This old building stands in Gould City and now serves as the Newton Township History Museum. I am not sure what the story is with the building, it looks as if it was an old store long ago. Gould City stands off of US-2 between Naubinway and Gulliver. The museum is open on Saturdays, I guess I will have to go back sometime when it is open.
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This historic old mill, now part of the Hemlock Hills On Mill Pond property, stands near Posen, northwest of Alpena.
Its story began with Michael Elowsky, a Prussian immigrant who fled unrest in Eastern Europe in 1862. After settling briefly in Detroit and being joined by his family, he migrated to Presque Isle County around 1870. Utilizing President Lincoln’s Homestead Act of 1865, Elowsky secured land at no cost on the north branch of the Thunder Bay River, near Posen.
He established the mill complex by building a log dam and relocating part of an existing structure from Trout River. Over time, he developed a significant operation encompassing flour, shingle, siding, planing, and lathe milling. This essential complex served the local communities, with residents from Metz, Posen, and Krakow townships bringing their grain and timber to be processed.
A key innovation was introduced by Michael’s son, Emil Elowsky, who, with the help of Thomas Edison, added a generator and electric lights. This allowed the mill to operate continuously, 24 hours a day.
The mill’s operational life concluded at the end of the harvest season in October of 1963. Tragically, a massive spring run-off following a winter of heavy snowfall (1963-1964) caused the original log dam to collapse. This floodwaters also destroyed the family’s sawmill located across the river on the south bank.
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This old schoolhouse stands in the thumb southwest of Columbiaville. Called the Vermilya school It was constructed in 1875. The school closed in 1941 and the students sent to Columbiaville. It looks as if this old schoolhouse has been forgotten and is slowly deteriorating.
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The history of this house near the tip of the Old Mission Peninsula begins with Peter Dougherty, a Presbyterian missionary who arrived in the Grand Traverse Bay area in 1838 to establish a mission for the Ojibwe and Odawa tribes. After initially settling in Elk Rapids, he relocated here at the request of Chief Ahgosa and proceeded to sketch some of the region’s first maps in 1839-1840. Following his marriage to Maria Higgins, Dougherty and local Native Americans constructed this residence, the Dougherty Mission House, in 1842. Beyond providing religious sermons and caring for the sick, Dougherty significantly contributed by translating biblical lessons and scripture into the Anishinaabemowin language, which he published in the mid-1840s. The structure was later renamed the “Old Mission House” in 1852 when the Dougherty family moved to establish a new mission in Omena.
The property entered its next phase in 1861 when it was purchased by Solon Rushmore, who used profits from local fruit crops to remodel parts of the building. Following Solon’s death in 1870, his cousin Duranty Rushmore acquired the estate. Capitalizing on the growing resort industry driven by improved transportation, Duranty began welcoming tourists in 1876, establishing the site as the Rushmore House, an inn that could host up to thirty guests. After Duranty passed away in 1894, his son William and daughter-in-law Minnie continued operating the inn until William’s death in 1916. The house remained in private hands until 1961 when Virginia Larson purchased it from the Rushmore family. In 2006, local citizens bought the property and gifted it to Peninsula Township, leading to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
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The Memphis Cemetery, situated south of Memphis, Michigan, is home to a truly puzzling monument marking the grave sites of the Miller family. At the back corner of the grounds rests an enormous, 2,800-pound black marble sphere set atop a granite pedestal. Erected following Eli Miller’s death in 1903, the monument quickly captured local attention when the massive sphere began to inexplicably turn on its base. This mysterious rotation earned it the enduring local nickname: the “Witch’s Ball.” The physical evidence of this movement is visible in a circle of rough marble on the sphere’s surface; this unpolished area was originally the base when the monument was placed, facing down. Over the years, it has moved significantly upward, demonstrating the complete, unassisted turning of the heavy stone.
The rotation of this 2,800-pound mass defies simple explanation. It is certainly too heavy to be manually pushed or rotated by individuals. While environmental factors, such as freeze-thaw cycles, are often posited for similar phenomena, experts largely discount them as the cause of such substantial and sustained movement in this specific case. Despite decades of observation, no definitive, scientific reason has been established for how the sphere manages to slowly rotate on its pedestal, cementing its status as a genuine local mystery. This persistent enigma is the foundation of the supernatural lore surrounding the monument.
