Mike Sonnenberg, Author at Lost In Michigan

Final Round of the Michigan State Park March Madness Poll

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Michigan State Parks, SP March Madness .

Congratulations to Tahquamenon Falls State Park for winning the 2016 March Madness Poll. It’s one of my favorite places in Michigan. Thank you to everyone that voted. I love the state parks in Michigan they have so much to offer and affordable to visit.

After thousands of votes cast, we are down to the final round with the last two parks going head to head to determine this years champion. I had thought one of these would have won the first time I did the March Madness Poll, but that was Ludington and last year it was Tawas. I love both the Island and the T-Falls and both wonderful parks for different reasons.

I know it’s hard to pick between them, but I would love it if you voted before Sunday March 27th so we could crown this years winner.

I hope you will Subscribe to Lost In Michigan

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The Majestic Old Lapeer Hospital

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

In 1873 Peter Van Dyke built this Beautiful second empire style home on Pine street in Lapeer. Mr Van Dyke eventually sold the house to Samuel Tomlinson, editor of the Lapeer Clarion newspaper. In 1924 it was purchased by the Hunter sisters and, converted into a nine bedroom hospital with surgeries taking place on the upper floor. It was converted into apartments in 1953. According to this article, it’s supposed to be haunted, but I think it’s just a beautiful old building with a great history. it’s be

If you are looking for places in Michigan to explore I give detailed locations in my Lost In Michigan books which are available on Amazon HERE

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Final Four Round of the Michigan State Parks March Madness Poll

Posted on March 20, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Michigan State Parks .

Time for the Final Four parks left in this year March Madness Polls. All four parks are beautiful and it’s really hard to pick a favorite. I love them all, but pic from each pair to see what two parks go on to the final round.

This round of polls end Wednesday night March 23rd.

I hope you will Subscribe to Lost In Michigan

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The Haunted Bruce Mansion

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Haunted Places, Houses, Uncategorized .

Near Brown City in Burnside Township is this beautiful old Second Empire mansion built in 1876 by John G. Bruce who owned the Bruce and Webster General Merchants with his brother-in-law. Burnside township was originally Allison Township, but the name was changed in 1866 to honor Ambrose E. Burnside, a union general in the Civil War. John G Bruce was the postmaster for 16 years in Burnside. Most of the town was destroyed by a fire in 1881, but the mansion and general store was spared from the flames. in 1894 Bruce lost the general store to a fire, and rebuilt it with a brick building.

He eventually sold the home to Cynthia Smith who died in the house from a fever in 1921. Cynthia’s son sold the house and it changed owners a few times. It was eventually purchased by John Walker in 1926. Rumor has it, he was driving his automobile when he hit a pedestrian. Terrified at what he had done, he took the body back to the mansion and buried it somewhere on the estate. Some say the ghost of the victim, others say guilt, caused the man to lose his fortune and he hung himself in the old tower. It is said the be haunted, I am not sure about it but it is a beautiful old house and it’s kinda spooky with the ghostly light green paint and it seems like an odd location for an old mansion. you would expect to see something like it in one of Michigan’s large cities but not in the middle of farm country.

NOTE this house is NOT abandoned and please do not trespass and be respectful of the owners. you can follow their facebook page HERE

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Michigan Landscape Photographers You Should Be Following

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Photography Tips .

There are several facebook pages and Instagram accounts that share photos from Michigan Photographers, probably the most famous is Pure Michigan. One thing I have noticed, is when a photo is featured, people never seem to click on the link to the photographers social media pages. So I am asking you a kindness. When you see a photo you like check out the photographer that took the photo and visit their galleries.

here are some of my favorite Michigan landscape Photographers, I hope you will click on the links and check out their work, I think they create truly spectacular photos, better than the photos I take. On their websites you will find links to facebook and instagram, I am sure they would love it if you followed them.

Michigan Nut Photgraphy – John McCormick

Neil Weaver Photography

Michigan Nature Photos – Greg Kretovic

22 North Photography – Brian Edward

Todd and Brad Reed

Craig Sterken Photograhy

Gary R. Ennis Photos

C & C Fritz Photogaphy – Curt Fritz

Beek Brothers Photography – Michael and Lee Beek

Daniel Frei Photography

Snap Happy Gal Photography –

Lake Superior Photo

Pure Saginaw this is a shameless plug for my other website, if your from Saginaw, I hope you will check it out

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Top 8 round of the Michigan State Park March Madness Poll

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Michigan State Parks, SP March Madness, Uncategorized .

Skunk Creek in the Rifle River Recreation Area

Now we are down to the Top 8 State Parks. and there are some really fantastic parks that made it to this round. We lost some equally wonderful parks. Last years winner, Tawas Point State Park, knocked off 2014 winner Ludington State Park in their head to head matchup. Vote for your favorite in this week matchups to see who gets to move on to the final four.

you can see the last round of polls HERE

Polls end Sunday night March 20th.

