Monthly Archives: August 2021

Porcupine Mountain Ghost Town of Nonesuch

Posted on by Posted in Ghost towns, Michigan State Parks, upper peninsula .

The Porcupine Mountains in the western Upper Peninsula is the largest state park in Michigan. It is known for its hiking trails, waterfalls, and the Lake Of The Clouds. But few people know that hidden among the trees are the ruins of an old mining town. Nonesuch is a type of copper ore that exists in sandstone and the town was named after the ore. Mining began in 1867 and ended in 1912.

At its peak, the town had a population of 300 people and besides the mining buildings, it had a school, boarding houses, stables, and even a baseball team. Today stone walls can be found in the area where the town once stood. I also found some old cast iron machine parts including a large gear half-buried in the ground and held in place by a tree root.

The ruins can be found near the Little Iron River. A parking lot can be found off South Boundry Road with a trail that is about a half-mile long that will take you to the ruins. To find the parking lot drive straight south of the visitor center. A short road keeps going south where South Boundry Road curves to the west. Down that short road, you will find a small parking lot and an informational sign for the town of Nonesuch.

If you visit please stay on the paths and do not mess with the crumbling walls so they will remain open to visitors.

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P.S. I am a State Parks Photo Ambassador and if you love Michigan State Parks be sure to follow their Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/MiStateParks

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The Little Blue Schoolhouse

Posted on by Posted in Schools .

I saw this old blue building east of Gaylord on M-32. From what I found doing a little research, is that it was once a school and a township hall. Now it stands along the road and watches traffic pass by. I thought it was interesting that it was painted blue, or at least it was at one time. Most of the schools I see are white or red.

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Mount Pisgah

Posted on by Posted in Nature, Parks .

Mt. Pisgah located in Holland State Park is not the tallest mountain in the state but at 157 feet and over 200 hundred steps I was feeling the burn as I climbed the stairway.

I was curious about the name Mt. Pisgah and I leared that was the name of the mountain that Moses climbed to view the promise land.

At the top of Holland Michigan’s Mt Pisgah, you will be rewarded with a view of Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan along with the Holland Harbor Lighthouse known as “Big Red”

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St. Francis Solanus Indian Mission

Posted on by Posted in Churches .

I have visited Petoskey several times in half-century that I have lived in Michigan. I never knew this old mission church and burial ground was near downtown on Little Traverse Bay. A historical marker stands next to the church and reads:

St. Francis Solanus Indian Mission: This land was sold by Amawee, an Odawa, to Jean Baptiste Trotochaud and his Ojibwa wife Sophia Anaquet. Later, they donated nearly an acre of land to the Catholic Church. Jean, under the guidance of Father Sifferath, built this Mission in 1859. In 1860, Bishop Frederic Baraga blessed and dedicated it for use by Natives and settlers. Mass was offered at least four times a year. The mission was restored in 1884, after the arrival of Father Pius Niermann, an Assistant Priest with the Franciscan Fathers. It was abandoned by 1896 and restored again in 1931, 1959 and from 2005 to 2008. The church and burial grounds are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

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The Fireman’s Memorial

Posted on by Posted in Fire Houses .

The Fireman’s Memorial is not far from Roscommon and lists the names of Michigan firefighters that have died.  Detroit-born sculptor Edward Chesney created the sculpture of the firefighter rescuing a young child. Next time you are headed up north on I-75 stop by the memorial. It’s not far from Exit 239 on Robinson Lake Rd about a half-mile east of M-18

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Byron

Posted on by Posted in small towns .

The small town of Byron sits between Fenton and Durand. Founded in 1824 it was the last stop on a stagecoach run from Detroit that ran west along what is now Rose Center road and Silver Lake road. The town continued to grow after the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Northern Michigan Railway ran tracks through the community. Tragically, in October of 2012, a fire destroyed many historic buildings in downtown. I was driving through on a sunny summer day and I had to stop and get a pic.

Reminder: I am not sure for how long, but Lost In Michigan books are ON SALE at Amazon.
Volume 5 is available HERE

Volume 4 is available HERE

Volume 1 is available HERE

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Michigan’s Underwater Bridge

Posted on by Posted in Bridges, upper peninsula .

Most bridges that cross over a river are above the river. This bridge just north of Manistique that crosses over the Manistique River at one time was lower than the level of the river. It gained recognition on Ripley’s Believe it or Not. The reason for this unique distinction is the paper mill downriver was in need of more water for increased production in the early 1900s.

In my photo, you see a dude fishing. The bridge with its solid concrete walls runs along the left side of the photo. In front of the fisherman is a concrete flume that water flowed through to the papermill. The top of the flume is higher than the surface of the road and the concrete sides held back the water of the flume. I am not sure exactly when, but the paper mill no longer needed the water it once did and the water level in the flume has been lowered. It is not the most visually appealing bridge or flume but I thought it was interesting that the bridge at one time went through the river instead of over it.

P.S. If you are wondering about the tower in the background you can see my post about it HERE. 

 

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LST 393

Posted on by Posted in Ships and Boats .

Near downtown Muskegon, is an old naval warship. It’s a unique-looking ship with bow doors that open. they open because it is a tank landing ship and one of only two remaining out of a thousand that were constructed for WWII. LST 393 was laid down on 27 July 1942 at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company and launched on 11 November 1942. LST 393 arrived in the Omaha Beach zone on the night of June 6, 1944. She made 30 round trips to Omaha Beach, bringing varied equipment and supplies to France and returning with wounded soldiers as well as thousands of German prisoners. Following the War, LST 393 returned to the United States, was decommissioned on 1 March 1946. The ship was sold to the Sand Products Corporation of Detroit, for conversion to merchant service and renamed Highway 16. She would be a waterborne extension of the former U.S. Highway 16 and sail as a car ferry from Muskegon to Milwaukee. Highway 16 was replaced by Interstate 96 and the old veteran of D-day was never put into service as a ferry. In the mid-2000s she was restored and now serves as a museum ship for visitors to explore. If you are visiting Muskegon stop by and tour LST 393 I thought it was fascinating and they have some excellent displays honoring military veterans.

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Lost In Michigan Volume 1 Is ON SALE

Posted on by Posted in Uncategorized .

This is not my normal post but I wanted to let you know that Lost In Michigan Volume 1 is on sale at Amazon with an additional $1.95 off at checkout for a price of $11.04 You can order your copy, or one for a friend, HERE https://amzn.to/3lq1aGj

I am not sure how long it will be on sale for since I have no control over what Amazon does. ( I know it is not ideal but Amazon is what works well for me) If you want to purchase Lost In Michigan books from a local retailer you can find a list on my website HERE

Thank you all so much for your support and for taking the time to read my posts. I don’t like plugging my books but book sales are what helps me with expenses to keep posting on Lost In Michigan. I hope you enjoy reading my posts and I inspire you to get out and find new places to explore in the Great Lakes State.

Safe Travels,

Mike Sonnenberg

Ocqueoc Shack

Posted on by Posted in Forgotten Places, Houses .

I saw this old shack somewhere near Ocqueoc. I saw it sitting in the summer sunshine. I don’t know its story but I can only imagin the hardship of living in northern Michigan decades ago.

As always I only take pics from the road.

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