Author Archives: Mike Sonnenberg

Lost In Michigan Early Black Friday Sale

Posted on by Posted in Uncategorized .

I wanted to let you know that Wall Calendars and T-shirts are ON SALE on my zazzle.com store HERE

Also the first volume of Lost In Michigan is ON SALE buy 3 for the price of 2 at Amazon HERE If you want to see all of the books I have published you can see them on my authors page HERE

Thank you all so much for your support. I know a lot of you have already purchased books and calendars from me and I really appreciate it. The money I make from the sales of my books and calendars helps me with expenses to continue posting on my website.

The Old Orphanage

Posted on by Posted in upper peninsula .

I took a photo of the old orphanage in Marquette almost ten years ago way back when I started Lost In Michigan. Holy Family Orphanage was constructed in 1915 and was used until 1967. It was home to children ranging from infants to high schoolers. It was also where Native American children were brought after being removed from their families to be “integrated” into white Christian culture.

The old building had sat empty for decades and some claimed it was haunted. In 2016 the old orphanage got a new lease on life after a 15 million dollar renovation converted it into apartments. I have taken a lot of pics of old buildings over the years and many of them have been torn down. It is nice to see this one has been renovated and repurposed.

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The House in the Hills

Posted on by Posted in Houses .

I came upon this old forgotten house somewhere in the Chippewa Hills area. It looks as if it has been worn down from years and years of Michigan weather. If walls could talk I can only imagine what stories they would tell. I wonder when the last Thanksgiving meal was shared inside.

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The Dome along M-22

Posted on by 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 by 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 by 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 by 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 by 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 by 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 by 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.