The Jeffers Memorial fountain stands in downtown Saginaw. It stands in a small park dedicated to early saginaw pioneer Michael Jeffers. After his death, his brother and niece donated land and money for a park. It was decided that a drinking fountain for the citizens of Saginaw was needed. This beautiful fountain with a bust of Jeffers on the top and lion heads spewing water out of their mouths was built. It was dedicated in 1906 and the water came from a well that was drilled below. There was also a space where Ice could be placed around pipes to cool the water. Cups connected to the fountain were placed for people to drink from. It was not until 1915 that the health department decided it was not a good idea to have thousands of people sharing and drinking from the same cup and removed them from the fountain.

P.S. The ornate building behind the fountain with the tower is the Castle Museum. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by and check it out. you can see my post about it HERE. 

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Walking around just about any town in Michigan and looking down at a manhole cover you most likely will see East Jordan Iron Works cast onto it. If you have ever been through the Jordan Valley in Michigan it’s hard to miss the massive foundry in the town of East Jordan. The company was founded in 1883 and originally made castings for the lumbering industry. In the early 1900s, they began producing products such as fire hydrants for municipalities and have been one of the world’s largest suppliers of infrastructure castings. Next time you see a manhole cover with East Jordan on it maybe you will think of the big out foundry with the American Flag proudly painted on the side of it.

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The north branch of the Kalamazoo River flows through downtown Albion. This building hangs over the river and I marveled at the mural painted on the side. I like seeing the old advertising murals. It’s rare to see a new advertising mural, mostly it’s just billboards with their digital signs illuminating something you can’t read as you pass by at 70mph. Sometimes newer is not better.

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Traveling through the Upper Peninsula I pass through many towns and cities. I notice many old and historic buildings. It’s hard to miss the City Hall in Negaunee with its clock tower the reaches high above the roof. The city began in the mid-1800s when iron ore was discovered in the area and named Negaunee for the Chippewa word for pioneer.

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The violent and ruthless Purple Gang in Detroit was in control of the liquor that came in from Canada across the Detroit River into Michigan. If you wanted a good quaily bottle of spirits from the distilleries in Canada you have to deal with the Purples. Two influential members of the Purple Gang, Sam Bernstein, and Louis Fleischer lived in Albion during Prohibition. They would meet with clients that took the train from Chicago to Albion at the Bohm theater. They sat in the balcony under the projector window to discuss business. The noise from the movie and projector would cover the sound of their conversations. Prohibition has ended and the Purple Gang is gone, but the stories still linger along with the historic buildings in downtown Albion.

I have more about the Purple Gang and other interesting facts in my Lost In Michigan books on Amazon HERE

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Beautiful downtown Alpena along the Thunder Bay River. If you’re wondering, Alpena is the Indian name for partridge. I took this photo last year when we had lots of cold and snow. For some reason, I never got around to posting it. I have been busy writing my book and I have not had time to get out to explore and get some new pics so I thought I would post this one.  I have been through Alpena a few time but have been busy traveling to other places so I did not spend a lot of time there, I need to get back to Alpena and spend a day or two exploring the city and try some new restaurants.

I can never say thank you enough for following me on my journeys around Michigan. I have not done as much as I would like to lately, but hope to get back to it soon.

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I was roaming around Battle Creek on a quiet Saturday morning and I saw this colorful and profound mural on the back of a building. Hand painted murals have a way of brightening up some rather dull spaces, and I love finding them in unexpected places. Not only is this a beautiful mural, but it also made me learn something new. I was thinking the woman in the mural was Harriet Tubman, but like many things I think, I was incorrect.  The woman depicted in the mural is Sojourner Truth who was an escaped slave and women’s rights activist who died at the age of 86 in her Battle Creek home.

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