Mike Sonnenberg, Author at Lost In Michigan

The White Rock Lighthouse, Remembering a Great City Lost in the Fire

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses, Thumb .

The town of White Rock on Lake Huron between Port Sanilac and Harbor Beach has a very interesting story to tell. The town was named after a large white boulder that stood near the shoreline of Lake Huron, and by 1776 it was the largest village in the territory. It was used as a boundary marker for the northern point of the Treaty of Detroit with the Ottawa, Chippewa, Wyandot and Potawatomi Native American nations signed on November 17th 1807. In the 1830’s, the town was a thriving port, and in 1856 a lighthouse was built to safely guide ships into port. The community, along with the lighthouse, was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1871. The great fire also occurred on the same day as the Great Chicago Fire, and while Chicago was rebuilt, White Rock never grew to be the large town it once was, and the lighthouse was never rebuilt. In 1996 the privately owned White Rock Memorial lighthouse was built.

P.S. If I ever get the chance to build my own house, I would build a lighthouse, even if it was in the middle of a subdivision miles away from any lake.

Lost In Michigan books are ON SALE this weekend on Amazon HERE

To make sure you don’t miss a post, I hope you will Subscribe to Lost In Michigan

All Lost In Michigan Calendars and Shirts are ON SALE

Posted on November 12, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in calendars .

all Lost In Michigan wall calendars, and apparel is ON SALE this weekend with FREE shipping. Calendars are selling out fast, I am not sure when they will be gone, but I am past the point of being able to have more printed by the end of the year. Now is a good time to get one while I still have them available.

I made a bunch of shirts, and even some hoodies this past week, and have them in stock. I have a some of each size in stock, I hope you will take a look at them, I even have some dark gray ones too but I only have a few of each size and they can sell out quickly.

If you got a calendar or shirt already, THANK YOU. your support really means a lot to me, and helps me do this website. I don’t get any funding from any group or organization and rely on the kindness of my followers who purchase merchandise from my website. I hope you will check out my online store HERE

Semper Paratus, In Honor of Veteran’s Day

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

Thank You to all the men and women who have served, and continue to serve in the United State military. Thank You does not seem like a big enough pair of words to express by gratitude for the sacrifices you make in protecting our freedom. I also struggle with what photo to post on Veterans day, and feel that I can never post a photo that shows my appreciation. Here is a photos of the USCGC MACKINAW (WLBB-30) stationed in Cheboygan as a reminder of dedication to duty at home and abroad.

P.S. if your wondering, the Coast Guard motto is Semper Paratus (always ready)

The Inspiring Story of the Little Girl Raised in this Forgotten House

Posted on November 10, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Forgotten Places, Houses .

Near Arcadia Michigan, is this old farmhouse hidden in the trees, in which a little girl named Harriet Quimby lived with her family. When she was a teenager, she moved with her parents to California where she grew up with a love of writing. She wrote seven screenplays directed by D.W. Griffith, and even acted in a few movies. She eventually moved to New York, and began writing a column for Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly. She would publish articles about her journeys and adventures for the magazine, which lead her to an airshow, where she fell in love with aviation, and became the first woman to receive a pilot’s license on August 1st, 1911.

Harriet Quimby in her Purple Flying Suit : Wikipedia

She became a world famous pilot, traveling the world flying in her vibrant colored purple flying suit, and paved the way for female pilots like Amelia Earhart. She was the first woman pilot to fly across the English Channel in 1912, but received little press coverage, because the Titanic had sunk the day before her crossing.

on July 1st she was Tragically killed in a plane crash when her plane pitched upward and she, and her passenger, were thrown from the plane and fell to their deaths. Strangely the plane glided back down, and her accident still remains a mystery as to what happened.

Lost In Michigan books are ON SALE this weekend on Amazon HERE

Please Note Facebook has once again changed, and is really pushing me to pay to “boost” my posts and limiting what my followers see. It would really help me out if you sign up for email notifications so you know when I post something new, lots of people tell me they like getting my emails and I think you will too. if you don’t like it you can always unsubscribe.

The Barn Near The Lighthouse

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Barns and Farms .

On my way out to the Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, north of Harrisville, I pass by this old barn. Every time I take a trip out to the lighthouse, I have to stop and take a pic of this old barn, and I sure could not pass up a pic in Autumn.

I don’t always say it every post, but thank you so much for following me and sharing my photos from around Michigan. Your kindness and support really means a lot to me.

