The quaint town of Dansville, located about 20 miles southeast of Lansing, was incorporated in 1867. While exploring its charming downtown, I stumbled upon a peculiar-looking building. With its distinctive tower, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was once a historic firehouse, perhaps using the tower to dry and store hoses.
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The historic Springport Inn, situated on U.S. 23 south of Harrisville, has a rich history. It was once the grand residence of Civil War Captain Joseph Van Buskirk, a valiant soldier who served with the 2nd Michigan Infantry, Company F. Enlisting in 1861, Van Buskirk returned home after the war and constructed this magnificent home in 1877 for his family. A respected figure in the community, Van Buskirk was a successful local businessman until his passing in 1905. He is laid to rest in Springport Cemetery.
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On November 23, 1953, radar operators at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, detected an unidentified object breaching restricted airspace over Lake Superior. An F-89C interceptor, piloted by Captain Felix Moncla and radar operator Robert L. Wilson, was scrambled from Kinross Air Force Base (renamed Kincheloe Air Force Base in 1956) located in the Eastern U.P. to investigate.
Despite the advanced technology of the era, the F-89C’s radar struggled to track the erratic movements of the mysterious object. Ground control guided Moncla as he pursued the unidentified craft at speeds exceeding 500 miles per hour.
Radar operators witnessed the two blips on the screen—the F-89C and the unknown object—converge and ultimately merge into a single point approximately 70 miles off the Keweenaw Peninsula. The combined blip continued its course before vanishing from the radar. All attempts to contact the F-89C were unsuccessful. A joint search and rescue operation by the United States and Canadian Air Forces yielded no trace of the aircraft or its crew.
The event, now known as the Kinross Incident, remains shrouded in intrigue. The U.S. Air Force’s official explanation—that the jet crashed while pursuing a stray Canadian aircraft—has been disputed by the Royal Canadian Air Force, as Sudbury Airport was under construction at the time.
While some theories, including a potential encounter with a UFO, have circulated, the most likely explanation, supported by extensive research, points to a tragic accident during a snowstorm while pursuing a lost aircraft. Captain Moncla’s gravestone in his hometown of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, bears a poignant inscription: “Disappeared Nov. 23, 1953 intercepting an UFO over Canadian Border as Pilot of a Northrup F89 Jet Plane.”
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Stinchfield Woods, a ten-mile northwest trek from Ann Arbor, is a serene natural haven owned by the University of Michigan. Open to the public, the woods invite hikers to immerse themselves in nature’s beauty.
Intrigued by the prospect of seeing the University of Michigan’s observatory, I ventured up Peach Mountain Road. Established in 1955, this observatory has served as a hub for research, instruction, and amateur astronomy, housing both optical and radio telescopes. However, the McMath-Hulbert telescope, once a centerpiece, ceased operations in 1979, transferring control to the University Lowbrow Astronomers.
As I delved deeper into the woods, the distinctive domed structures of the observatory emerged through the trees, roughly half a mile in. Unfortunately, a chained-off road and a “No Admittance” sign halted my progress, preventing a closer look. While disappointed, I was surprised I was able to get a close as I did. Oh well, from here I went to Hell, but that’s a post for another day.
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Situated in the center of the charming community of Norwood, south of Charlevoix, stands an old schoolhouse, a relic of the town’s vibrant past. Founded in 1866 by Orvis Wood, Lucius Pearl, and Orwin Adams, Norwood thrived as a bustling lumber-shipping center. The town’s strategic location on the shores of Lake Michigan, coupled with its abundance of timber, fueled its growth. Sawmills, a company store, and blacksmith shops dotted the landscape. The name “Norwood” was aptly chosen, reflecting the town’s serene setting in the northern woods. As the lumber industry waned, so too did Norwood’s population. Today, the town is a peaceful retreat, primarily residential, with a charming church and the historic schoolhouse, now a museum, preserving its rich heritage.
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I saw this old store southwest of Houghton Lake. According to Google maps it is in the town of Butterfield. I could not find much info about the town other than the post office opened in 1894 and closed in 1922. It looks as if this old store has been closed for a long time also. I have crisscrossed all over Michigan and it was the first time I have been through Butterfield. It is definitely in a remote part of the Lower Peninsula.
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Deep within the woods of Maybury State Park west of Northville, a pair of dilapidated cars remain as silent witnesses to a bygone era. One, overturned and skeletal, barely resembles a vehicle. The other, upright but stripped of its parts, stands as a haunting reminder of decay.
The park’s history is as intriguing as its eerie relics. Once a bustling hub, the Maybury Sanatorium opened its doors in 1919. A self-contained city, it boasted 40 buildings and its own power plant. However, as medical advancements rendered its services obsolete, the sanitarium closed in 1969. By 1975, most of its structures had been demolished. The State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources then acquired the land, transforming it into the serene Maybury State Park we know today.
The cars would be difficult to remove so I guess it was determined it would be best for them to stay where they are near the mountain bike trail. Not much remains of the sanitarium but a few foundations and some old roads. I am glad the cars are there as a reminder of a different time.
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These historic barracks stand within Detroit’s Fort Wayne, a military fortress constructed in the 1840s. Over the decades, this fort served as a military fort during various wars before its eventual decommissioning. When I shared my visit with my father, he immediately recalled it as the very place where he was inducted into the Vietnam War draft. Seeing my photos of Fort Wayne several other veterans have told in me that this was their initial stop after boarding the bus, and it is where they swore their oath to defend the Constitution.
I believe the specific building where these oaths were administered has sadly been lost to time, other structures remain as poignant reminders of the countless men and women who dedicated their lives to the armed forces.
On this Veterans Day, let us express our deepest gratitude to all those who swore an oath to defend the Constitution and the United States of America.
A Note on Remembrance
Let us remember and honor their sacrifices every day.
Deep within the northern Michigan woods, a weathered stone motel, shrouded by time and nature, stands as a relic of the past. Moss-covered steps and a roof reclaimed by the forest whisper tales of a bygone era. This forgotten gem is the Echo Valley Resort, once a vibrant hub on Johannesburg Lake. Now, nestled within the Louis M. Groen Nature Preserve near Johannesburg, it remains a captivating sight, though inaccessible due to safety concerns. As the preserve continues its mission to protect the natural beauty of the area, one can only hope that a future plan will emerge for this historic structure.
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I came across an old structure in the quaint town of Sears, which is situated at the intersection of US-10 and M-66 in the heart of the Lower Peninsula. Initially, the town was called Orient, named after the township it belonged to. However, after the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad established a depot there in 1870, the town was renamed Sears in honor of a railroad surveyor.
Nowadays, the train no longer makes stops in this small town, and only a few houses and a Post Office remain.
P.S. I just assumed the town was named after for Sears and Roebuck but like many other things I assumed, I was incorrect.
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