While traveling around the state I see several beautiful old churches and this one in Ypsilanti stood out to me. The twin steeples stand proudly over the city on the First Presbyterian Church. The historical marker on the front reads:

Originally built in 1857 with a single, central spire, the First Presbyterian Church was greatly enlarged and rededicated in 1899. Detroit architect Julius Hess redesigned the church, using the original sanctuary walls, and added a columned entrance portal and twin towers. The cupola-topped towers are reminiscent of English Baroque churches, yet the interior and overall design reflect Renaissance architecture. The rose window was made by Tiffany & Co. of New York.

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I saw this old stone church north of Hubbard Lake. I don’t know anything about it other than it looks as if it has been a while since a service was held inside.

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I see several old historic churches in Michigan and some of them are made with fieldstone. The church in Olivet really surprised me with the huge rocks used to construct the church. If you look at the front door you can get an idea of how large the boulders were used in the construction. If you have ever tried to move or lift a rock that large you know how heavy they are. It is impressive that they were able to lift them that high without modern hydraulic equipment.

The historical marker next to the old church gives a little bit of history of the old building. It reads:

The First Congregational Church grew out of the evangelical movement that swept the country during the early nineteenth century. The congregation and its anti-slavery and temperance societies were organized in 1845. Temperance activities continued into the 1930s. Dedicated in 1894, this is the third building used for worship. In 1968 the church became the Olivet Congregational Church, United Church of Christ.

When this church was dedicated on June 20, 1894, the Olivet Optic called it a monument to the “self-denial, self sacrifice and loyalty to the cause of religion” shown by the citizens of Olivet. Milwaukee architect Henry F. Starbuck designed the Ionia sandstone, Richardsonian Romanesque Church. The 3,000-pound bell was cast in Baltimore and George Androvette of Chicago provided the stained glass windows.

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I saw this old church in Allegan with a historical mark proudly displayed in front of it. I always stop and take pics of the Green and yellow historical markers and read them. This one reads:

On June 15,1858, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd was organized; its parish was admitted into the Diocese of Michigan two years later. Built in 1866-1869, this Gothic structure was designed by Gordon W. Lloyd and first used for Divine Service on Palm Sunday, March 21, 1669. Bishop McCoskry performed the rite of consecration on April 8 of that same year. In 1886 the parishioners purchased the present tracker organ, which is still in use, and one of the few such organs left in this state today.

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Michigan has some large historic stone churches with steeples that seem to reach endlessly into the sky. This is not one of those churches but it has enormous country charm. According to the sign posted out front this is the God’s Little Acre Wayside Chapel. I had to stop and get a pic of this cute little church outside of the mid-Michigan town of Blanchard.

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This old wooden church and cemetery stand a few miles south of Berrien Center. The historical marker behind it gives a little bit of history and reads:

In 1857 Protestants of different denominations established a church and cemetery on property purchased from Zera and Elize Wright. They dedicated the Greek Revival style Union Church on July 4, 1858. The denominations held services on alternating Sundays until 1915. Throughout the years elaborate Memorial Day celebrations have been held at the church. The Ladies Aid Society has maintained the church since 1891.

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The town of Indianville, or at least what is left of it, is near the northwest side of Burt Lake. St Mary’s Catholic Church still stands in the town along with the cemetery behind it.

The town will forever be linked to a tragic day in Michigan history. On October 15th, 1900 the sheriff came from Cheboygan to nearby Indian Village located on Indian Point on Burt Lake. John Walter McGinn purchased the land for back taxes of which the Native Americans did not owe because the land was given to them in a treaty with the government. When the men in the village were out of town getting supplies, the women and children were forcibly removed from their homes and then their houses burned to the ground by the sheriff and his men.

The former residents of the burned town moved to other Indian villages including Cross Village and the nearby town of Indianville.

P.S. I thought about skipping the story of the burning of Indian Village and leaving it as a nice picture of a little northern Michigan church, but I thought it would be disrespectful and dishonest not to share what really happened.

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