Category Archives: Forgotten Places

The Old House in Forester

Posted on by Posted in Forgotten Places, Houses, Thumb .

In the small town of Forester, nestled on the shores of Lake Huron in Michigan’s Thumb, stands thid old boarded up house. Its weathered appearance suggests long vacancy, hinting at a bygone era. I wondered if this house witnessed the tragic fate of Minie Quay, Forester’s most infamous resident.

At just 15 years old, Minie tragically took her own her life on a cold April day in 1876, by jumping off a dock into the icy waters of Lake Huron.  She was devastated by the news of her sailor boyfriend’s demise in a Great Lakes shipwreck. She was laid to rest in the cemetery overlooking the lake north of town, and her ghost is said to walk the shoreline looking for her lover.

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Lost In Jerome

Posted on by Posted in Forgotten Places, small towns .

The small town of Jerome is located in southern Michigan, northeast of Hillsdale. In 1871, the Detroit, Hillsdale, and Indiana Railroad ran a rail line through the southern Michigan forest. In anticipation of the new railroad, landowner Jerome Smith purchased land and plotted a new town named after himself. He served as the town’s first postmaster and worked as an agent for the railroad. The town’s population grew rapidly, with several businesses relying on the trains that stopped at the town’s depot. In 1906, a large two-story brick schoolhouse was built.

Eventually, the train no longer stopped in the town of Jerome, and the community began to decline. The school was closed in 1960, and the students were bused to nearby North Adams. The businesses faded away, and the two old, dilapidated buildings still stand on Main Street, remembering a time of a prosperous Jerome. A few houses still stand in the little town, and the old school has been converted into a community center.

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The Hillman Shack

Posted on by Posted in Forgotten Places .

I saw this old shack near Hillman between Atlanta and Alpena. I kind of looks like a schoolhouse but I am not sure if everwas. I don’t have a story to go with it I just thought it looked lonely so I stopped and took a pic of it.

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Lost in Butterfield

Posted on by 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

Posted on by Posted in Forgotten Places, Michigan State Parks .

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 by 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 by 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 by 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 by 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 by 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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