February 2023 - Lost In Michigan

The Yellow House In the Thumb

Posted on February 28, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, Thumb .

This Second Empire style mansion In Port Sanilac was built in the 1870s by Doctor Joseph Loop. A native of New York, Loop moved to Oakland County, Michigan, in 1843. he and his wife, Jane Gardner Loop pioneered this land in Sanilac County in 1854, and after graduating from the University of Michigan medical department in 1855, he opened a practice in Port Sanilac. When this home was built, he kept an office on the lower floor, and serviced a forty-mile circuit, bringing medical care to much of the county. Doctor Loop died in 1903 at the age of ninety-three, leaving the home to his only child, Ada. She and her husband, the Reverend Julius Harrison passed it in turn to one of their sons, Captain Stanley Harrison. In 1964 he deeded it to the Sanilac County Historical Society for a museum.

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The Keeper of the White River Lighthouse

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Haunted Places, Lighthouses .

William Robinson was appointed as the first keeper of the White River Lighthouse at the mouth of the White River North of Muskegon. After it was built in 1871 keeper Robinson and his wife Sarah moved into the little brick house where they raised their 13 children. William Robinson was the head keeper for 47 years and the Lighthouse board decided since he was 87 years old that the assistant keeper take over the duties of maintaining the lighthouse. Before Assistant keeper, William Bush, who was Robinson’s grandson officially became the head keeper, William peacefully died in the lighthouse that he loved and worked at for so many years. It is said that he and his wife’s spirit still remain at the lighthouse watching over it. Now I am not sure if it’s haunted but while I was there walking around taking photos of the tan brick lighthouse It sounded like footsteps in the snow. I kept turning around expecting to see someone but no one was there. I think it was just the chunks of ice in the river bumping into each other from the waves but I have to admit it was a strange experience. The lighthouse was deactivated in the 60s and is now a museum.

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Maybury

Posted on February 22, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in State Parks .

Maybury State Park sits west of Northville in the Metro Detroit area. The land was originally developed in 1919 as the Detroit Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium, the facility was later named for William H. Maybury who spearheaded its development and actually oversaw its construction. The sanitarium had around forty buildings and could generate power and grow most of its own food. It served as a quarantine and recovery center for people with tuberculosis. At that time, there was no cure for tuberculosis and the sanitarium provided comfort for the patients suffering from the disease. After the development of antibiotics tuberculosis was not as common and the sanitarium was closed in 1969. Most of the buildings had been torn down by 1975 when the State of Michigan acquired the land and redeveloped it into Maybury State Park. A metal sign with the words Maybury Sanitarium stands over the entrance for the hiking trails reminding visitors of the buildings that once stood there.

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A Small Town Lodge

Posted on February 18, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings .

This church-like white frame structure sits in the small town of Omer. It was built in 1890 as the second Arenac County Courthouse. The first courthouse on this site burned the previous year. Omer had been a part of Bay County until Arenac was organized in 1883 and this city, then a village, became the county seat. Less than a decade later, voters made nearby Standish the county seat. The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the state of Michigan purchased this building in 1893 for the Omer Masonic Lodge. Surviving the disastrous fire of 1914, which swept through Omer’s business district, this edifice housed the temporary headquarters of several firms. It is one of the city’s oldest buildings.

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The Stone House in Dowagic

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

This stone mansion in Dowagiac is known as “The Rockery”. The historic 1890’s Romanesque Mansion was built for Fred and Katie Lee, Fred was president of the Round Oak Stove Company. It was built with locally harvested uncut fieldstone and has oak, maple, mahogany, and butternut hardwoods in the floors, walls, and ceilings. The home was heated back in the day with eight fireplaces. It has recently been sold to new owners. I am not sure what the plans are for this historic home but it is beautiful with the stone façade.

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The Grand Rapids Castle

Posted on February 14, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in castles, Houses .

This grand old castle in Grand Rapids was designed by local architect William G. Robinson, this castle-like edifice was constructed in 1884-86 for Colonel E. Crofton Fox and his brother Charles. Built of granite block imported from Scotland, this house is a fine example of Chateauesque Style architecture. A Heritage Hill landmark, this house features leaded and stained glass windows, and a metal stair dormer superbly crafted to resemble stone. Its interior is adorned with parquet flooring in the entry hall and a carved oak staircase. It was refurbished as a restaurant in 1978 and last time I saw it the old house was being used as a dentist office.

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Port Sanilac Lighthouse

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses, Thumb .

The town of Port Sanilac stands along Lake Huron at the intersection of M-46 and M-25. The lighthouse in town has been guiding ships in this harbor town since 1886. It has a unique tapered tower that flares out at the top. I read somewhere this was done to conserve bricks during construction. The lighthouse is privately owned but you can get a good view of it from the park next to it.

FYI: Lost in Michigan volume 1 is currently buy one get one 50% OFF on Amazon You can see it by clicking HERE. It can be combined with several other products on sale including other Michigan books. You can see the other items on sale HERE

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The Castle of Knowledge

Posted on February 8, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Library .

Prominent grocer and druggist in Coldwater, Edwin R. Clark, donated the money to build this grand library. Constructed in 1886 the library has been a part of the community ever since. It reminds me of a great white castle with its turret standing tall on the corner of the building. An addition was added to the original building in 1979. Out front stands a historical marker declaring the beginning of the state’s Library Association. It reads:

The first formal step toward the founding of a state library association was taken by Mary A. Eddy, of the Coldwater Free Public Library in a letter to Henry M. Utley of the Detroit Public Library on January 13, 1891. They had discussed this matter at the 1890 meeting of the American Library Association in New Hampshire, A state association, they believed would be helpful to Michigan Librarians unable to attend national library conferences. Working closely with Lucy Ball, Grand Rapids Public Library, they awakened statewide interest and arranged the first Michigan meeting in Detroit, September 1, 1891. Mr. Utley became the association’s first president.

I am thankful we have such a wonderful library system in Michigan. If my local library in Saginaw does not have a book I need, I can request it from another library in Michigan. Even today with the internet, I still need to find information in books, and having the ability to access so many books is a blessing.

P.S. I also found this postcard of the library shortly after it was built and long before the addition was added in 1979. It must have been painted a different color before it was painted white.

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The Posse Schoolhouse

Posted on February 6, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Schools .

This building sits between Ionia and Saranac in the Ionia State Recreation Area. It has Dist. No. 4 1898 over the door. It was the Section 34, Berlin Township, school and was built to replaces the Sessions School which was built across the road. Known as the “Posse House.” Deeded to Ionia County for use by the Sheriff’s Posse, it has a star painted on the front that reads “Ionia County Sheriff’s Posse Clubhouse”. I assume they use it as a staging area for riding horses through the recreation area.

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The Voight House

Posted on February 2, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

This grand old house sits in Grand Rapids. A historical marker stands near it and reads:

This elegant and perfectly preserved Victorian mansion was built for Carl G. A. Voigt in 1895. Voigt came to Grand Rapids in 1870 and ran a mill and dry goods store with W. G. Herpolsheimer. In 1902, when the partnership ended, Voigt took over the milling works. The house designed by eminent local architect William G. Robinson, was inspired by the chateaux at Chenonceaux, France. The interior is furnished opulently with original possessions of the Voigt Family. In 1972, a year after the death of the last occupant, Ralph Voigt, the house became a public museum.

Thank you all so much for reading my posts. I just wanted to let you know that I have just published my latest book Lost In Indiana. If you live in southern Michigan and like to travel to the Hoosier state, or just like reading about interesting places in the United States, I hope you will check it out. You can see a preview of it on Amazon HERE

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