November 2021 - Page 2 of 4 - Lost In Michigan

Mt Avon Cemetery

Posted on November 20, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery .

A few blocks from downtown Rochester is the historic Mount Avon Cemetery. A historical marker gives a little info and reads:

In 1826, Mount Avon became the first officially platted cemetery in Oakland County. The “Old Ground” or “Historic Acre” contains head-stones dating from 1817, the year the earliest settlers arrived in the area. Members of the Graham family, Rochester’s founders, are buried in Mount Avon, including James Graham (1818-1839), thought to be the first white child born in the county. In 1911 a statue of “Billy Yank” was erected in memory of Oakland County’s Civil War veterans.

While I was there taking photos I realized I was not alone.

A mother dear and her offspring were quietly eating among the headstones. Some of the old cemeteries were meant to be a parklike setting and it seems as if the deer find enjoyment in this historic graveyard.

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Pine School

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

I saw this old school hidden among the trees somewhere northwest of Harrisville. I saw that it was listed as the Pine School and was in use from 1901 to 1945. Other than that, I don’t know much about it. It looks as if it has been a long time since any lessons were taught in this old school.

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The Spirit Houses

Posted on November 18, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, upper peninsula .

Northwest of Brimley along the Lake Superior shoreline is Bay Mills. The area is home to the Bay Mills Indian tribe. Along the road is an old Indian Cemetery and according to the sign in the back it was established in 1841. The graves are covered with wooden spirit houses. The wooden houses are built to protect the body as the soul passes to the spirit world. Many times relatives would leave food and tools for the deceased loved one to use as they travel to the spirit world.

The cemetery is not open to the public but it is next to the road. I took this pic from the fence. Sometimes I will see spirit houses in other cemeteries, especially in northern Michigan. Next time you are out exploring the mitten state and you see an old cemetery with wooden houses now you will know what they are if you didn’t already.

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Haight Township Hall

Posted on November 17, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Iconic Buildings, upper peninsula .

While I was traveling down US-45 north of Paulding I came across this beautiful two-story yellow building. The sign at the top reads “Town Hall 1904” It is Haight Township Hall. Traveling around Michigan I come across a lot of small rural township halls and offices. most are ordinary-looking buildings and some are former schoolhouses. This one in Haight Township on the west side of the UP is magnificent. Unfortunately, I was not able to find out any history on the building but I did stop the get a few pics.

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Shetland Schoolhouse

Posted on November 16, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Schools .

This old Schoolhouse sits along M-22 in the Leelanau Peninsula. The sign above the door reads Shetland School 1871. It closed in 1959 and is now privately owned.

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The Stone Home in the Thumb

Posted on November 15, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, Thumb .

I think this has to be one of Michigan’s most unique houses. It is near Lake Huron south of Lexington. This one-of-a-kind house was hand-built using stones and sand from Lake Huron by Valentine Falzon, a stonemason from Malta. The Eiffel Towers and Leaning Tower Of Pisa on the fence is an interesting design element.

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The Church in Arcadia

Posted on November 14, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Churches .

This historic white church stands in the western Michigan town of Arcadia. The historic town is south of Frankfort and was originally named Starkeville after Henry Starke. The post office changed the name of the town to Arcadia which is the name of the township that it is in.

This beautiful historic church stands near the center of town. A Michigan historical marker gives a little bit of history and reads:

In 1880 many Germans left Milwaukee and settled in Manistee County. Among them was lumberman Henry Starke, who vowed to return to Wisconsin if no Lutheran church could be found. Instead, he helped to organize this congregation in 1881, and he platted Arcadia the same year. In 1887 Starke donated land and money for this Neo-Gothic church, completed in 1888. The complex grew to include a parsonage, a school, and a teacherage.

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A Grand Hike

Posted on November 13, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Nature .

It is an enjoyable hike along the Grand River in Grand Ledge, especially in the Autumn time. They say a pic is worth a thousand words so I figure I will let it speak for itself.

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Light From The Birdcage

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

I am excited to announce that my new book has just been released. Light From The Birdcage is a creative non-fiction story about a day in isolation at the Waugoshance Lighthouse that tells the history of this abandoned and forgotten beacon. It also includes stories about the history of lighthouses on the Great Lakes and some of the keepers and people who maintained them. This is a little different than my Lost In Michigan books but if you love lighthouses, or know someone who does, I hope you will check it out. They are available on Amazon HERE

If you want to read the first few chapters you can find a PDF file HERE

Thank you for taking the time to read my posts and purchasing my books. Your kindness and support really mean a lot to me. The money I make from my books fund my website and exploration of Michigan. I hope you enjoy my latest book and if you are wondering I am currently working on Volume 6 of Lost In Michigan and hope to have it released in the spring of 2022.

Bell Cemetery

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Ghost towns .

The old Bell Cemetery is in the Besser Natural Area north of Alpena. The old cemetery is the eternal home of some of the residents of the ghost town of Bell. I am not sure what year the last burial took place but I am thinking it was a while ago. The sign above the entrance reads that the cemetery was restored in 1989 by the Presque Isle Lions.

The thing that I found interesting is that the crosses and headstones are cast out of concrete. It is not surprising that concrete was used because the area is one of the largest producers of cement. I wonder if the crosses and headstones were cast and placed during the 1989 restoration. It took me a while to find this unique cemetery but If you want to find it the cemetery is located almost directly west of the parking lot down a two-track trail. If you want to know more about the ghost town of Bell check out my post HERE.

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