autumn Archives - Lost In Michigan

Contacting the Dead in Grand Ledge

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Parks .

this old wooden barn-like structure sits near the back of Fitzgerald Park in Grand Ledge. It was built by the Grand Ledge Spiritualist Camp Association who built a summer camp at this spot in the late 1800s. Spiritualism was a popular movement in the late 1800s where people believed they could communicate with the deceased. This pavilion was built for the group to hold seances. The popularity of Spiritualism faded in the early 1900s and the city of Grand Ledge purchased the property. In the 50s the pavilion was converted into a summer theater.

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The Church in Arcadia

Posted on November 29, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Churches .

This historic white church stands in the western Michigan town of Arcadia. The historic town is south of Frankfort and was originally named Starkeville after Henry Starke. The post office changed the name of the town to Arcadia which is the name of the township that it is in.

This beautiful historic church stands near the center of town. A Michigan historical marker gives a little bit of history and reads:

In 1880 many Germans left Milwaukee and settled in Manistee County. Among them was lumberman Henry Starke, who vowed to return to Wisconsin if no Lutheran church could be found. Instead, he helped to organize this congregation in 1881, and he platted Arcadia the same year. In 1887 Starke donated land and money for this Neo-Gothic church, completed in 1888. The complex grew to include a parsonage, a school, and a teacherage.

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Thankful

Posted on November 26, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn .

It has been a strange and challenging year and I am sure you don’t need me to remind you of that. I wanted to say thank you for taking the time to read my posts. I am thankful to have so many wonderful people who enjoy what I do. I wish we could get together and I could do more in-person presentations, but I am fortunate that we can visit on the internet.

I hope you have a great day and are blessed for the good things in your life.

Safe Travels and enjoy the journey,

Mike Sonnenberg

Lost In Shepardsville

Posted on November 24, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Houses, Schools .

I saw this old building, house, or maybe an old school while I was out roaming the roads near Shepardsville. I don’t know what this place used to be but I thought it looked nice hugged by the colorful autumn trees.

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Michigan’s Log Cabin Church

Posted on November 22, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Churches .

The small town of Bitely is in the Manistee National Forest somewhere between White Cloud and Baldwin. This beautiful log cabin church stands near the heart of town. I am not sure how many log cabin churches are in Michigan or even the United States but I like this one in Bitely.

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The Old Hospital in Lapeer

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Houses .

In 1873 Peter Van Dyke built this Beautiful second empire-style home in Lapeer. In 1924 the grand old house was converted into a nine bedroom hospital with surgeries taking place on the upper floor. Back in the day, it was common for large houses to be used as a hospital. Doctors did not have the array of sophisticated equipment that is available today. By 1953 the old house was no longer practical as a hospital and was converted into apartments and remains as an apartment complex today.

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An Octagon Barn

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Barns and Farms .

Somewhere between Ovid and Elsie I came upon this massive octagon barn. I am not exactly sure of the purpose of an octagon-shaped barn. The most well-known one in Michigan is in Gagetown. In the late 1800s, octagon-shaped houses were popular and I guess a few barns were built in that configuration also. I was told they were popular in the great plains states because the shape could withstand the strong winds better. I am not sure the story or history of this particular barn but it is a beautiful looking barn.

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Going Old School in Copemish

Posted on November 13, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Schools .

This faded green two-story school sits empty in the town of Copemish. It was built in 1910 replacing a school that burned down in a fire on the same site. There were not enough elementary students to utilize the second floor. It was used as a high school and a gymnasium was built next to the school. The Copemesh Cyclones were county champions in basketball several times and in 1950 made it to the state finals losing to Fowler. By 1960 the school was not able to serve it function like many modern schools of the time. The parents of the students decided to merge with Benzie Central School District and in 1963 this old building saw students for the final time.

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Good Harbor

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, General Store, Ghost towns .

The town of Good Harbor once stood along the shores of Lake Michigan between Glen Arbor and Leeland. In the 1860s H. D. Pheatt built a dock in Good Habor Bay to supply passing steamships with firewood. Over the next few decades, a couple of sawmills were built. The town had grown in population and had a hotel, general store, school, and some saloons. The interesting thing is Centerville and Cleveland townships boundary lines ran down the middle of Main Street in Good Harbor. Centerville did not allow saloons, so Good Harbor’s saloon was built on the Cleveland township side of the street.

In1905 the last remaining sawmill caught fire and burned down. Because most of the timber had been cut in the area the sawmill was not rebuilt. in the 1920a the old wood buildings still standing in the empty town were dismantled and the lumber used to build them was sold.

Not far away from where the town once stood, I saw this old building that looks as if it was a store at one time. I am not sure if it was standing in the time that Good Harbor was prosperous, but there is nothing left of the town. This old building is nearby and reminds me of the old sawmill town.

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Almont Society of the New Church

Posted on November 8, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Churches .

This beautiful white chapel stands in a quiet part of the state east of Almont. A historical marker stands in front of it giving some history to this historic little church.

Scottish immigrants from Glascow settled in Berlin Township in 1841. Ten years later, twenty-four of them founded the Almont Society of the New Church. They followed the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg (1688 – 1772), a Swedish mathematician, philosopher and scientist whose Christian theological writings form the basis of the New Church. In 1875 members donated labor, materials, and money to build this chapel, designed by church member William Morton.

The chapel is now part of The Almont New Church Assembly and Retreat Center.

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