October 2021 - Lost In Michigan

Gay Old Mill

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, upper peninsula .

The town of Gay is located along the east side of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Its most well-known landmark is the Gay Bar, but a little ways down the road is a tall chimney. It was part of the old Mohawk and Wolverine Stamp Mill. Rail cars full of ore would come into the mill and dump the ore where it would be pulverized and the copper extracted. The remaining sand would be conveyed out to the Lake Superior shoreline. The mill operated from 1900 to 1932 and produced 22 million metric tons of sand. Over the decades the sand has eroded into Lake Superior affecting the spawning of trout and salmon. The state and EPA are working on relocating the sand and controlling the erosion.

When I was there taking photos a lady was placing a sign for the museum and invited me to come to see it. Near the chimney is an old two-story building that served as a school for many years. It has now been turned into a museum and there I learned a lot about the old stamp mill and the town of Gay. It was the first time I have ever been along the east side of the Keweenaw. I mostly travel up the west side to see Eagle Habor and Brockway Mountain. If you are ever in the Keweenaw be sure to take a trip along the east side. The road that travels along the lake is a beautiful drive and you can stop in the town of Gay and learn some history or get a drink at the Gay Bar.

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Michigan’s Haunted Mouth Cemetery

Posted on October 20, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Haunted Places .

Near the mouth of the White River not far from Montague is an old cemetery. The cemetery’s name comes from the fact that it is near the mouth of the river. The oldest known burial in the cemetery dates back to 1851, but there are unmarked graves that date back even further. It’s said that an Indian village existed at the mouth of the river a long time ago. An attack by an enemy tribe killed off most of the villagers and some of their remains lay buried in the old cemetery.

People have claimed to hear footsteps following them around the cemetery and when they turn around to see who it would be there is nobody there. Others say that strange mists and screams come from the surrounding woods. It is an old cemetery and one of the most famous residents is William Robinson. the former White River lighthouse keeper who is said to haunt the old lighthouse not far from the cemetery. you can read my post about it HERE

There is also an urban legend about a young man who sat in a chair that existed in the old cemetery. It was exactly one year after he sat in the chair that he died in a car accident. It was said that many people came to the cemetery to sit in the infamous chair but it has been removed.

When I visited nothing strange happened. It was a little overgrown, but a beautiful old cemetery. I did notice a rather unique looking headstone in the back with face masks of the husband and wife to mark their final resting place.

If you visit, please be respectful so that it will remain open to visitors.

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A Fieldstone Schoolhouse

Posted on October 19, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Schools .

This historic old schoolhouse made from fieldstones sits in Otsego County northwest of Gaylord. From what I found out it is known as Shaff School.

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Tioga Creek

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in upper peninsula, Waterfalls .

Michigan has several nice little roadside parks in the Upper Peninsula. They are always a nice place to stop and take a break on a long road trip. I especially like the ones with a waterfall like the one at Tioga Creek where it crosses US-41 bwtween L’Anse and Ishpeming. There is also a waterfall a couple hundred yards into the woods but that is a post for a different day.

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The Chapel In The Woods

Posted on October 17, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Churches .

Nestled among the trees in Hartwick Pines State Park near Grayling is this little chapel made of logs. It’s a short hike thru the old growth forests to get to the little church but it’s a beautiful walk and worth the trip to visit this quiet place in the woods. If you have followed my website for any length of time you may have noticed I have posted several photos of churches over the years. Michigan has some spectacular historic churches with steeples that reach into the sky. Although this little chapel may not be a massive structure in the heart of a large Michigan city I think it’s one of my favorite churches I have visited.

Inside the church is a sign on the altar with Nature’s Prayer written on it and reads:

Our Heavenly Father, Creator of all that is nature,
We humbly come to you in the midst of nature’s splendor,
To thank you that as Americans we are free
To worship as we please, work as we please,
And move about as we please to enjoy all that is nature:
Its mountains, its hills, its valleys, its lakes,
Its streams, and the living things that dwell therein;
We pray unto You that someday the world may be at peace
And all men be free to enjoy nature’s abundance.
We ask you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
That we be guided to protect this priceless heritage
Which we, in America, are privileged to enjoy. Amen.

P.S. Facebook comments seem to be working again. ( it was something wrong with Facebook but I think they have it fixed, at least I hope so )

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The Backside of the Tahquamenon Falls

Posted on October 16, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in upper peninsula, Waterfalls .

I have been visiting the Tahquamenon Falls for decades and marveled at its beauty. In my photos of the Upper Falls, I have noticed a platform on the other side. I looked on Google maps and there is a road that heads up towards the falls from the backside of the river.

