March 2025 - Lost In Michigan

The Showplace of Northeastern Michigan

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings .

The Temple Theatre, Saginaw’s “Showplace of Northeastern Michigan,” was rescued from demolition in 2002 by the Shaheen family, who restored its 1927 grandeur. Built after a fire destroyed the city’s previous concert hall, the Temple Theatre was a technological marvel, featuring fireproof construction, geothermal cooling, exceptional acoustics, and advanced stage rigging and lighting systems. It originally hosted live vaudeville acts and silent films with orchestral accompaniment, and boasted a custom-built Butterfield Special Barton Pipe Organ, opus #195.

One other thing about the theater is that it’s where my story begins. My parents met here while working at the theater when they were in high school.

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Frank Murphy’s House

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, people, Thumb .

The picturesque town of Harbor Beach, nestled in Michigan’s Thumb, holds a piece of history: a beautiful gothic house, its white siding contrasting with a verdant green roof. A sign proclaims it the Murphy Museum, and a bronze plaque details the remarkable life of Frank Murphy. Born in this very town in 1890, Murphy’s journey took him from local lawyer to the highest echelons of American government. He served as Mayor of Detroit, Governor of Michigan, and U.S. Attorney General, culminating in his appointment to the Supreme Court by Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Justice Murphy’s legacy is defined by his unwavering commitment to civil rights, most notably his powerful dissent against the Japanese internment camps, which he denounced as “legalized racism.” This house, his former home and law office, now stands as a testament to his enduring connection to Harbor Beach, where he was ultimately buried at Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Cemetery.

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The Towering Structure in Norway

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, upper peninsula .

US-2 spans across the Upper Peninsula and passes through the town of Norway. It is hard to miss the ragged concrete structure that towers over the town. Located a few blocks off the highway is the Headframe of the Briar Hill Mine. In its time the mine was one of the most productive in upper Michigan.

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The Barn House

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Barns and Farms, Houses .

Near Horton Bay by Charlevoix, I came across this fascinating building—I’m not sure if it’s a barn or a house. It has such a distinctive look, and I’m left wondering about its layout and design inside

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Good Hart General Store

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in General Store .

A journey through the M-119 Tunnel of Trees wouldn’t be truly complete without visiting the Good Hart General Store. Open year-round, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy their renowned pot pies or indulge in some freshly baked cookies during the winter months. Established in 1934, this delightful store maintains its historic charm, making you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time as soon as you walk through the front door.

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Brick Walker Tavern

Posted on March 20, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places .

Built in 1853, the Brick Walker Tavern stands as a testament to the era of stagecoach travel. Located south of Brooklyn at the junction of US-12 and M-50, it once offered respite to those journeying between Detroit and Chicago. Today, this historic structure has been repurposed as a wedding venue, facing the original Walker Tavern, which is also a preserved as a historic site.

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The Ghost Fleet of Bay City

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Ships and Boats .

A stroll along the Vets Park riverwalk in Bay City offers a glimpse into the past, with metal and timber remnants visible in the water. These are the vestiges of ships from the once-thriving Davidson Shipyard, which occupied the park’s southern section. James Davidson founded the company in 1873, overseeing its operations until his passing in 1929. The shipyard succumbed to the economic pressures of the Great Depression, closing its doors a few years later. Abandoned wooden vessels were left moored in the Saginaw River.

In the 1940s and 50s, these ships met a fiery end, burning down to the waterline. The timbers now protruding from the water, when the river level is low, are the remnants of their hulls. From an aerial view, the visible metal components are identifiable as boilers, specifically those of the SHENANDOAH, a ship constructed by Davidson Shipyard in 1894.

Some of the hulls can still be seen on Google maps

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Downtown Michigamme

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in upper peninsula .

Down town Michigamme. It’s a nifty little town on the shores of Lake Michigamme. M-28 runs next to it and if you don’t turn off the main road you would never know its there. Its a nice stopping point between L’Anse and Marquette.

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The Grice House

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, Thumb .

Situated on M-25, just north of Harbor Beach and facing the marina, sits a picturesque fieldstone house constructed by James Grice, an English settler arriving in the 1860s. This historic home, which survived the infamous 1881 fire, now serves as a museum, allowing visitors to step back in time and experience the daily life of past generations.

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Central Mine Ghost Town

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Ghost towns, upper peninsula .

located way up in the Keweenaw Peninsula between Calumet and Copper Harbor off US-41 is the former mining town of Central Mine. It was also the name of the company that built the town. The mine was open in the 1850s and closed in the 1890s after the copper ore was depleted. The town at one time had a population of 900 residents. The miners who were mostly immigrants from Cornwall England moved away after The Central Mine turned off the pumps and sealed the shafts. In the 1950s, the last permanent resident in the town of Central Mine abandoned the once booming little town.

The Keweenaw County Historical Society owns 38 acres of the old Central Mine site and town. It operates the visitors center located in a former house. The society has also restored several houses and buildings in the old town. In the summer months, some buildings are open to visitors and decorated with antiques from the period they were built. Its closed up in the winter but it was fun to drive through it and imagine what it must have been like before four wheel drive trucks and snowmobiles.

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