Author Archives: Mike Sonnenberg

The Old House in Forester

Posted on by Posted in Forgotten Places, Houses, Thumb .

In the small town of Forester, nestled on the shores of Lake Huron in Michigan’s Thumb, stands thid old boarded up house. Its weathered appearance suggests long vacancy, hinting at a bygone era. I wondered if this house witnessed the tragic fate of Minie Quay, Forester’s most infamous resident.

At just 15 years old, Minie tragically took her own her life on a cold April day in 1876, by jumping off a dock into the icy waters of Lake Huron.  She was devastated by the news of her sailor boyfriend’s demise in a Great Lakes shipwreck. She was laid to rest in the cemetery overlooking the lake north of town, and her ghost is said to walk the shoreline looking for her lover.

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Lost In Deefield

Posted on by Posted in Grain Elevators, small towns .

I saw this old building along the River Rasin in the southeast Michigan town of Deerfield. I am guessing it was some sort of grain elevator or somthing agraculture related, but I am not sure. Deefield was first settled by William Kedzie in 1828 who named the town Kedzie’s Grove. It was renamed to Deerfield in 1837. The name came from the numerous deer in the area.

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The Hobo Hotel

Posted on by Posted in Historic Places, Iconic Buildings .

The small town of Tekonsha is located between Coldwater and Marshall. Next the the histrical society’s building is a small gray building witht he sign “Tekonsha Jail and hobo Hotel. The historical marker denotes it was constructed in 1878. It is not much bigger than a garden shed and I would not want to be locked up in it. The town was named after Chief of the Pottowatomies Te-kon-qua-sha in 1871. The outer sheeting covers thick logs and the inside has a flat iron bar cell. carved in the wall is the name “Lansing Kid” which begs the question, who was the Lansing Kid. Unfortunatly I could not find any info about him. Maybe he was just another hobo that spent a night there.

P.S. If you are looking for something to read while you are staying warm indoors I hope you will take a look at my Lost In Michigan books. You can see all of them on Amazon HERE 

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Lost In Jerome

Posted on by Posted in Forgotten Places, small towns .

The small town of Jerome is located in southern Michigan, northeast of Hillsdale. In 1871, the Detroit, Hillsdale, and Indiana Railroad ran a rail line through the southern Michigan forest. In anticipation of the new railroad, landowner Jerome Smith purchased land and plotted a new town named after himself. He served as the town’s first postmaster and worked as an agent for the railroad. The town’s population grew rapidly, with several businesses relying on the trains that stopped at the town’s depot. In 1906, a large two-story brick schoolhouse was built.

Eventually, the train no longer stopped in the town of Jerome, and the community began to decline. The school was closed in 1960, and the students were bused to nearby North Adams. The businesses faded away, and the two old, dilapidated buildings still stand on Main Street, remembering a time of a prosperous Jerome. A few houses still stand in the little town, and the old school has been converted into a community center.

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Tippy Dam

Posted on by Posted in Dam .

When I am out and about traversing the peninsulas, I cant pass up an oppertunity to take a dam photo.

Tippy Dam, originally known as Junction Hydro, is a hydroelectric dam built in 1918 and currently operated by Consumers Energy. It was renamed in honor of Charles W. Tippy, a member of the Consumers’ board of directors. Situated approximately 170 miles west of the Manistee River’s headwaters and 20 miles east of its mouth at Lake Michigan, the dam spans the river near Manistee Lake.

Tippy Dam State Recreation Area, managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, offers excellent fishing opportunities. The area below the dam is renowned for its trout, steelhead, and salmon, particularly during the fall salmon run when anglers flock to the banks to catch king salmon exceeding 20 pounds.

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Shoe Tree

Posted on by Posted in Landscapes .

I was traveling the back roads near Whitmore Lake. I cam upon a shoe tree covered in old shoes. It is an odd sight seeing al the footware dangeling from the branches of an old tree next to the road. I am not sure the reason for it but it is attention grabbing.

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Dollar Settlement

Posted on by Posted in small towns, upper peninsula .

I previously shared a post about an intriguing railroad car located in Dollar Settlement, near Brimley. Thanks to the kindness of several commenters, I’ve uncovered some fascinating details about its history. Thank you to Steve and Pauline.
Dollar Settlement owes its name to Joseph “Joe” Dollar, a local legend who navigated the waters of Lake Superior, delivering essential mail and supplies to the region’s inhabitants. His modest log cabin stood on the lakeshore, just north of the railroad car’s current resting place.
The railroad car arrived as a hopeful replacement for Louise’s Hamburger Stand, a beloved local eatery. The plan was to transform it into a new dining destination, carrying on the legacy of Louise’s famous, secret hamburger sauce recipe. Unfortunately, this dream was never realized.
Carol Eccleston and her son John, Louise’s granddaughter and grandson, were the driving force behind this ambitious project. However, Carol’s declining health and limited resources hindered their efforts. Despite facing zoning challenges from the local township, which they ultimately overcame, the extensive restoration required for the rail car proved too daunting. Today, the car remains a silent testament to a dream deferred, serving only as a storage space for the family.

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New Abandoned Michigan Book

Posted on by Posted in Uncategorized .

I am proud to announce the release of my new book Lost In Michigan’s Abandoned Places has just been released.

It contains stories of places around Michigan that was abanded for thier original purpose. Many of the locations are on public property such as state and local parks and allow people to visit and explore them. Some are private but near the road so they can be viewed by the curious. The book delves into the stories behind over 50 unique locations, offering detailed information on their history, current state, and accessibility.

Whether you’re a history buff, an intrepid explorer, or simply curious about the state’s past, this book will lead you on a journey through time. Discover the haunting beauty of abandoned buildings, the industrial might of former factories, and the quiet solitude of forgotten mining towns.

I hope you will take a look at it on Amazon HERE 

P.S. Thank you to all of you that have purchase books over the years. Your kindness and support really mean a lot to me and help me in being able to write new posts about the wonderful state of Michgian.

If you wan to see all the books I have publsihed you can see them on my author page on Amazon HERE

Lost In Hell

Posted on by Posted in small towns .

I drove through Hell the other day and it’s not a bad place to visit, at least the small town in Michigan not the one with fire and brimstone. The little town near the Pickney Recreation Area is mostly a tourist destination with an ice cream store, miniture golf, a gift store and saloon.

There are a couple of intriguing theories about how the town acquired its unique name. According to Walter Romig’s Michigan Place Names, the frequent drunken brawls that occurred in the area may have inspired the moniker. However, a more colorful tale suggests that the name originated from the local gristmill owner, George Reeves. It seems Reeves had a habit of paying farmers with homemade whiskey, leading their wives to exclaim, “He’s gone to Hell again!” when inquiring about their husbands’ whereabouts during harvest time. This humorous anecdote eventually led to the town’s official name in 1841 when the post office was established.

The town located about 15 miles northwest of Ann Arbor and its a nice place to visit when its not froze over during the Michigan winter.

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The Hillman Shack

Posted on by Posted in Forgotten Places .

I saw this old shack near Hillman between Atlanta and Alpena. I kind of looks like a schoolhouse but I am not sure if everwas. I don’t have a story to go with it I just thought it looked lonely so I stopped and took a pic of it.

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