Forgotten Places Archives - Lost In Michigan

Lost in Butterfield

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, small towns .

I saw this old store southwest of Houghton Lake. According to Google maps it is in the town of Butterfield. I could not find much info about the town other than the post office opened in 1894 and closed in 1922. It looks as if this old store has been closed for a long time also. I have crisscrossed all over Michigan and it was the first time I have been through Butterfield. It is definitely in a remote part of the Lower Peninsula.

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The Cars in the Park

Deep within the woods of Maybury State Park west of Northville, a pair of dilapidated cars remain as silent witnesses to a bygone era. One, overturned and skeletal, barely resembles a vehicle. The other, upright but stripped of its parts, stands as a haunting reminder of decay.

The park’s history is as intriguing as its eerie relics. Once a bustling hub, the Maybury Sanatorium opened its doors in 1919. A self-contained city, it boasted 40 buildings and its own power plant. However, as medical advancements rendered its services obsolete, the sanitarium closed in 1969. By 1975, most of its structures had been demolished. The State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources then acquired the land, transforming it into the serene Maybury State Park we know today.

The cars would be difficult to remove so I guess it was determined it would be best for them to stay where they are near the mountain bike trail. Not much remains of the sanitarium but a few foundations and some old roads. I am glad the cars are there as a reminder of a different time.

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Swearing In

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Detroit, Forgotten Places .

These historic barracks stand within Detroit’s Fort Wayne, a military fortress constructed in the 1840s. Over the decades, this fort served as a military fort during various wars before its eventual decommissioning. When I shared my visit with my father, he immediately recalled it as the very place where he was inducted into the Vietnam War draft. Seeing my photos of Fort Wayne several other veterans have told in me that this was their initial stop after boarding the bus, and it is where they swore their oath to defend the Constitution.

I believe the specific building where these oaths were administered has sadly been lost to time, other structures remain as poignant reminders of the countless men and women who dedicated their lives to the armed forces.

On this Veterans Day, let us express our deepest gratitude to all those who swore an oath to defend the Constitution and the United States of America.

A Note on Remembrance

Veterans Day: Honors all who have served in the U.S. armed forces.
Memorial Day: Commemorates those who died while serving in the U.S. military.
Armed Forces Day: Celebrates the military branches and their personnel.

Let us remember and honor their sacrifices every day.

Northern Michigan’s Stone Motel

Posted on November 7, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places .

Deep within the northern Michigan woods, a weathered stone motel, shrouded by time and nature, stands as a relic of the past. Moss-covered steps and a roof reclaimed by the forest whisper tales of a bygone era. This forgotten gem is the Echo Valley Resort, once a vibrant hub on Johannesburg Lake. Now, nestled within the Louis M. Groen Nature Preserve near Johannesburg, it remains a captivating sight, though inaccessible due to safety concerns. As the preserve continues its mission to protect the natural beauty of the area, one can only hope that a future plan will emerge for this historic structure.

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The Old Building at Old Mission

Posted on November 3, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Forgotten Places .

This historic structure is nestled in the quaint town of Old Mission, situated at the end of the Old Mission Peninsula close to Traverse City. I’m uncertain about its original purpose—perhaps it was once a store. It appears to have been unused for some time, yet it offers a stunning backdrop for photographs, especially on a crisp autumn day.

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A Historic Landmark in Old Mission Peninsula

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Forgotten Places .

Located near the Bowers Harbor boat launch in Old Mission Peninsula is a charming pavilion that seems more at home in a picturesque park. This century-old structure, built in 1920, is a significant piece of Traverse City’s regional history. Originally serving as the Cherry Growers Weigh Station, it provided a convenient location for local farmers to weigh their harvested cherries, saving them the time and effort of traveling into Traverse City.

After closing in the 1960s, the pavilion underwent a transformation, becoming Lorey’s Harbor Station. This market, which operated from 1972 to 2017, offered a selection of fresh flowers, fruits, and vegetables to the public.

The story of cherry production in Traverse City dates back to 1852 when Presbyterian missionary Peter Dougherty planted numerous cherry trees in the Old Mission Peninsula. Despite initial skepticism from residents and local Native Americans, Dougherty’s experiment proved successful, inspiring others to cultivate their own orchards.

As the cherry industry thrived, Traverse City established the “Blessing of the Blossoms” ceremony in 1924 to celebrate its agricultural success. This tradition eventually evolved into the renowned National Cherry Festival, with the first Cherry Queen, Charlotte Kearns, crowned in 1926.

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The Trufant Shack

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places .

I saw this old shack, or house, or whatever it was standing in a field somewhere Trufant. I am not sure what its story is but I like to think it stands as a reminder of the early Michiganders that came before us.

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Frankfort Ironworks Ruins

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places .

