Mike Sonnenberg, Author at Lost In Michigan

Sand Point’s Lifesaving Boat House

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places .

Few people visit this old forgotten boathouse with a link to our maritime past. Northeast of Munising past the Munising Falls visitors center is the former Sand Point Lifesaving Station. It is now used as offices and living space for the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I think a lot of visitors head out that way and just figure they are only buildings used by the rangers.

The boathouse used by the Lifesaving Service has been somewhat restored and houses an old lifesaving boat and equipment used by the men who were stationed there. When I visited the doors were open and people were welcomed to tour the inside and read the signs explaining all the items contained within.

It is a great little place to visit especially if it is late in the evening. You can get a good view of the sun setting. Across the water is Grand Island and you can get a view of the East Channel Lighthouse.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Old Barn Near Howell

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Barns and Farms .

I was out roaming the back roads around Howell and I came across this old barn with the ivy growing up the sides. Like most of the old barns I photograph, I don’t know any history or stores about it. I can only imagine the farmer’s horses had a nice home when it was built, but then again I am a city boy and not a farming expert either, but I do know a pretty old barn when I see one. I was not able to spend a lot of time in Howell but it is a beautiful town, I need to get back there soon.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

East China School

Posted on June 22, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Schools .

East China is situated along the St Clair River and is in the eastern part of China Township. I guess that is where the name of the town came from. While passing through town I saw this cute little brick schoolhouse with a historical marker mounted to the brick wall. It reads:

East China Township was set off from China Township in 1859. In 1868 Harriet J. Comstock, an heir of pioneer Andrew J. Westbrook, sold a parcel of land to School District No. 2. A frame school, built in the site prior to 1853, was replaced by this brick school around 1873. It was one of three mid-nineteenth-century schools in the township, and is the only one remaining. Classes were held here until 1954. The township restored the building in 1988-1991 for use as a museum

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

St. Wenceslaus Church

Posted on June 21, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Churches .

The historic St. Wenceslaus Church stands quietly among the orchards in the Leelanau Peninsula. The historical marker next to it shares some history and reads:

In the 1860s and 1870s settlers from Bohemia (now part of Czechoslovakia) came to this area and worked at the Leland Lake Superior Iron Foundry and the Gill sawmill. Catholics attended mass at the Holy Trinity Church in Leland until the church burned in 1880. In 1890 the first St. Wenceslaus Church was built and the cemetery was established. Ornate metal grave markers reflect the Bohemian heritage, as do the names Bourda, Houdek, Hula, Jelinek, Kalchick, Kirt, Kolarik, Korson, Kovarik, Maresh, Novotny, Reicha and Sedlacek, which appear in the cemetery. The church membership doubled by 1908. In 1914 volunteers hauled bricks and other materials to this site and built the present church. This Late Gothic Revival church was completed during that year.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Depot in Lincoln

Posted on June 20, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Train Depots .

In the small northeastern village of Lincoln is an old train depot and caboose. I am sure the caboose is not going anywhere soon because other than the tracks underneath it, the rest of the rails are gone. The old depot welcomed travelers to the area many decades ago when it was called the West Harrisville Depot. A historical marker mounted to it gives a little history and reads:

In 1893 lumberman and Civil War hero Russell Alger led the consolidation of several lumber railroads as the Detroit, Bay City, and Alpena Railroad, bringing passenger and freight service to this region for the first time. Built in 1886, the depot was taken over by the Detroit and Mackinac Railroad in 1895 and renovated in 1913. Service ceased in 1927 and from 1930 to 1996 the building served as a residence. Citizens saved the depot from demolition in 1997

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Blockhouse

Posted on June 19, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings .

This blockhouse stands on a hill along a scenic drive through Muskegon State Park. It was built in 1962 replacing one built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933. The original blockhouse built using timbers from an old sailing ship burned down in a fire set by local youths. As part of their punishment after being convicted of arson they were required to help in the construction of the new blockhouse. If you are ever taking a drive through Muskegon State Park be sure to stop and see the new old blockhouse.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Houses of Wahjamega

Posted on June 18, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Thumb .

If you have ever driven down M-81 west of Caro you have probably seen the resort-like buildings that are part of the Wahjamega complex. I say resort-like because they have an American southwestern architecture look to them with stucco walls and reddish-brown tile roofs. It started out as the colony for epileptics with good intentions but soon took a sinister turn when eugenics was practiced and patients and residents underwent forced sterilizations. Most of the buildings are vacant now and the main building is now the Caro Center. When drove through the complex I saw these old houses and I wonder if they were used by the doctors and administration way back when the colony first opened. If you want to learn more about Wahjamega you can read my other post HERE

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Raising the Court House

Posted on June 17, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in courthouses .

One of the oldest courthouse buildings in Michigan is in Berrien Springs Michigan. Shortly after it was constructed in 1839, problems with the foundation were discovered. The building was raised and a lower level was added along with the square supports for the columns.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

You could own this Historic Michigan Lighthouse

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses, upper peninsula .

The historic Mendota Lighthouse is for sale, and You are probably wondering where Mendota is located, I know I was. The lighthouse is named for a nearby mining company and stands near a man-made canal on Bete Grise Bay in the Keweenaw Peninsula. The canal was dug to Lac La Belle in 1865. A light was placed to guide ships into the canal but it was used infrequently a few times and then abandoned altogether. The original light was removed a few years after it was constructed.

It was about two decades later at the end of the century that the current lighthouse was built, not to guide ships into the canal, but to help them find refuge. Bete Grise Bay on the inside of the Keweenaw was a safe harbor for ships to find shelter from a storm. The current lighthouse was built to mark the bay and help sailors find it when Lake Superior turns angry.

In 1933 the lighthouse was decommissioned and sold to Heimo (Paddy) Jaaskelainen who owned it until his death in 1996. Gary Kohs from Royal Oak purchased the lighthouse after learning about it on a motorcycle trip through the Keweenaw. He purchased it for $500,000. The historic lighthouse is back up for sale as of June 2020 for the asking price of $495,000. If you ever wanted to own a historic lighthouse here is your chance. You learn more about the lighthouse at their website HERE

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Detroit’s Engine House #23

Posted on June 15, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Fire Houses .

Over on Detroit’s North East side sits the Engine House #23. I could not find much info about it, but I like the unique looking round windows at the top. they are like a couple of eyes watching over the neighborhood.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

« Previous Page