Traveling through the town of Buchanan in the southwest part of the Mitten, I saw several scarecrows all around town. It was later I found out that they are sponsored by local businesses to raise money for a charity. What a brilliant idea. I thought they brightened up the community and also raised money to support it. If you are in the area during the fall be sure to visit the town of Buchanan and check out some of the straw-filled citizens.
This old white and red building caught my eye when I was passing through Sebewaing. The sign above the garage door reads, Sebewaing Fire Dept. Station No. 1. The other sign says: Original 1883 cost $620. I am not sure when it closed but a new fire station sits a few blocks away. I am pretty sure the new one costs a lot more than $620 to build. The old station is privately owned.
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Two towers stand in southern Michigan along US-12. At one time, they were popular attractions for the throngs of tourists that traveled through the Irish Hills area. The first tower was built in the 1920s. Outraged by the tower, Mr. Kelly that owned the other part of the hill built a taller tower and it became known as the spite tower by the locals. Over time the two towers were purchased by the same owner and a walkway was connected between them.
Originally the towers had observation platforms at the top. After the tourist industry declined the two towers fell into a state of disrepair. The upper potions had to be removed because they were structurally unsound. The bases have been repainted and still stand as a reminder of the days gone by.
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This old brick two-story building stands near the entrance to Lake Superior State College in Sault St. Marie. A Michigan historical marker stands next to it and reads:
When Sault Ste. Marie expanded and its canal was widened, the riverfront site of Fort Brady was abandoned for a higher, more strategic site selected by General Philip Sheridan. Work began in 1886, and the new fort was opened in 1893. From this hilltop, New Fort Brady guarded the copper and iron ore enroute from the mineral regions of western Lake Superior through St. Mary’s Ship Canal. Although never under attack, its troops were called up in 1894 during civil unrest, but primarily they protected the canal until the Second World War, when fifteen thousand soldiers were stationed here. In 1944 the National Guard assumed these responsibilities and New Fort Brady was closed. Camp Lucas, a small section of the fort, was reactivated briefly during the Korean Conflict.
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I saw a steeple rising above the town of Gaylord, ( one of my favorite places to stop on a trip up I-75) and I had to see what the old church looked like then I found out it is now the Mount Carmel Centre used as a performing arts center. There is a historical marker standing out front that reads:
St. Mary’s Church began as a mission of the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids. The first church was built around 1884. The parish grew to become a predominantly Polish congregation while under the pastorate of Father Casmir Skory (1892 – 1905). In 1893 Father Skory founded the St. Mary’s School, which was served by the Dominican Sisters. Father Skory was instrumental in the planning and construction of this church in 1900.
The Neo-Gothic St. Mary’s Catholic Church has been a Gaylord landmark since it was dedicated on September 15, 1900. When the Diocese of Gaylord was established in 1972, the church became the cathedral. The diocese built a new cathedral in 1976 and closed St. Mary’s. In 1985 a local group, fearing the building would be razed, purchased it for use as a performing arts center, which they named the Mount Carmel Centre.
I see a lot of old churches in Michigan, and I see some that are no longer used for worship or have been left abandoned. I love old churches because of the grand architecture that was built with pride by the community they served. You know the saying “they don’t build them like that anymore” it’s probably because they are difficult and expensive to build. They also require a lot of maintenance and are not energy efficient. Although they are beautiful, it’s hard to find a use for an old church when it is no longer needed that’s why I am fascinated when I see a church that has found a new purpose.
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I was roaming around the town of Frankfort on Lake Michigan looking at all the beautiful old houses and this immaculately landscaped old house caught my eye. I don’t know anything about the history of this house and I could not find any information on the internets but it does have a sign over the front door that reads: “Keepsake” If you are ever in the town of Frankfort, besides shopping and visiting the lighthouse be sure to drive around town and check out the old historic houses.
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A few miles from the main entrance to Porcupine Mountains State Park is the small town of Silver City. Next to an old boarded-up gift shop is a mangled propeller. It is about all that remains of a B-17 bomber that crashed in the Porkies. On April 18th, 1944 the B-17 was on a training mission when it left Sioux City Iowa headed to Marquette. During the flight an engine caught fire and they were ordered to land in Duluth Minnesota for repairs. Unfortunately, the underpowered airplane was not going to make it. Fortunately, the crew bailed out and landed safely on the ground. The bomber crashed in the trees somewhere south of the Lake In The Clouds
The flight crew managed to walk to Silver City. At the time, the old boarded-up gift shop was a bar and the airmen waited there for their rescue. The military quickly came in and recovered the wreckage of the airplane especially the machine guns that were onboard. One of the propellers was left at the bar in Silver City as a reminder of the incident. Fragments of the wreckage can still be found in the forest but it is a ways off one of the hiking trails and you have to bushwack your way through the trees to find it.
P.S. believe it or not, the B-17 propeller is not the only bent-up one on display in the Upper Peninsula. You can read about the one on my post HERE
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Rockport State Park is one of Michigan’s newest and most unique state parks. From 1914 until the end of the 1950s the site operated as a quarry loading freighters that carried the stone all around the Great Lakes. The foundations of the loading dock still stretch out into the crystal clear blue water of Lake Huron north of Alpena.
Photo of the loading dock and powerhouse from 1922
Stone from the quarry was used for the base of the towers on the Mackinac Bridge. After the quarry closed the buildings and structures were removed and the land sat vacant. In 2012 the site was converted into a state park allowing visitors to hike and explore the rocky landscape. You can still find remnants of structures and machinery along some of the trails in the old quarry.
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I saw this old farmhouse outside of Colon. I love the tall windows and the detail above them. I don’t know any history about it and the horses next to it would not talk to me.
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I saw this old barn somewhere near Mayville in the Thumb. I am not sure exactly where it is located because I was just roaming the backroads to see what I could find. I figure this barn is rather old since it has a stone foundation. It looked nice standing in the farmland.
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