The unsolved movement has naturally fostered a host of local beliefs and superstitions surrounding the Witch’s Ball. Some people claim the sphere holds mystical powers, suggesting that looking into its polished surface may reveal apparitions and spirits reflected back at the viewer. Others have reported hearing strange, unexplained noises emanating from the woods directly behind the cemetery. Though I personally found the cemetery beautiful and quiet during my own visit, filled with ornate old headstones, the enduring legend of the rotating marble sphere ensures that it remains one of the most fascinating and discussed sites in the region. Visitors are, however, always reminded to remain respectful and adhere to all cemetery regulations.
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A towering B-52 Stratofortress is on permanent display near Gwinn, located on the former grounds of KI Sawyer Air Force Base. Situated in the center of the Upper Peninsula, the base closed in 1995 and has since been repurposed for civilian uses. This iconic bomber, which was flown in and decommissioned in 1983, rests alongside several historic fighter jets. If you’ve ever wanted an up-close look at a true American bomber, this is the place; its massive scale is truly striking when you stand next to it.
Thank You to all the men and women who have served or continue to serve in the military’s. Your dedication, commitment and sacrifice to uphold the Constitution allow me to freely travel this great nation.
The small, quiet town of Leer is situated in a scenic location northwest of Alpena, lying in close proximity to the natural beauty of Sunken Lake Park.
Leer owes its name and founding to a community of immigrants from Lier, Norway, who settled the area. This heritage remains a defining part of the town’s identity and history.
The most notable place in Leer is the old historic Leer Lutheran Church. This magnificent structure was dedicated and built in 1899, making it a key fixture of the community for well over a century. Standing as a testament to the enduring faith and history of the Norwegian settlers.
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The town of Dollarville sits a few miles west of Newberry. These old building stand along the road and go back to a time when the town was a bustling stop along the railroad. Dollarville owes its existence to the American Lumber Company. The community was established in 1882, growing up around the company’s mill and general store. This initial development was significant as it also marked Dollarville as a station on the crucial Detroit, Mackinac and Marquette Railroad, connecting it to the broader regional transport network. The town was named in honor of the company’s general manager, Robert Dollar, who would later achieve considerable wealth and fame in the shipping industry.
The Post office closed in 1919 and the town slowly declined to a few homes and some old buildings. If you drive through it you may notice the old buildings. The faded and pealing blue building has the sign HUNTING LODGE above the door and some antlers attached to the front façade. I imagine there were some good stories that were told within its walls.
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The Historic Hopkins Manor in St. Clair, MI stand on a hill overlooking the St Clair River in the town of St. Clair.
The mansion was originally called “Rio Vista” and is one of two grand homes built in 1880 by the wealthy Hopkins family in St. Clair, Michigan. The family’s fortune originated from Mark Hopkins, one of the “Big Four” co-founders of the Central Pacific Railroad, whose death in 1878 resulted in a $5 million inheritance for his brother, Samuel Hopkins, a St. Clair resident. Samuel, along with his son Mark, erected matching Second Empire Victorian mansions on North Riverside Avenue overlooking the St. Clair River, demonstrating their immense success and establishing a significant architectural legacy in the city. The homes were built for opulence and security, featuring one-foot-thick solid brick walls, 12-foot ceilings, and black walnut woodwork, including a large safe in the butler’s pantry for the family’s silver service.
Rio Vista, the focus of the historical narrative, later became the summer residence of Samuel’s son, William Hopkins, who had also invested his inheritance into local St. Clair businesses like the Diamond Crystal Salt Company and the luxurious Oakland Springs Hotel. The home was originally capped with a mansard roof, extending its height to four stories, and featured an architectural curiosity: a tunnel that ran between the two Hopkins mansions and continued out to the river, providing private access to the family’s yacht.
Next time you pass through St. Clair on M-29 look for the big brick mansions that stand on the hill just north of downtown.
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