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Author Archives: Mike Sonnenberg

Belle Isle’s Marble Lighthouse

Posted on January 8, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses .

livingston light detroit michigan

There are several lighthouses in Michigan, about 150 of them if you really wanna know, and the Livingston memorial light is one of the most unique, not only in Michigan but in the United States. It’s one of only 3 lights erected as a memorial in Michigan and the only navigational light constructed of marble in the country.

William Livingston was a prominent businessman in Detroit and served as president of the Lake Carriers Association. He was instrumental in having the government expanding the Soo locks and deepening and widening the channel in the St Mary’s river. He also worked on the project building a waterway for downbound ships in the lower Detroit River, which opened in 1908, and named the Livingstone Channel in his honor. During the early 1900’s, more ships and more tonnage passed by Detroit than through either the Suez or Panama canals.

After his death in 1925, as a tribute to Livingston, the city of Detroit donated the property on Belle Isle and funds were raised by the Lakes Carriers Association to build the $100,000 tower designed by famed Detroit architect Albert Kahn. The flouted art deco tower is made of white georgian marble, and has a light that can be seen for 16 miles on Lake St Clair.

belle isle lighthouse

Belle Isle Lighthouse built in 1881. Photo from the Coast Guard archives

The was another lighthouse on the island before the memorial light was built. The Belle Isle lighthouse was constructed in 1881 in the location where the coast guard station is now. Keeper Louis Fetes lived at the lighthouse for nearly 40 years and he and his wife raised their six children on the island, in 1930 the light was automated and by the 40’s the old forgotten lighthouse began to decay and the coast guard demolished it. I found a photo of the old lighthouse on the coast guards website and it was a beautiful victorian looking lighthouse, it’s sad the house is no longer standing, I think it would be one of the most beautiful lighthouses in Michigan.

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The Boyne Falls House

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

I saw this old brick farmhouse in the small town of Boyne Falls. I don’t know its story or history but I drive past it often and always wonder about it. Unfortunately not much of a story for this post, but thank you all for taking the time to look at my posts.

P.S. I don’t trespass and only take pics from the road.

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Seeking Refuge in Harbor Beach

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses, Thumb .

Ships sailing along Lake Huron between Port Huron and the tip of the Thumb in the early 1800s had few places to seek refuge from the gales of November. Or any storm that whips up for that matter. A small harbor helped in Harbor Beach, but It was decided in the mid-1800s to build a break wall to create a safe haven for ships from the fury of Mother Nature. In 1885 a lighthouse was built replacing a light on a wooden frame. It guides ships to the opening in the break wall welcoming them to safety. It about a mile of shore but you can get a good view of it from a pier at the end of Trescott Street in Harbor Beach. I took this pic with a long telephoto lens. On Saturdays, in the summer you can take a boat to the lighthouse for a guided tour. here is their website for more info https://harborbeachlighthouse.org/

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Wexford’s Octagonal Building

Posted on January 5, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Barns and Farms, Iconic Buildings .

I saw this unique looking barn-like building standing behind the county ice arena in Cadillac. This historic octagon building was built for the 1908 Wexford County Fair known as Floral Hall. Doing a little research on it I was saddened to find out that it could possibly be demolished but there are plans to move it from its current location to Veterans Serving Veterans Park. I hope the group trying to save it is successful,  You can see more at their Facebook page HERE

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

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The Little Yellow Caboose

Posted on January 4, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Train Depots .

This faded and peeling yellow caboose sits quietly next to the historic water tower in Gant. I was told the caboose is where the conductor rode along with the brakeman. Modern technology made the brakeman’s job obsolete and the caboose was no longer needed. That is why you see so many cabooses ( or is it caboosi or caboosen or whatever the plural is for caboose) sitting in retirement around the state.

P.S. if you want to know more about the water tower you can see my post HERE

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Lincoln Log Church

Posted on January 3, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Churches .

West of Grayling along M-72 near Bear Lake is this beautiful log church. With its brown logs and green roof, it reminded me of playing with Lincoln Logs when I was a child.

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Lenawee County Courthouse

Posted on January 2, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in courthouses .

This magnificent looking building stands in Adrian in Lenawee County in the southeast corner of the state. It was built in 1884 replacing the courthouse that burned down in 1852. It still serves the citizens of Lenawee County and is one of Michigan’s most impressive late 19th century courthouses.

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A New Beginning

Posted on January 1, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Barns and Farms .

It is the start of a new year full of hope and new promises. I have been traveling around Michigan for almost eight years and I still have a long list of places to visit and explore.  Thank you all so much for following my journeys around the Great Lake State. I am not sure what this year will bring but I am looking forward to a chance for normal.  I still have lots of great pics to post this winter. They may not be current pics but they are some wonderful places with interesting stories to tell.

Hopefully, we will be able to meet down the road in the not too distant future.

Mike Sonnenberg

P.S. If you are wondering, this old barn is north of Kalkaska.

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Coming to the End

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places .

This year started out with great expectations. I had all sorts of plans for visiting new places but that all came to an end. I am sure I don’t have to tell you why. I have been lucky this year that my family is healthy and working. I know some have not been so fortunate. I thank you all for taking the time to read my posts, and looking forward to next year with hope that it will be better.

P.S  If you are wondering this is the old Fenton Seminary that was torn down a few years ago. You can see my post about it HERE

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Sleeping Bear Inn

Posted on December 30, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings .

This pale yellow building in the historic village of Glen Haven is (or was) the Sleeping Bear Inn. It was constructed in 1857 and used as a boarding house for local dock workers and Lumberjacks. The town was a popular spot for passing steamers to get firewood to fuel the boilers. In the late 1800s, as tourism to the area increased, it changed over to become a resort hotel for people looking to take in the beauty of the dunes. By the 1970s the building and town had declined and closed. The inn along with the rest of the town is now part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

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