I had this pic that I took a few months ago but never posted it. It is of Dodge Number 4 State Park that sits on Cass Lake near Pontiac. The park was created in 1922 when the Dodge Brothers donated land to the state. It is probably the smallest state park in size but it is a beautiful place in Metro Detroit.
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Near Benton Harbor is this massive palatial looking building. It was part of the Israelite House Of David a religious commune that was started by Benjamin and Mary Purnell in 1903. The members of the commune were prohibited from alcohol, tobacco, meat, owning property, and having sex. Their belief in not cutting their hair made the members of the commune stand out with their long hair flowing down to their waist, including the men.
Members of the House Of David band
To occupy their time when they were not out working in the farm fields or doing chores they played music and sports and even built an amusement park called Eden Springs which was known for its miniature train. The House of David opened their park up to the community and became very popular with people traveling for miles to visit it. The members played a lot of baseball to occupy their time, and because of that, they excelled at the sport. The House of David baseball team began traveling the country playing teams in exhibition matches defeating some of the best teams in the country. They were never allowed into the major league because of the rule banning facial hair. Their musicians traveled the country playing music to audiences in the vaudeville circuit. By 1916 the commune had more than 1000 members and attracted over half a million visitors to their amusement park. The House of David owned over 1000 acres and they had their own hotel, cannery and operated a power plant to supply electricity.
The group became rather wealthy and well liked by the public until the 1920s when 13 young women confessed to having sex with the group’s leader Benjamin Purnell when they were minors. Purnell died in 1927 before he was convicted. The accusations caused the commune to split with Benjamin’s wife Mary Purnell taking half it’s members and creating a new commune down the street known as Mary’s City Of David. Over time the membership declined in both communes and the amusement park closed. Today there are a few members left. The Eden Springs Park has reopened restoring one of the trains. The park is not what it used to be but the train still gives rides to passengers.
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It’s hard to believe we came to the end of another year. It seems as though the days flew by and I never got to travel as much as I wanted to. I am fortunate I am still able to get out and explore the Great Lakes State and see all the places I have visited over the years. It surprises me I still find so many new and interesting things. Thank you so much for riding along on this journey with me. I am not sure what I will find next year but I figure if I just keep looking I will eventually find it.
P.S. I have also been wondering beyond Michigan this past year and you can see my posts on my other website www.lostinthestates.com
P.P.S. I hope you have a wonderful new year that brings you great joy and prosperity.
This little old wooden depot served the town of Six Lakes. It is located between Alma and Newaygo at the junction of M-46 and M-66. It is named for (you guessed it) the six lakes that are nearby. It looks as if it has been a while since any trains have stopped at this old depot. The sign on it declares it is now a museum.
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A few years ago I was out roaming Mid-Michigan looking at and photographing Christmas lights, at the time I had never been to Corunna, but when I saw this old village illuminated at night, I had to stop and take a pic. It was not that late at night, but it was eerily vacant and peaceful and also extremely cold that night, I froze my butt off taking this pic that silent night in Corunna. But it was worth it.
The church in the center of the village is the Christ Evangelical German Lutheran Church that was located in Brady Township in Saginaw County. It was built in 1888 and was moved to the village in 1991.
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Vernon was first settled in 1833 by Henry Leach of Detroit and soon followed by Squatter Jacob Wilkinson. The first permanent settler was James Ratan and he became the first postmaster in 1842. The Detroit and Milwaukee railroad came thru in 1856 and a station was built on the rail line. The town was named after George Washington’s home of Mt Vernon.
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The Kirk In The Hills stands near Island Lake in Bloomfield Township. Colonel Edwin S. George, a Detroit businessman whose gift of his home and estate in 1947 made the Kirk possible. The cornerstone for the church was laid in 1951, the same year Colonel George died. His remains are entombed under the narthex of the Kirk’s sanctuary. The architectural firm of George D. Mason completed the church based on preliminary designs by Wirt Rowland. George Mason designed several of Michigan’s iconic buildings including the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. The Kirk in the Hills is modeled after Scotland’s Melrose Abbey. It was almost a decade before services could be held in the church. During construction a fire destroyed the roof and delayed completion of the church. The first service was held in November of 1958.
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This cute little general store is on M-119 along the famous “tunnel of trees” route. It is between Harbor Springs and Cross Village and it’s a nice place to stop and get a snack while you are out enjoying a nice drive in northern Michigan.
The Native American chief in the area was Black Hawk and his brother was named Great Heart or Good Heart. The Indian agent marked it down as Good Hart and that is where the name of the town came from.
P.S. One of my favorite books is When Evil Came To Good Hart. If you love true crime stories you can see more about it on Amazon HERE
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I saw this old house somewhere near Plainwell. I am not sure what its story is, but it looks like it has been a long time since anyone has celebrated Christmas in this old home.
I don’t have any story to go along with this old house so I will just say thank you for taking the time to read my posts.
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East of downtown Gladwin is a historical village with old log cabins and a red schoolhouse. It was the Billings Township School District #2 school building. It was dismantled and transported in sections to the historical site after being donated to the Gladwin Historical Society in 1986. It stand alongside other donated buildings moved to the Gladwin Historical Village. The old schoolhouse now stands as a museum to show visitors of days gone by.
FYI Now is a great time to get a copy of Lost In Michigan for yourself or as a gift. There is a coupon today for $1.75 off at Amazon HERE Thank you to everyone who purchased one of my books. your kindness and support really means a lot to me.
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