I hope you will Subscribe to Lost In Michigan

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The Painful Story of the State Trooper Murdered in 1959

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Houses, Murders .

A couple of years ago I was heading down Silver Lake Road in Argentine Twp and after rounding the corner, and at the top of the hill, was this old house. I knew nothing about the house, and it was the first time I ever saw it, but I had to stop and take a photo of it. Like most old houses I photograph, I know nothing about their history, but after posting a pic I had a few people tell me that was the house where a Michigan State Trooper was killed.

Michigan State Trooper Albert Souden

On September 3rd 1959 Trooper Albert Souden had driven to the house to investigate a robbery in Millford. His wife called the post to report he had never returned home. Within minutes of determining Trooper Souden had disappeared, the department mobilized an intensive search. The public response was also immediate. Floods of citizens, sheriff’s deputies, municipal police officers, and members of the Army and National Guard volunteered to join the ground and air search. The police arrested Alvin Knight the next day at a cabin in Traverse City. Knight was an ex-convict with a history of breaking the law and even spent time in an institution for the criminally insane. After repeated interrogations he would not tell law enforcement officers anything. It was only after Alber Soudens wife pleaded with him that he finally cracked and lead officers to the body and explained what happened.

When Trooper Souden knocked on the door the suspect was in his pajamas and he asked the trooper if he could change. After going upstairs to change he grabbed a gun and then got the drop on the officer and took his service revolver. He forced him at gunpoint to drive his patrol car to a farm and then marched him into the woods where he intended to tie him up so he would have time to escape, but Trooper Souden made an attempt to get away so he shot him with his revolver and buried him with some vegetation. Knight plead guilty to second degree murder, and was sentenced to 25 years.

Trooper Alber Souden was 29 years old and had a 7 month old baby, He was the 22nd MSP officer to die in the line of duty.

As for the house, it’s gone now. It was demolished a few years ago shortly after I took this photo.

LAST CHANCE to get your Lost In Michigan Book before the sale ends on Monday, you can order your copy HERE

Want to win a Lost In Michigan Book? to find out how CLICK HERE

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Monarch Milling Co. in Alpena – Michigan Historical Marker

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators, Michigan Historical Markers .

The historical marker says: In 1916 the Monarch Milling Company, a grist and flour mill, began operations in this building, which was constructed in 1914. By 1920 it was known as the Alpena Flour Mills, producing “Leader” and “Velvo” brand flour. The mill closed in 1956, but during its forty years of operation, it played an integral part in the daily life of the community. Much of the original equipment remains in place.

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Sweet 16 Round of the Michigan State Parks March Madness

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in SP March Madness, State Parks .

Lake Of The Clouds in Porcupine State Park

Now its time for the Sweet 16 round and there are a lot of wonderful State Parks on the list. It will be really hard to chose between them, but it will be fun to see which ones get to move onto the next round Sunday March 13th.

you can see the first round of polls HERE

This round of polls are closed, you can see the next round of Polls HERE

I hope you will Subscribe to Lost In Michigan

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Alabaster and the Ghostly Loading Dock on Lake Huron

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Historic Places, Michigan Historical Markers .

Alabaster, south of Tawas on Lake Huron, was named after a variety of gypsum discovered offshore by Douglass Houghton in 1837. Prospectors soon began searching for other gypsum deposits, and this quarry was opened in 1862 by B.F. Smith. Used at first as fertilizer and as an ingredient in plaster, gypsum is now used principally in the manufacture of wallboard. A fire in 1891 destroyed the operation but it was rebuilt in time to supply material for the main buildings at the Chicago Columbian Exposition of 1893. These buildings, with marble-like walls, earned the exposition the title “White City,” and greatly expanded gypsum sales. Incorporated into the U.S. Gypsum Co. in 1902, this quarry has helped make Michigan a leading producer of gypsum for over a century.

In 1898, the company name was changed to the Alabaster Company. In 1902, the mine was incorporated into the U.S. Gypsum Corporation. Housing for workers was constructed primarily in the period around 1910. The most visible and impressive structure in the district, the elevated marine tramway, was constructed in 1928 and the tramway stretched 1.3 miles out into the Saginaw Bay. Like a horizontal ski-lift, the cable system carries 72 “buckets” of gypsum to a waiting ship or to the storage bin. Each bucket holds more than two tons. The tramway included 6,450 feet of one and three-quarter inch steel cable and 14,000 feet of three-quarter inch cable. At a length of 6,350 feet, it was the longest over-water bucket tramway in the world. The tramway was demolished in the 1990s and the loading building in Lake Huron was torn down in 2020.

If you are looking for places in Michigan to explore I give detailed locations in my Lost In Michigan books which are available on Amazon HERE

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