Mike Sonnenberg, Author at Lost In Michigan

The Dome along M-22

Posted on November 16, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places .

If you have ever traveled along M-22 south of Empire you may have noticed a large white sphere sticking up over the trees. If you are curious like me you have probably wondered what it is. It was built in the 1950s as part of the Empire Air Force Station operated by the 752d Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) squadron. It was a long range radar that scanned the skies for missiles from the Soviet Union. The station was deactivated in 1978. In the 1980s it was turned over to the FAA and now the radar is used to monitor commercial aircraft.

It sits near the Empire Bluff Trail Head and I drove up to get a closer look at it but unfortunately the road was closed to visitors. The buildings from the old base is used my the National Park Service and only employees are allowed in. Oh well at least now I know what the giant “golf ball” along M-22 is used for.

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The Backwards Lighthouse

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses, upper peninsula .

The sun rising on the Sand Point Lighthouse in Escanaba on a crisp autumn morning. Built in 1867 the lighthouse is a simple design with a square tower. Lighthouse are built with the tower facing the water but Sand Point is unique in that it is on the back side of the building from Lake Michigan. No one knows exactly why it was built the way it was but it is a beautiful little lighthouse.

If you love lighthouses I hope you will take a look at my Lighthouse book HERE

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Michigan Books 3 For the Price of 2

Posted on November 12, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

Lost in Michigan books are part of Amazon’s special promotion Get 3 For The Price of 2. Volume 1 and volume 4 along with Volume 5 are included in this special offer. You can see see Volume 1 on Amazon HERE

One of the other books that are included is Darker Than Night. It is a true crime story about two hunters that disappeared in the forests around Mio. If you like true crime stories it is an interesting and story that happened in Michigan. I just so happen to be reading it now, You can see it on Amazon HERE

The Boat at the VFW

Posted on November 11, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Ships and Boats .

The town of Edmore sits along M-46 in central Michigan and I have travelled through it a few times over the years. On my last trip I went past the VFW and noticed the old gray boat sitting behind it. I have been passed many Veteran organizations such as the VFW or American Legion and have seen old tanks, canons or other military artifacts. I was surprised to see an LCVP (landing craft, vehicle, personnel) or Higgins Boat sitting behind the VFW in Edmore. I am also surprised I have never noticed it before on any of my other trips through the small town. The LCVPs were amphibious landing crafts used in World War II. They were used in the D-Day invasion and many allied troops invaded the beaches of Normandy from the LCVPs.

This old boat stands as a reminder of the men and women that bravely guard the United States and swore and oath to defend the Constitution. Thank you to the veterans who serve in defending this great nation. I am grateful for your sacrifice so I can travel around this beautiful country.

Historic Hadley Mill

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators .

The small town of Hadley sits between Lapeer in Clarkson in the southeast part of the state. It is where you will find the red and white Hadley Historic Mill. It was built in 1874 by Peter Slimmer along the small Mill Creek. The building once stood on stilts to allow water to pass beneath. The creek’s dam was removed in 1924 and the structure was converted from a gristmill to an electric power plant. Eventually it sat unused and by the late 60s it was turned into an office and apartment building. Now it has been converted into a park and museum known as the Hadley Mill Museum.

FYI: Lost In Michigan wall calendars are 50% OFF on Zazzle.com HERE

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The Kimball House

Posted on November 8, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

I saw this beautiful old house in Battle Creek. The historical marker in front of it reads:

Three generations of doctors made this structure their home. The attractive Victorian house was built by Dr. Arthur H. Kimball in 1886. Kimball, a city health official, came to this area in 1883. His son, Arthur S. Kimball, became Battle Creek’s first pediatrician, founded the local chapter of the American Red Cross and established clinics for the poor. Arthur S. Kimball, Jr., gained national recognition for his work in the treatment of tuberculosis. In 1966, heirs of the Kimball family donated the property to the Junior League for use as a museum.

I always seem to find these beautiful old buildings at the wrong time of year. I wish it was green and the flowers in full bloom. I like to explore no matter what time of year it is, I guess I will have to go back to Battle Creek sometime in the spring and see what else I can find while I am there.

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Lost In Ohio Book Giveaway

Posted on November 6, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read my Lost In Michigan posts. I wanted to let you know that I am doing a giveaway of my latest book Lost In Ohio on my other website Lost In The States. If you want to enter the contest to win a free copy of my new book you can find it on my other website HERE

If you want to learn more about my Lost In Ohio book you can see a preview of it on Amazon HERE

If you love my lost in Michigan books or posts I am sure you will like reading my stories in Ohio. If you live in southern Michigan Ohio is not far away for a road trip and I found a lot of interesting places in the Buckeye State.

The Historic White Lake Cemetery

Posted on November 4, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Cemetery .

I drove past the historic White Lake Cemetery and had to stop and get a pic of the trees showing off their autumn color under the blue sky. A historical marker stands in the old cemetery and gives a little history

This cemetery was established by Robert Garner when his nine-month-old child, Mary, died in 1837. White Lake Road, which runs past it, was once an Indian trail. Garner, a pioneer of White Lake Township, was involved in the establishment of the First Presbyterian Church of White Lake and was the superintendent of a pioneer sabbath school in White Lake. Buried in the cemetery are many of the pioneer families of the township, including the Garners, Seeleys and Voorheises. Also buried here are twenty-eight Civil War veterans and just over forty veterans of succeeding wars. In 1856 the cemetery was formally deeded to the Board of Health of White Lake Township.

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The Ghost Town of Hagensville

Posted on November 2, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Ghost towns .

After stopping at a roadside park to read about the devastating fire in the small town of Metz, northwest of Alpena. ( can read my post about Metz HERE) I wanted to go to the Presque Ilse Lighthouse (you can read my post HERE) and I knew it was northeast from where I was, so I just started heading north. A few miles from Metz I saw this old building that looked like it had been a boarding house, or saloon, or general store, or probably all the above. I stopped and got a pic but I really had no idea of where I was.

When I got home I found out on google maps that I was in Hagensville, or at least what was left of it. An old building and some modern day farms. According to records, I found the Post Office was open from 1886 to 1912 and that William Hagen was the first postmaster. He and Wilson Pines owned the local sawmill.

I can only imagine at the turn of the 20th century that travelers would stop by on their arduous journey across northern Michigan while at the turn of the 21st century travelers whizz by at 55 miles per hour, and if they blink, they will miss it.

FYI Lost In Michigan wall calendars are 50% OFF today on my Zazzle store HERE

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The Black River Foot Bridge

Posted on October 30, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, upper peninsula .

The Black River empties into Lake Superior not far from the Wisconsin Border. At the mouth of the river is the Black River Harbor managed by the National Forest Service. The 210 foot suspension bridge was built in 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It was reconstructed in 1967 and refurbished in 2009. The bridge is part of the North Country Scenic Trail and allows hikers to cross the Black River wit a spectacular view as it bounces and sways as you cross it.

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