June 2021 - Lost In Michigan

Deerfield Hills Ruins

Posted on June 30, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Nature .

Deerfield Hills Nature Preserve is southwest of Fenton. The 365 acres have hiking trails that wind their way through the trees and to Howe Lake. It is a wonderful place to explore the great outdoors. What captured my attention is the foundations near the parking lot. I am not sure what they are from but I am guessing an old farm. Nature is slowly reclaiming them but they are still accessible for now.

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Brownsville School

Posted on June 29, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Schools .

This is or at least was the old Brownsville School on Cass County. It closed in the 1950s and is now part of someone’s farm. I can’t figure out want the corrugated metal is for that surrounds the outside of the building through the center of the windows. Maybe it was converted into a henhouse or something but I really don’t know.

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Old Victoria

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places, upper peninsula .

This old log cabin is one of a few buildings that still stand in the Old Victoria Historic Townsite. The hills around the area are one of the first places in the state to be mined for copper. The historic town is near Rockland on the west side of the Upper Peninsula and tours of the homes are given to visitors during the summer months. For info on tours and events, you can see their Facebook page HERE

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St. Joseph’s Church

Posted on June 27, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Churches .

This beautiful stone church stands along US-12 near Brooklyn. A historical marker stands next to it and reads:

St. Joseph’s Church originated as a missionary church during the 1850s. Priests from Adrian, Clinton, Manchester, Tecumseh and Monroe served the parish until the first resident priest arrived in 1954. The original church, which is still part of the present structure, was constructed by Irish pioneers. In 1863 the first Mass was held in the church, The tower and stained-glass windows were added in 1911. In 1928, Father Joseph Pfeffer from St. Mary’s in Manchester served here and oversaw the enlargement and remodeling of the church to its present form. The transept was built and nave enlarged, transforming the church to a cruciform plan. The red tile roof, the tower and the use of mosaic, tile and wrought iron in the interior give the church its Spanish Mission flavor.

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Vermillion Point

Posted on June 26, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, upper peninsula .

This old shack is one of a few buildings that stand at Vermillion Point. The buildings were used by the U.S. Life Saving Service. They sit along Lake Superior west of the Whitefish Point Lighthouse and the men stationed at them would rescue sailors in distress. They were abandoned decades ago but have been slowly restored and the area is now part of a nature preserve. If you are looking for a bit of an adventure a trip down a sandy road will take you to this out-of-the-way place that most tourists don’t know about. It is also a great place to go rock hunting along the shoreline. The history and directions to this unique place can be found in Volume 4 of my Lost In Michigan books.

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The Whaley House

Posted on June 25, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

Not far from downtown Flint is the ornate brick house. The historical marker standing in front of it gives some of its history.

The central portion of this handsome Victorian home was built in the late 1850s. Several prominent Flint families lived in it before Robert J. Whaley purchased it in 1884. Whaley a local lumberman and banker, remodeled the house extensively. Three bays, the library alcove and a west-end addition were among the exterior changes. The interior was enhanced by adding ornate woodwork and colorful tiled fireplaces. In 1925, Whaley’s wife endowed the house, making it a home for elderly women. In 1975 it became a public museum.

Robert J. Whaley was born in Castile, New York, in 1840. He moved to Wisconsin with his family in the 1840s, then returned to New York. There he met and married Mary McFarlan of Flint. Whaley and his bride moved to Flint in 1867. Here, he joined his father-in-law in lumbering and later banking. He purchased this gracious structure in 1884. Serving as president of Flint’s Citizens Bank for forty-one years, Whaley was also a trustee for the Michigan Charitable Schools, a Mason, an Elk and a 1912 Democratic candidate for state treasurer. He died in 1922.

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The Old Building at Old Mission

Posted on June 24, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, General Store .

Near the point of Old Mission Peninsula is the town of Old Mission. This old building sits at the north end of the town. I am not sure what it was but it looks like an old general store. If you visit the lighthouse at the point be sure to take a side trip through the historic town of Old Mission. There are a lot of historic places to see on your trip through the old shadow town.

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The Rockery

Posted on June 22, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

This stone mansion in Dowagiac is known as “The Rockery”. The historic 1890’s Romanesque Mansion was built for Fred and Katie Lee, President of the famous Round Oak Stove Company. It was built with locally harvested uncut fieldstone and has oak, maple, mahogany, and butternut hardwoods in the floors, walls, and ceilings. The home was heated back in the day with eight fireplaces. It is currently used as an apartment complex.

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Barn in the Hills

Posted on June 22, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Barns and Farms .

I saw this old barn somewhere near Gaylord among the rolling hills of grass. I don’t have a story to go with this pic I just thougt it was a pretty looking old barn so I stopped to take a pic.

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A Southern Michigan Waterfall

Posted on June 21, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Waterfalls .

The Slayton Arboretum is a 14 acre oasis on the campus of Hillsdale College. It is a beautiful place to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. They may be man-made waterfalls but they are tranquil and relaxing without the long trip to the Upper Peninsula. If you are ever near Hillsdale you need to stop and check out the arboretum.

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