Author Archives: Mike Sonnenberg

The Trading Stamp Mansion

Posted on by Posted in Houses .

Growing up, many of us remember the thrill of collecting trading stamps at the grocery store. After saving enough, you could redeem them for household goods like dishes and silverware. The most well-known of these were S&H Green Stamps. The idea originated with Shelley Byron Hutchinson, who first used stamps to promote his family’s shoe business in Battle Creek. He later partnered with Thomas A. Sperry, leveraging Sperry’s financial backing and business connections to found the company.

The Hutchinson Mansion is a prominent historic home located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Construction on the mansion began in 1902 and was completed in 1904. One of the largest homes in Ypsilanti, the 30-room mansion was designed to be a lavish residence for his bride, but it was sold in 1912 after the couple divorced. Today, the property is used for various commercial businesses. The S&H Green Stamp program peaked in the mid-1960s but saw a decline in the 1970s due to recessions, and the company was sold in 1981.

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The Building in Brampton

Posted on by Posted in Forgotten Places, upper peninsula .

I saw this old building north of Escanaba in the Upper Peninsula. According to Google Maps, it is located in the town of Brampton, which was named after Brampton, England. A post office was established there in 1874 and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1984. I wonder if this is the building where the post office was located.

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Torch of Freedom

Posted on by Posted in Memorials .

“Torch of Freedom,” a magnificent sculpture of an arm holding a torch, is located near the marina in Rogers City. Created by Tom Moran of Moran Iron Works in Onaway, the sculpture originally shot flames from the torch. However, the flames have since been replaced with a shiny, gold-like metal. The sculpture made its debut in Onaway’s Fourth of July parade in 2004 before being donated to Rogers City.

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Flats on the River

Posted on by Posted in Iconic Buildings .

The Flats On The River building in Belding, Michigan, has a history deeply intertwined with the city’s past as a center for silk manufacturing. Constructed in 1886, the structure originally served as the Richardson Silk Mill, a key component of the Belding Brothers & Company, which earned the city the nickname “Silk City of the World.” After the silk industry declined in the 1930s, the mill stood vacant for over fifty years. Recognizing its historical significance, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 before being repurposed. In 1986, the former mill was transformed into the residential apartments now known as Flats On The River, preserving a piece of Belding’s industrial heritage while giving the historic structure a new purpose.

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The Blue Waters of the St. Clair River

Posted on by Posted in Nature .

The deep turquoise water of the St. Clair River in Port Huron is always a striking sight. Having grown up in Carrollton and now living in Saginaw, I’ve always known the Saginaw River to be brown and murky, likely due to erosion and runoff from surrounding farmlands.

I did a little research online and learned that the St. Clair River gets its beautiful color from the clear, pristine water flowing into it from Lake Huron. Regardless of the reason, there’s nothing quite like walking along the river and watching the mighty freighters glide by.

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Burt Lake Scenic Tower

Posted on by Posted in Forgotten Places, Parks .

 

There’s a smal parcel of Burt Lake State Park situated at the intersection of Old US-27 and M-68, just south of Burt Lake. It appears to be a forgotten corner, with overgrown grass and weathered picnic tables clearly in need of repair. A lookout platform, once offering breathtaking vistas of Burt Lake, now stands shrouded by the encroaching trees, its spectacular view a memory.

 

 

This overlooked spot holds a bit of history, as it’s the very site where the Burt Lake Scenic Tower once proudly stood. Built around the 1930s, this observation tower was a major draw for tourists throughout the early to mid-20th century. While the tower is long gone and details of its disappearance are scarce, old postcards offer a charming glimpse into its past as a cherished local landmark.

 

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The Grayling Depot

Posted on by Posted in Train Depots .

The Grayling, Michigan depot holds a significant place in the town’s history, dating back to 1882 when it was built by the Michigan Central Railroad. Initially, the area was known as “Crawford” by the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad Company, which laid tracks to the location in 1872 and constructed a freight house. However, the town eventually adopted the name “Grayling” after the fish abundant in the local rivers. In its heyday, the depot was a bustling terminal, offering passenger service with numerous daily trains and acting as a hub for the thriving lumber industry, facilitating the transport of vast quantities of timber. It originally housed a hotel, restaurant, crew quarters, and freight facilities, serving as a vital link for both people and goods in Northern Michigan.

Today, the Grayling depot has been preserved and transformed into the Crawford County Historical Society Museum, a testament to its enduring legacy. The community rallied to save the depot from demolition, recognizing its historical value. The museum now showcases various aspects of Crawford County’s past, including railroad artifacts, displays on the lumber industry, a one-room schoolhouse exhibit, and even a military building on the grounds. An old woodside caboose is also prominently displayed in the depot’s front yard, adding to the historical ambiance. The depot continues to be a central point for understanding the rich history of Grayling and the significant role railroads played in its development.