On my most recent trip to the falls this Autumn I took the trip through the woods to see if I could get to the platform on the other side. I drove down the forest roads for over 30 minutes, I noticed a lot of signs for private hunting clubs and I began to get that sinking feeling that there was a reason why I have seen few photos from the opposite side of the falls.

As I got within a couple of miles of the falls it finally happened. I hit a gate and signs for private property. I was disappointed that my journey had come to an end but it was a beautiful ride through the woods on an Autumn day. I figured there was a chance that I may fail in my attempt but I knew that if I didn’t try then my curiosity would bother me for years as I wondered if I could make it to the other side. So if you have seen that platform and have wondered about it now you know that it is not accessible.

If you like this post, check out the Lost In Michigan books that are ON SALE on Amazon HERE

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The Old Stone Bridge

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Bridges .

I saw this old stone bridge crossing the Bean Creek in the southern Michigan town of Hudson. I knew it was historically significant with the historical marker next to it. The marker reads:

The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway organized on May 27, 1869. The railroad’s main line linked Buffalo, New York, with Chicago. The railroad played a vital role in transporting not only passengers, but also the materials that fed the nation’s burgeoning industries. Between 1873 and 1898, the L.S. & M.S. handled over 6 million tons of coal and 15 million tons of ore. The railway merged with the New York Central in 1914.

The bridge, built in 1871-72 of sandstone from Berea, Ohio, crosses Bean Creek on the main line of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway. The span of the arch measures 60 feet. By 1892, of 223 bridges over 1413 miles of track along the line, only 22 were built of stone. Stone arch bridges are rare in Michigan. This bridge and one near Adrian are the state’s oldest examples. The bridge was removed from rail service in 1962.

P.S. Just to let you know Zazzle.com has Lost In Michigan calendars 50% off. you can find them by clicking HERE

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Lost In Michigan Books 3 for the price of 2

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

I know this is not my usual post but I wanted to let you know Lost In Michigan Volume 1, volume 4 and Volume 5 are ON SALE at Amazon and part of their Buy 3 for the price of 2 special. You can find volume 5 HERE and Volume 1 HERE and Volume 4 HERE

There are lots of other great Michigan books included with the special promotion like these:

Under The Radar Michigan: The First 50

Michigan State and National Parks

Waterfalls of Michigan: A Guide to More Than 130 Waterfalls in the Great Lakes State

Michigan Off the Beaten Path

The Legend of Michigan (Myths, Legends, Fairy and Folktales)

Camping Michigan: A Comprehensive Guide To Public Tent And Rv Campgrounds

A Traveler’s Guide to 116 Michigan Lighthouses

True Crime: Michigan: The State’s Most Notorious Criminal Cases

You can see all the items available for the Buy 3 for the Price of 2 HERE

Thank you so much to all of you that have purchased my books and T-shirts over the years. It is with your support that I am able to continue posting on my website.

The Hoaston House

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Houses, upper peninsula .

Thomas H. Hoatson was the vice president of the Calumet and Arizona Mining Company that had successful mining operations in Arizona. He grew up the son of a miner in the Keweenaw and chose to live there with his family. In 1907, he built this magnificent house in Laurium as a surprise for his wife and children. It is one of the largest houses built in the Upper Peninsula with 45 rooms. His family lived in the house until his death in 1927 and then it changed owners a few times until it was turned into a funeral home in the 1940s. In 1979 the owner of the funeral home Maynerd Hurlbut Killed his wife and grandson before killing himself. The home sat vacant for several years but was restored in the 1990s and converted into a bed and breakfast called the Laurium Manor.

FYI Volumes 1, 4 and 5 are part of Amazon’s buy 3 for the price of 2 sales special, you can see them HERE or a list of items included in the sale HERE

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Art Deco Powerhouse

Posted on October 13, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings .

This beautiful art deco-styled building stands in Milford’s Central Park. It stands along Pettibone Creek and was the powerhouse for Ford’s carburator plant.

The building was designed by famed architect Alber Kahn and the windows on the sides allowed for viewing the generators. The powerhouse was constructed in 1938. The carburetor plant was torn down in 2001 but the powerhouse still remains standing.

Just a reminder that I will be giving a presentation on spooky and haunted locations from around Michgian on

Tuesday, October 26th At 7:00pm

Milford Independent Cinema
945 E. Summit St.
Milford, MI 48381

doors open at 6:30pm, and the presentation starts at 7pm.

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