

Big Bay Lighthouse

Da Yoopers Tourist Trap

Black River Falls

L’Anse Area

Canyon Falls

Ford Center historic sawmill

Powerhouse falls

Mount Arvon

Mount Curwood

Pequaming

Silver Falls

Sand Point Lighthouse Baraga

Assinins

Keweenaw Peninsula Area

Freda Ruins

Redridge Bridge and waterfall

George Gipp Memorial

Italian Hall Memorial

Eagle River Falls

Eagle Harbor Lighthouse

Roy’s Pasties & Bakery

Central Mine

Copper harbor

Fort Wilkins

The Rocket Range

Western U.P. Area

Lake of the Clouds

Ontonagon

Manabezho Falls

Bond Falls

Rainbow Falls

Porcupine Mountains

Old Victoria Historic Townsite

Agate Falls

South West Area

Menominee Lighthouse

Menominee Downtown Sandwich and Ice Cream shop

Wells State Park

Sand Point Lighthouse Escanaba

Fumee Falls

You can find out more information about some of these places along with detailed locations in the Lost In Michigan books series available on Amazon HERE

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