July 2022 - Page 2 of 2 - Lost In Michigan

Lost In Michigan Books are ON SALE

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

Lost In Michigan Volume 1 is 40% OFF at Amazon. If you have not picked up a copy now is a great time to get one for yourself or as a gift. You can find them HERE

Thank You to all of you that purchased a book. Your kindness and support means a lot to me and help me with expenses to do my website. Some of you have purchased all of my books and have visited all the locations in them. It amazes me how many people love Michigan but it is not surprising since it is such a beautiful state.

Thank you all for taking the time to read my posts and share them with your friends. It is a wonderful feeling to have people who appreciate what you do. I try my best to create posts that you will find interesting and informative.

Enjoy the journey,

Mike Sonnenberg.

Wreckage of the S.S. Joseph S. Fay

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Ships and Boats .

The lighthouse keeper’s log at 40 Mile Point for October 20, 1905 simply reads: “At 8:30 p.m. last night the steamer, J. S. Fay, came ashore here in a sinking condition. She soon broke up. Most of the crew came ashore on the Pilot House. Three men swam ashore, the mate was drowned.” The entry for December 4, 1905 reads: “The assistant found a dead man on the beach about 1 mile up. We think it is the mate of the Fay.”

The Joseph S. Fay was a wooden steamer built in 1871 and was one of the first Great Lake freighters built for the iron ore trade. On October 19, 1905 in heavy seas, the Fay with the Rhodes in tow, departed from Escanaba, Michigan and was downbound on Lake Huron The captain hugged the coast seeking some protection from the violent wind and savage waves. The wind shifted violently straining the towline tightened, pulling it taut until the Rhodes broke free taking a portion of the Fay’s stern with her.

Water rushed into the hull and the crew crowded into the forward cabin. The captain struggled to bring the Fay around and head to shore toward 40 Mile Point Light Station. Her bow struck a sandbar and the entire forward cabin was torn off. The wheelhouse, deck, mate’s and captain’s rooms were ripped from the deck. Incredibly, huge waves lifted the structure and carried it to shore where it washed up on the sandy beach near the light station. The captain and 10 crewmen were safe inside. In fact, one of the crewmen was reported to be asleep and didn’t even wake up.

First Mate David Syze of Port Huron and two other crewmen weren’t so fortunate. Clinging to the beached hull, the struggling men ripped off a spar and used it to paddle to shore. The first mate attempted to swim, but was overcome by the cold and was lost.

if you visit 40 Mile Point Light Station Near Rogers City and stroll up the beach about 200 yards, you can see some 150 feet of her huge wooden side, metal rods and spikes holding her steady, resting in the sand.

CLICK HERE to read my post about the 490 Mile Point Light Station

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The Big House in Hudson

Posted on July 9, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

I saw this large house in Hudson in southern Michigan. I was not able to find any history about it other than it is now used as an assisted living facility. It is a beautiful looking building.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Geodetic Control Mark

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Benchmarks .

Around the state and the country are benchmarks used by surveyors to identify locations. There is one at Lumberman’s Monument along the Au Sable River near Oscoda that is unique. It is much larger than other benchmarks and is one of about ten highly accurate survey markers for precise locations. It was placed in 2005 as part of the U.S. Forest Service’s a Century of Service Celebration.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Lonely House

Posted on July 5, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places .

I saw this old house or maybe an old schoolhouse hiding among some trees and I had to stop and take a photo. I was out roaming the backroads somewhere between Richmond and Marine City when I came upon it. I was not able to find out any history and walls don’t talk so I continued on my way left to wonder what the story is of this old forgotten house.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Lost In Lowell

Posted on July 3, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in small towns .

While out exploring Michigan I like to go and visit small towns I have never been to before, and see what there is. I love it when they still have a historic downtown area like the one in Lowell. If I am really adventurous, I just look at the map, and find a town I have never been to, and take a drive there just to see what is there. hopefully, I will find something interesting along the way also but I guess you will never know unless you make the journey.

Lowell was founded as a trading post on the south bank of the Grand River in 1831 by Daniel Marsac. In 1847, he purchased land on the north side of the river and platted it as “Dansville”. In 1851, a post office was established there named “Lowell” after the township. The community was replatted in 1854 and renamed after the post office. It incorporated as a village in 1861.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Nahma Locomotive

Posted on July 1, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Train Depots, upper peninsula .

The historic town of Nahma started as a company sawmill town. It sits along Lake Michigan a few miles from US-2. The town of Nahma was established in 1881 by the Bay De Noquet Lumber Company. They built a railroad to haul logs to the sawmill. In 1912, The Nahma and Northern Railway purchased Locomotive #5. The tracks are gone but the old locomotive sits in a park in town. If you have kids that like trains, or a big kid like me that likes trains it is a nice little side trip from US-2 to see this old locomotive.

I have a story about the town of Nahma in my latest volume of Lost In Michigan HERE.

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