October 2022 - Lost In Michigan

The Black River Foot Bridge

Posted on October 30, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, upper peninsula .

The Black River empties into Lake Superior not far from the Wisconsin Border. At the mouth of the river is the Black River Harbor managed by the National Forest Service. The 210 foot suspension bridge was built in 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It was reconstructed in 1967 and refurbished in 2009. The bridge is part of the North Country Scenic Trail and allows hikers to cross the Black River wit a spectacular view as it bounces and sways as you cross it.

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A Ride On The SS Badger

Posted on October 28, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Ships and Boats .

If you have been reading my posts for a while you might remember me asking about taking a rid on the SS Badger back in the spring. I took my trip across Lake Michigan on the historic ferry and I figured I should do a post about my trip.

I came across on October 15, 2022 from Manitowoc. It was a Saturday and the second to the last trip of the season. There was a light breeze and the weather was nice. A little chilly but that can be expected in October. The crew loaded the jeep and my wife and I sat in the lounge and played badger bingo during the trip. I was lucky enough to win a round and got a can koozie for my prize.

The old ship rolled side to side but it never bothered me. Sitting down I did not notice it that much but when walking around you had to be careful as the deck moved around underneath your feet. As far as crossing go, I am not sure if it was average or smoother than others but It was a nice crossing. I am not sure what it would be like in a storm but I thought the crossing was great.

My wife and I really enjoyed the trip and it made for a fun adventure. I recommend if you get a chance to do it that you should and I hope I get the chance to do it again sometime.

P.S. If you want to see some of my pics and stories from Wisconsin be sure to check out my other website Lost In The States HERE

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The Legend of Lakeville Cemetery

Posted on October 26, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Haunted Places .

The community of Lakeville is located between Oxford and Romeo. It is there that you will find one of the oldest cemeteries in the state that was started in 1846. One of the earliest burials was Private Derrick Hulick, a veteran of the American Revolution who enlisted in the New Jersey militia in June 1776.

At the side of the cemetery is a mausoleum dug into the hillside. It is for James and Elizabeth Dunn, who ran a local sawmill in the early 1890s. James passed in 1930, Elizabeth in 1952. There are several urban legends and myths surrounding the old tomb. On suggests that a young teen couple was dared to spend the night in the tomb and died overnight. Another is that a teen girl was locked inside and she died while clawing at the door trying to escape. And another is that an axe murderer hid bodies in the tomb.

While there is no proof that any of this is true the urban legends continues to live on. I did not see any strange events or spirits when I visited. I thought it was a beautiful historic cemetery with an old and interesting stone mausoleum in the hillside.

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Fallasburg School

Posted on October 24, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Schools .

The town of Fallasburg lies just east of the famous Fallasburg covered bridge north of Lowell. The school was built in 1867 and was used for almost a century until it closed in 1961. It is now a museum by the Fallasburg Historical Society. If you are ever in the area be sure to take a trip over the bridge and drive through the historic town. The bridge is featured on the cover of Volume 3 of my Lost In Michigan book series. A story of the historic town and bridge can be found in it also.

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St Peter The Fisherman Cemetery

Posted on October 22, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, upper peninsula .

south of the historic Fayette townsite is an old cemetery on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. A sign next to the road denotes it is St Peter The Fisherman Cemetery. It was the Catholic cemetery for Fayette and a protestant cemetery was north of town. A short trail from the road leads to the cemetery hidden in the trees.

It is a beautiful little cemetery with old headstones and newer wooden crosses. One of the earliest burials was in 1877. The one thing that stood out to me was the metal fencing surround a couple of burial plots. It was strange how it was all mangled and twisted as if some supernatural force hit it. I am thinking a tree fell on it or maybe ice from a storm but for whatever reason it looked odd. If you like old cemeteries and you are visiting Fayette be sure to check out the old cemetery. It is near the Port Bar & Family Restaurant.

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The Inspirational House

Posted on October 20, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

This house with the tower in the front stands in the town of Marshall and inspired a book that was made into a movie. The historic Cronin House is located down the street from the high school. John Bellairs, born in 1938, grew up in Marshall Michigan and walked past this house on his way to and from school. Bellairs went on to become a successful author of fantasy novels. He wrote the book The House With a Clock in its Walls in 1973 inspired by the Cronin house. In 2018 the book was made into a movie starring Jack Black and Cate Blanchet.

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First Roadside Park

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Michigan Historical Markers, upper peninsula .

Last week I took a trip across the Upper Peninsula and I stopped at a roadside park on US-2 near Iron River. The historical marker in the park notes that it is the first roadside park in Michigan and reads:

In 1918 the Iron County Board of Supervisors approved the recommendation of the road commission, through its engineer-manager, Herbert F. Larson, to purchase this 320-acre tract of roadside virgin timber and to dedicate it as a forest preserve. The following year Iron County established Michigan’s first roadside park and picnic tables. This was quite likely America’s first such facility. Since then similar parks have been provided by most states for the comfort and enjoyment of the traveling motorist.

After crossing the U.P. along US-2 I traveled to Duluth, Minnesota and up the North Shore and then back down through Wisconsin. If you want to see my posts from other states I hope you will take a look at my other website. https://lostinthestates.com/

This was my last big trip of the year and I have lots of great stuff to post over the winter. I hope you will check it out. If you like my posts on Lost In Michigan I am sure you will not be disappointed.

Little Mac Foot Bridge

Posted on October 16, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Bridges .

The Little Mac Foot Bridge crosses the Manistee River near the Hodenpyl Dam a few miles from Mesick. The wooden suspension bridge is 245 feet long. It is on the Manistee River Trail which is also part of the 4600 mile North Country Trail from Vermont to North Dakota. You don’t have to hike halfway across the country to visit this bridge, a parking area is on the west side of the river near the bridge. You can access it with your vehicle from Hodenpyl Dam road.

P.S. On the east side of the river along the Manistee River Trail is a little known small waterfall. You can read about it in my post HERE

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Autumn Lake House

Posted on October 14, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, upper peninsula .

I was on the old 510 Bridge near Marquette and saw this little lake house surrounded by the colorful autumn trees. I don’t know anything about it but I thought it made a pretty photo.

I wish the peak color could last longer but I guess that is what makes it so special.

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The Spirits of Quaker Cemetery

Posted on October 12, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Haunted Places .

concealed in the woods at the end of an unmarked two-track trail is the old Quaker Cemetery. It is in a desolate section a few miles south of Nashville. No, not that Nashville, known for country music, but Nashville Michigan.

Eli Lapham, a Quaker minister, settled the area in 1837. After a sawmill was constructed the area grew in population with people of the Quaker faith. over time the trees were cut down. The swampy area was not good for farming so the Quakers had left leaving behind a small cemetery on a hill.

Sadly many of the headstones are broken. I am not sure if it is due to the ravages of time or vandals, probably a little bit of both. Some say the surrounding woods are haunted by the spirits whose graves have been forgotten. It has been said that you can see spirits among the trees watching visitors. I did not see anyone or anything mysterious. It was sad to see the condition that some of the headstones are in. The old cemetery does seem to have been remembered by the local historical society. A new historical marker stands at the site and the grass was mowed. Maybe the spirits are a little more content and do not bother visitors as long as they behave themselves.

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