Located near the shores of Lake Michigan, the deteriorating brick walls of the Frankfort Iron Works stand as a testament to Michigan’s industrial past. Built in 1870, these ruins once housed a bustling iron smelter that processed ore mined from the Escanaba region of the Upper Peninsula. While often referred to as the Frankfort Ironworks, the site is actually situated in Elberta, across Betsie Lake from downtown Frankfort.

Initially, the ironworks utilized surrounding hardwood as fuel for its furnaces. However, the increasing demand for wood forced workers to venture deeper into the Michigan wilderness, ultimately leading to the cessation of production in 1883 due to fuel limitations.

The railroad subsequently acquired the property, repurposing it as a railcar loading facility for ferries. Buildings were converted into shops and a roundhouse for locomotive maintenance. The marine terminal remained operational until 1982. Today, the grounds are a part of Elberta’s Waterfront Park.

While the ruins are fenced off to prevent access due to the risk of falling bricks, visitors can still approach them for a closer view. Though I have visited Frankfort numerous times, I was unaware of this site’s existence until recently. I highly recommend a trip to the park for those traveling to the area.

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The Governor’s Estate Ruins in the U.P.

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, upper peninsula .

The ruins of Michigan 27th Governor’s estate can be found on an Island in the Upper Peninsula. Sugar Island is located in the St Mary’s River east of Sault St Marie. Duck Island is a small island that is separated from Sugar Island by a channel and Duck Lake. Chase Osborn lived on the island until his death in 1949. He was born in 1860 in Indiana and started his career in the newspaper business. He married his first wife Lillian G. Jones in 1881 and soon after moved to Sault Ste. Marie. In 1889, he was appointed Postmaster of Sault Ste. Marie and, in 1895, the state’s Fish and Game Warden.

Osborn built an estate on Duck Island where he built two log cabins. The larger cabin he called Big Duck and the smaller one was called Little Duck. Between them was a concrete library that held his vast collection of books.

Big Duck cabin ruins

Little Duck cabin ruins

Osborn’s library

In 1910, Osborn was elected the 27th Governor of Michigan and served from 1911 to 1913. He was the only governor from the Upper Peninsula and he proposed building a bridge across the Straits of Mackinac to President Roosevelt in 1939.

Near the riverbank is a building built with logs. I am not exactly sure what this was used for. I seen it stated that Chase had a separate bedroom made with logs. He also slept outside on a bed of pine bows. I am not sure if the log structure was his sleeping quarters or some sort of shed.

Chase Osborne became a member of the University of Michigan Board of Regents and served from 1908 to 1911. In 1927 he donated his property on Duck Lake and Sugar Island to the U of M. He made arrangements to be able to live at his estate. He had thousands of books in his library and they were given to the University of Michigan and Lake Superior State University.

Chase and Stellanova’s gravesite

South of the cabin is a large rock used as a grave marker for Chase and his second wife Stellanova. Looking at the dates Chase was born in 1860 and stallanova was born in 1894. Osborn met Stellanova Brunt in 1924, and she took a job as his researcher and secretary. Chase and Lillian Osborn legally adopted 37-year-old Stellanova, and she changed her last name to Osborn. After his wife Lillian died, Stellanova’s adoption was annulled. Chase was 89 and Stellanova was 54 when they were married. Chase died two weeks later at his home in Georgia. His remains were transported to Duck Island and they were buried under a massive rock. Stellanova died in 1989 and was buried with her husband on Duck Island. (I am thinking that Chase married Stellanova so she could get his survivor death benefits as his wife that she would not have received as his daughter.)

Osborn’s property and estate is now the Chase S. Osborn Preserve and used for research and instruction in natural sciences and forestry. When I visited the main gate on S. Homestead Road was open. I parked near the closed gate for Duck Lake. The sign next to it read that no camping or dumping was allowed but I did not see anything about trespassing so I assume it is open to the public. It is about a mile hike to the estate. It was an easy hike without any steep hills to climb. If you visit please be respectful so that it remains accessible. you can see it on google maps at the coordinates here 46.35820957281242, -84.13571232907873

If you love exploring the Upper Peninsula, I hope you will take a look at my Lost In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula book HERE

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The Jumbo Jet Boneyard

Posted on August 9, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places .

I was driving the backroads around the old Wurtsmith Air Force Base and it was fascinating to see the jumbo jets parked along the fence. Since the base was deactivated the hangars and runway are being used by Kalitta Air. An air cargo transportation company started by drag racer Connie Kalitta. The base is used for servicing planes and the ones sitting along the fence look as though they are being stripped for parts. Its still fascinating to me that something so large can fly and if you like airplanes take a trip around the old base and you can see some sitting along the fence.

P.S. be sure to check out the museum and the memorial on the old base.

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