I hope you will Subscribe to Lost In Michigan

[fbcomments]

My Best Dam Photo

Posted on November 5, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Dam .

I was traveling along the roads that follow the AuSable River, and stopping at the usual photography spots along with other photographers, taking pics of the natural beauty at places like Iargo Springs and Lumberman’s Monument. When I got to the five channels dam there was no one around. I took this photo of the old bridge from the new bridge. I love Michigan’s natural beauty, but I have always been fascinated by the man made beauty too. I think about the amount of work that went into building the bridge and dam, and our ability to take control of the river and harness the power of it to generate electricity.

This weekend Lost In Michigan calendars are on sale HERE

I hope you will Subscribe to Lost In Michigan

[fbcomments]

Day Farm Road and the Tunnel Of Trees

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Barns and Farms .

This is the Day Farm Road that runs next to the D H Day Farm, near Glen Arbor. I took this pic last year, unfortunately I missed the peek by a few days but it still hast that ” Tunnel Of Trees” look and a beautiful road to drive on anytime of year. You can see the world famous D. H. Day barn to the right in the background.

If you like my posts it would mean a lot to me if you will subscribe for email updates

[fbcomments]

In Search Of The Witchy Wolf

Posted on October 29, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Haunted Places .

A friend of mine told me a story of an old native american legend about a half dog half wolf ( I always thought a dog was a wolf, but I digress) that roams the Omer Plains along the Rifle River, protecting the spirits of the native american warriors that have died and are buried in the Omer Plains. Maybe I am a little naive but I think many legends and stories start with a little bit of truth to them, and so I figured I would do a little research, Of course I went to where everyone goes looking for information, no not the library, or the encyclopedia, but Google.

Searching for the old native american cemetery, I found the Plains Cemetery on google maps on Jose Road near Grove Road. On my recent trip up north, why not stop by and see what’t there. Heading north out of Standish I found Jose road, and traveled towards Omer, the biggest little city in Michigan, I stopped where Google said there was a cemetery. Maybe there was one there, but I did not see anything that looked like one, nor did I see the Witchy Wolf. A deer ran across the road which scared the bejesus out of me, good thing I was wearing my brown pants. I was there during the daytime. so maybe the Witchy Wolf only comes out at night.

If you like my posts it would mean a lot to me if you will subscribe for email updates

[fbcomments]

The Ghost Lightkeeper at the Old Presque Isle Light

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Haunted Places, Lighthouses .

I find a lot of interesting stories on the Internet, and we all know if it’s on the internet it must be true, ( wonder what font works well for sarcasm) anyways, I found this story about the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse being haunted by a former keeper.

George Parris and his wife moved into the keeper’s cottage in the 1990’s to run the museum and give tours. Sadly George died at the lighthouse in 1992, and since his passing, the light mysteriously comes on at dusk and goes off at dawn, which is strange since the light is supposedly disabled. Air National Guard pilots have even reported seeing the light and visitors who climb to the top claim to see a face staring back at them from inside the light fixture. George loved the lighthouse and showing visitors around the grand old structure, he was also known to play pranks on the visitors, now maybe he is playing one last prank from beyond the grave.

P.S. if you are wondering why the light is on in my photo, I had a little fun with photoshop.

Lost In Michigan books are ON SALE this weekend on Amazon HERE

If you like my posts, it would mean a lot to me if you will subscribe for email updates

Hell’s Half Mile In Bay City

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Haunted Places, Historic Places .

In the late 1800’s, after the lumbering season was done, lumberjacks and shanty boys would head out of the woods and into town, with pay they just received for a season of hard work harvesting timber in the northern woods of Michigan. One of the first large cites they would get to was Bay City, and Water Street along the Saginaw River was there for the men to spend their money. There was a plethora of businesses looking to separate the Lumberjack with his hard earned money, and after months in the woods they were happy to spend money at the saloons, dance halls and brothels, drinking and gambling in the downtown blocks on water street. The area was known for large drunken brawls, giving it the nickname “Hell’s Half Mile” There were tunnels and catacombs that ran under the city streets and buildings, allowing passage from saloons and brothels, without being seen, or maybe even to drag dead body out to hide elsewhere.

I find it kinda funny that downtown Bay City has gone from a reputation of violence and lawlessness, to a place of quint coffee shops and antique stores, and oh by the way, my Friend owns the Americana Antique Mall on Water Street, i hope you will stop by and say hi next time you are in Downtown Bay City.

It would really mean a lot to me if you subscribe to Lost In Michigan

« Previous Page