Driving the back roads near Linwood, I stumbled upon a fantastic sight: a barn absolutely covered in vintage signs. It was a roadside gallery of genuine Americana, complete with old gas pumps and even a classic pay phone booth. The whole scene was a powerful jolt of nostalgia, instantly transporting me back to my childhood.
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Not far off the Triple A road past the Eagle Mine out in the middle of the woods are the ruins of a log structure. It about a 20 mile drive from Big Bay and is in the middle of nowhere. It shows up on Google maps as Nels Anderson’s Barn. I tried to find out more but was not too successful. A few different Nels Andersons from Wisconsin and Minnesota came up so I am not sure if any of them built what is remaining of this old barn. I drove my truck out to it and the roads got a little tight. I imagine it is known by people who have ATVs and side by sides.
P.S. I have been exploring the UP for years and I am still finding interesting places and things, and the more remote they are the more I like them.
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Nestled close to the Bowers Harbor boat launch on Old Mission Peninsula, there exists a delightful pavilion that feels as if it belongs in a scenic park. This structure, which is over a century old and was constructed in 1920, holds great significance in the history of Traverse City. Initially, it functioned as the Cherry Growers Weigh Station, providing local farmers with a handy spot to weigh their harvested cherries, thus saving them the hassle of traveling into Traverse City.
After it closed its doors in the 1960s, the pavilion was repurposed and became Lorey’s Harbor Station. This market, which was in operation from 1972 until 2017, offered a variety of fresh flowers, fruits, and vegetables to the community.
The history of cherry farming in Traverse City goes back to 1852 when Presbyterian missionary Peter Dougherty planted a multitude of cherry trees in the Old Mission Peninsula. Although there was initial doubt from local residents and Native Americans, Dougherty’s venture turned out to be a success, encouraging others to start their own orchards.
As the cherry industry flourished, Traverse City initiated the “Blessing of the Blossoms” ceremony in 1924 to honor its agricultural achievements. This custom eventually transformed into the famous National Cherry Festival, where the first Cherry Queen, Charlotte Kearns, was crowned in 1926.
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Near Horton Bay by Charlevoix, I came across this fascinating building—I’m not sure if it’s a barn or a house. It has such a distinctive look, and I’m left wondering about its layout and design inside
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Traveling around Michigan, I have seen a lot of barns and churches but this is the first barn church I have seen. Standing in Troy it was built by William Lakie as a dairy barn in 1912 At one time the electric interurban railway ran past this barn and picked up milk cans gathered from surrounding farms. After the Presbyterian Church purchased the building in 1928, they removed the silo and added a steeple and an appropriate entranceway. Thus the barn was adapted as a church with the hay loft becoming the chancel. The massive yet graceful lines of the former barn, now a Unitarian church is still being used for worship by the Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
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At the southern end of the Traverse City Commons near the historic barns is a stone marker for the world champion cow Traverse Colantha Walker. Before it became the commons the buildings and the property were the Northern Michigan Asylum. It was a self sufficient asylum with barns and crops to care for the nearly 3500 people within its walls.
It also had livestock that included a herd of cows. The most famous one was Traverse Colantha Walker. She was born in 1916 and produced over 200,000 pounds of milk in her lifetime which is more than two times what most cows can produce. When she died in 1932, she was buried on the asylum’s property. A banquet was held in her honor and the stone marker erected in her memory, the one that stands to this day.
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These colorful silos stand in Old Town Saginaw along the Saginaw River. They were painted by Madrid artist Okuda San Miguel with the help of a team of local artist. It is said to be one of the largest murals in the United States. If you want to check it out for yourself you can see it at 105 Lyon St, Saginaw, MI 48602. If you do go to see it be sure to check out some of the local shops, restaurants and bars in the area along Hamilton and court streets. If you have young kids the Saginaw Children’s zoo is not far away.
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I saw this big red round barn south of Traverse City. I don’t know anything about it other than it is nifty looking.
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I was roaming the backroads near Greenville and I came upon this enormous farmhouse. I figured out it was the old Montcalm county poor farm since it was on County Farm Road. It was a different time in our society when people went to live on the farm and worked to support themselves. The old farm was used as an adult care facility. New owners have been working on the historic structure. You can see more at their Facebook page HERE https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554576433189
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South of Harrison is a stairway that leads to a small field surrounded by stone pillars and metal fencing. It is the cemetery and all that remains of the old Clare County Poor Farm. There are no headstones or markers but it is believed that about 100 bodies are buried in the cemetery. The were former residents of the poor farm and died while living their.
The poor farm in Harrison was the third one constructed in Clare County, It was built in 1912 and renamed the Clare County Infirmary. It closed in 1945 and burned down a few years later. The former residents lay in their final resting place nearby without markers to remember their names.
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