Forgotten Places Archives - Lost In Michigan

Out of Service Station

Posted on November 29, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places .

This old service station stands in downtown Saginaw not far from city hall. It was built sometime in the the 1920s and is the oldest service station still standing in Saginaw. Several years ago it was painted by artist Eric Schantz. It still stands as a reminder of a time when cars pulled into a little gas station to ring the bell for an attendant to come out and fill it with gas and check over the engine and tires.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Old Farmhouse

I saw this old farmhouse while I was out roaming the back roads near Harrison. I am not sure what the story is with this old house but it looks as if it has been a long time since anyone has trick or treated at this place for Halloween.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my posts from my travels around Michigan. If you want to see posts from other states, I hope you will take a look at my other website. Lost In The States HERE

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Stone House in Alma

Posted on August 23, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Houses .

Alma is located in the center of the Lower Peninsula and standing in the heart of Alma is an old stone Richardsonian-design house. Built in 1888 by lumber baron and business man Ammi Wright, the house was advanced for its time with its own hot water system. The Wright family owned the house until it was sold in 1934 and converted into Smith Memorial Hospital. For years the old building served the community treating patients, and over three thousand babies were born in its rooms. As medicine advanced, the hospital outgrew the old house and in 1959 Northwood Institute moved in, using the rooms to educate students. Eventually the college moved to its current location in Midland. After a few other businesses used the old mansion it was left empty.

I see that is has a new roof which will help limit the determination from water but it would be nice to see this magnificent home restored and used for something.

If you love exploring Michigan, I hope you will take a look at my Lost In Michigan book series available on Amazon HERE

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The House with a Broken Back

Posted on August 14, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Houses .

I saw this old farmhouse south of Traverse City somewhere near Buckley. It looks as if it has a broken back with the center of the roof collapsed inward. I don’t know any history of this old home but it looks as if someone is cutting the grass. I like how the bushes or trees or whatever they are, are almost as big as the house. I see these old houses and it reminds me of the challenging times our ancestors had back in “the good ol’ days” I don’t know how they survived without air conditioning and the internet.

P.S. As usual I take pics from the road and advise against trespassing and respect peoples personal property.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Stone Walls

Posted on August 4, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places .

I saw these stone walls next to the road somewhere near Vanderbilt. I am sure at one time they had a wooden roof and doors but they are gone now, maybe to a fire or a snowstorm. At first I thought they might have been part of an old schoolhouse but I think it was an old garage. They stand now as a reminder of times that have past. I don’t have any info or interesting story about them. It is just one of those things I past by on my travels and wonder about.

If you love exploring Michigan, I hope you will take a look at my Lost In Michigan book series available on Amazon HERE

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Broken Schoolhouse

Posted on April 10, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Schools .

I saw this old building near Ashland. I think it was a schoolhouse at one time. It looks as if a meteorite struck it like the truck in Men In Black. Most likely it was the unforgiving Michigan snow that has broken the back of this old structure.

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” Albert Einstein

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Butternut

Posted on March 24, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Ghost towns, small towns .

The small town of Butternut, or what remains of it, stands in central Michigan west of Carson City. It was founded in 1888 and believed to be named after a butternut cheese factory. It was once a prosperous town with a population of over 200 people. The town’s prosperity came from its location on the Toledo, Saginaw & Muskegon Railroad, which allowed for the easy transport of lumber and minerals. However, the town’s fortunes declined in the early 1900s when the railroad was abandoned. By the 1930s, Butternut was a ghost town and today only a few buildings and a couple houses still stand in the area.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Old House

Posted on December 14, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Houses .

I saw this old house somewhere near Plainwell. I am not sure what its story is, but it looks like it has been a long time since anyone has celebrated Christmas in this old home.

I don’t have any story to go along with this old house so I will just say thank you for taking the time to read my posts.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Indianville’s Log Cabin and the Burt Lake Burnout

Posted on October 10, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places .

Behind the old jail in Cheboygan is an old log cabin. At one time it stood near Burt Lake in the town of Indianville. It was relocated to it’s current spot in the 1970s and stands as a reminder of a tragic day in Michigan history.

On October 15th, 1900 the sheriff came from Cheboygan to 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 working, 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 town of Indianville where this old log cabin once stood. Sadly, few people know the story of the Burt Lake Burnout.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Ruins Behind The Church

Posted on August 20, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, upper peninsula .

The small town of Mansfield sits near the center of the Upper Peninsula. Not much remains of the town today after a devastating mine collapse killed several miners. An old log cabin style church still stands and has been restored by local historians. Behind the church are the ruins of some old cabins. I can only assume they were abandoned shortly after the mine collapse. You can see my post about the church HERE

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.