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Petoskey’s Hidden Gem: The Wright Cycle Co.

Posted on by Posted in Iconic Buildings .

 

Strolling past Pennsylvania Park in downtown Petoskey, you might notice a curious building among the offices and retail spaces – one emblazoned with “Wright Cycle Co.” It looks like a relic, frozen in time, and you’d be right to wonder about it, as it’s almost never open.

However, as reported by The Petoskey News-Review, this intriguing building springs to life once a year, every December 17th. This date marks the anniversary of the Wright brothers’ first historic flight, and on this day, the doors of Petoskey’s Wright Cycle Co. swing open to the public.

 

Stepping Inside History

 

Venture inside, and you’ll find a meticulously recreated replica of the original Wright Cycle Company shop. The space is a treasure trove of historical artifacts, exhibits, and information all dedicated to Wilbur and Orville Wright. The building and its impressive collection are owned by Dave Russell, a devoted expert on the Wright brothers.

A sign within the Petoskey shop illuminates a crucial connection: how the brothers’ work with bicycles provided the calculations essential for their groundbreaking first flight. As one visitor, Kaplan, read from a sign, “Here on this day, Dec. 17, 1903, the first powered flight took place… The Wright brothers were flying for you, they were flying for me and they were flying for all humanity. They broke the bonds of gravity. On the sands of Kill Devil Hill, Wilbur and Orville Wright gave the gift to soar like an eagle. We thank the Wright brothers for this gift.”

 

A Passion for Flight

 

Russell’s fascination with the Wright brothers began around age 12, sparked by a visit to Greenfield Village with his father. The historical village, maintained by the Henry Ford Museum, houses the original Wright Cycle Shop, and his dad’s explanation of its historical significance clearly left an impression. His interest was further cemented when he later met Ivonette Wright, the Wright brothers’ niece.

Through a friendship with the curator of the Wrights’ home (also owned by the Henry Ford Museum), Russell acquired his most prized possession: Orville Wright’s personal address book. Dating back to 1906, this book contains the names of many early aviators, a testament to its historical value.

 

A Building’s Journey

 

The Petoskey Wright Cycle Co. building itself has an interesting history. It was originally located next to the City Park Grill. In the 1990s, the city planned to demolish it to create a parking lot. Russell intervened, asking if he could move the building and purchasing a plot of land for it.

Initially, the city intended to give him the building for free, but legal complexities prevented it. Instead, they sold it to Russell for a symbolic $1. In 1996, a collaborative effort by community members saw the bricks carefully washed and relocated to the building’s current spot on Park Avenue, facing Pennsylvania Park.

Today, the building serves as a unique home for Russell’s extensive collection of Wright brothers memorabilia. He doesn’t sell anything from the shop; rather, it’s a dedicated space for his artifacts and a cherished opportunity, once a year, to educate the public about the incredible legacy of the Wright brothers and their pivotal role in history.

 

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The Empty Heritage House

Posted on by Posted in Houses .

This amazing white house, with massive columns on its front porch, stands near downtown Chesaning. This once-opulent house, which was formerly a popular upscale restaurant, now sits empty, waiting for someone to come along and give it a purpose once again.

It was built in 1907-1908 by George M. Nason (1859-1929), a prominent figure whose family had a long history of success in the lumbering business in the Chesaning area. The house is a grand example of the Georgian Revival style, featuring stately Ionic columns and a distinctive circular opening between the first and second floors on the interior.

The Nason family resided in the house until 1945. For several decades, it remained a private residence until 1980, when it was transformed into an elegant dining establishment known as the Chesaning Heritage House. For nearly 30 years, it was a popular restaurant, owned and operated by Bonnie and Howard Ebenhoeh, who even shared their famous blueberry muffin recipe from the establishment. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed, and in recent years, the house has faced challenges with disrepair and accumulated unpaid property taxes. While there have been various owners with plans for renovation, the building has largely sat vacant. I believe it is currently owned by the Village of Chesaning with the hopes of finding new owners.

P.S. I remember eating dinner here with my wife many years ago when we were first married. It was around that time that it closed. It was an amazing restaurant with historic rooms and a lot of history. I hope someday it will be used again.

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Alanson’s Natural Spring

Posted on by Posted in Artesian Springs .

About a mile north of Alanson along US-31 is a natural spring that flows all year long. It has wonderful tasting water and plenty of flow to fill up a jug or water bottle. Please note that it sits on private property and in front of someone’s home. It is open to the public as long as they are respectful of the owners. If you are ever passing through the area and have a vessel to hold this refreshing water, be sure to stop and fill up.

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