Mike Sonnenberg, Author at Lost In Michigan

The House of Seven Gables

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, Thumb .

The house of Seven Gables in Huron City, near the tip of the thumb, is a beautifully preserved Victorian home, sits on a bluff overlooking Lake Huron. It was named by William Lyon Phelps, for the house of the same name in the Hawthorne novel. This is the third house built on this site. The forest fires of 1871 and 1881 destroyed Forestview and Lakeview, its predecessors.

The house has large double parlors, a graceful stairway, an elegant Victorian dining room, and is home to a portion of William Lyon Phelps’ personal library

Annabel Hubbard decorated Seven Gables in 1886 for her father Langdon Hubbard. After her marriage to William Lyon Phelps, Annabel added “modern” bathrooms and updated several rooms in the early 1900’s. Seven Gables has always been owned by family members. The furniture you see is original to the house and major portions of the house still have the original 1886 decorations, giving you a unique view into history.

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

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Springfield Chapel

Posted on January 16, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Churches .

I saw this little chapel a few miles southeast of Fife Lake. I could not find any info about this small church other than the sign on the front that reads. Springfield Chapel 1900-2007.

Across the road from this little church is a large cemetery. It is in this cemetery that Mary McKnight the Strychnine Saint’s victims are buried. You can read my post about it HERE

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The Old Water Tower in Brimely

Posted on January 15, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in upper peninsula, Water Tower .

I am not sure if you notice them, but when I am driving around Michigan, I notice all the water towers. It seems like most towns have one and many of them are newer “bulb” style towers with the name of the town on them. There are others that are a little different, maybe it just a smiley face, or it could be an old historic tower like the one in Ypsilanti. I posted about it HERE While I was in Brimley in da U.P. eh, I notice this old wooden tower. you don’t see too many of the old wooden ones anymore, I wonder if they still use it?

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The Office in Onaway

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places .

This unique looking building sits in the northern Michigan town of Onaway. It was the Lobdell-Emery Wooden Steering Wheel Factory Administration Building. Tragically, the factory burned down in the 1920s and was moved to Alma. You can read about the factory in my post HERE. After the steering wheel factory moved the building was used as a Masonic Lodge. The historical society owns it now and is trying to restore it.

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Bloomingdale Depot

Posted on January 13, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Train Depots .

This tan and green depot stands in the small town of Bloomingdale. It is between Kalamazoo and South Haven and the depot was originally called the Kalamazoo and South Haven Railroad Depot, it was completed in December 1870. Harvey Howard, owner of the local sawmill, and his brothers Zenas and Joseph supplied the lumber and built the depot. Its original location was an acre of land donated by Augustus Haven. The park built on the depot grounds in 1912 is named in Haven’s honor. The first passenger train arrived in Bloomingdale on July 4, 1870. The railroad stopped using the rail line in the 1970s. It is now part of the Kal-Haven Trail State Park for bikers and hikers to enjoy. Bloomingdale is about the halfway point of the 33 mile trail.

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The Old House in Clio

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Houses .

I saw this old house in Clio a few years ago. I was intrigued by the shutters on the windows. I think it is gone now but I bet it could tell some stories of walls could talk.

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Winter 2022 Presentations

Posted on January 11, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

I have some presentations this winter to talk about Lost In Michigan and the places I visited in my travels around the Great Lakes State. I hope you will be able to attend one of them. It is always nice to meet people in real life.

The first program is hosted by the Tyrone Township Historical Society and is a fund raiser for the “Move the Old Town House” A small donation at the door is appreciated to help the historical society move the old historic town hall to its new location.

January 29th from 2-4 pm

Tyrone Township hall

8420 Runyan Lake Road, Fenton, MI 48430

In February I will be in Plainwell at the Ransom District Library.

February 16th 7pm

Ransom District Library

180 S. Sherwood Plainwell, MI 49080

In march I will be in North Muskegon at the Walker Memorial Library.

March 16th at 6pm

North Muskegon Walker Memorial Library

1522 Ruddiman dr. North Muskegon MI 49445

Please Note these events are held in Michigan during wintertime and who knows what the weather will be like or things may change because of covid. I will post a few days before each event to let you know they are still being held. Hopefully we will be able to do my presentations an you will be able to attend. I will have books for sale but If you already have a book and would like me to autograph it for you please bring them.

The Stone and Wood Farmhouse

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Houses .

I saw this old wood and stone house near the ghost town of McClure. I bet it was a beautiful house when it was constructed and I love the fieldsne walls. I bet if they could talk I can only imagine the stories they would tell.

If you missed my post about the town of McClure you can check it out HERE

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St Patrick’s of South East Michigan

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Churches .

Michigan has a few churches named St. Patrick and this one stands north of Monroe. The historical marker in front of it reads.

Irish and German immigrants first came to this area, known as Stony Creek, in the 1840s. The settlement was also called Athlone, after a city significant in Ireland’s military history. Redemptorist missionaries served Catholics here from 1847 until 1855. On March 17, 1847, they celebrated the dedicatory mass of their first church, which was built of logs donated by parishioners. On June 26, 1860, the cornerstone was laid for the present church; six months later the church was completed. Built in the Round-Arch mode, it once had a lofty spire surrounded by finials. On December 27 Bishop Lefevere appointed Father Desiderius Callaert the first resident pastor of Stony Creek, and St. Patrick’s gained the full status of a parish.

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Harrietta

Posted on January 8, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in small towns .

You could say the small town of Harrietta is a ghost town since most of its buildings on main street are empty. But the small town west of Cadillac has a few houses and a couple of churches. Harrietta was first platted by James M. Ashley in 1889. It was incorporated as a village in 1891 with the name of Gaston. It was named Hariette in 1892 and the present spelling was adopted in 1923. Harrietta is a combination of the names of a railroad official, Harry, and that of his wife, Henrietta.

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