Grain Elevators Archives - Page 2 of 3

The Revelation Inside the Old Mill

Posted on September 6, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Grain Elevators .

North of Glen Arbor in the Leelanau Penisula is an old grist mill that sits along the Crystal River. It looks like many other hundred-year-old mills used for grinding grain, but this one has a unique story to tell. Long after it stopped grinding grain into flour during the 1970s it was turned into a world-class recording studio. You would have never guessed it from driving past this old forgotten structure. I just assumed it was and always has been a mill, but besides grinding flour it was cranking ou the tunes.

It was going to be turned into an arts and crafts center, but the plans fell through and architect Fred Ball ended up with the building. He decided to turn it into a recording studio calling it the Glen Arbor Roller Mills Recording Studio. He spared no expense purchasing state of the art 16 track quadraphonic soundboard and the latest equipment. Acclaimed audio engineer Bill Porter, who was instrumental in shaping the “Nashville Sound” and worked with Elvis along with other big named artist learned about the project. Porter helped with getting the studio set up and had engineer George Augspurger who worked on Los Angeles’s Village Recorder Studios help with the new studio in Glen Arbor.

I could find a lot of information about the equipment in the studio, but what I could not find is a list or any artists that recorded in the historic old mill. I imagine being secluded in northern Michigan in the 1970s it was difficult for artists to travel to it and had a relatively short life as a recording studio. A small sign is posted on the mill’s porch for a nearby resort called the Homestead, so I assume they own the historic building and have plans for the future, but I am thinking it will probably not be a recording studio.

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

Chittenden Elevator

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators .

I saw this old grain elevator in the town of Grant. the sign on the side reads Chittenden Elevator, other than that I don’t know anything about it. Most small towns and even large cities in Michigan have a grain elevator and I like taking pics of them. No fascinating history or insightful thoughts I just like to keep my posts random and I liked this pic so I figured I would post it.

I hope all is going well for you and once again thank you for taking the time from your busy day to look at my posts.

Lost In Michigan books are ON SALE this week and available HERE or on Amazon HERE

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan

[fbcomments]

Six Lakes Grain Elevator

Posted on December 4, 2018 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators .

Most every town in Michigan has or had a grain elevator. In many small towns, it’s the tallest structure in the community. I like to take photos of the old grain elevators even though I am a city boy and know very little about their operation. I took a photo of this elevator in the town of Six Lakes. The town was named after the nearby lakes, and you probably guess correctly that there are six of them.

Time to announce the winner of the Lost In Michigan book giveaway from facebook. Congratulations to Dan Clark, he is the winner. Please email me your address to mike@huronphoto.com and I will send out your book.

If you like what I post I hope you will subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts.

[fbcomments]

Getting Lost In Frankenmuth and Finding Beer

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators .

I don’t live far from Frankenmuth and have been there many times. I stopped and took a pic of the Lager Mill that stands along the Cass River. For some reason, I have never been in this building for some reason I thought maybe they sold sacs of flour and grain. After I took a pic of it I did a google search to see if I could find a little info about it. I never knew there was a brewery museum inside. It makes sense since Frankenmuth was founded by German Immigrants and has a long-standing tradition of brewing beer. There is also a beer store inside so in a way they do kinda sell grain just it’s fermented into a golden bubbly liquid. I guess next time I am in Frankenmuth I will have to check it out.

I hope you subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts,

The Fate of the Brimley Granary

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators, upper peninsula, Winter Wonderland .

Michigan winters can be so cruel, if it’s not the brutal cold and gusting winds it’s the heavy snow. The old Granary in Brimley which has been standing over a hundred years since it was built in 1913 could not take the weight of the snow and half of it collapsed on January 23rd, 2017. I am not sure what the fate of the old building will be. I took this photo a few years ago, sadly many places I have photographed are gone now, I guess that’s what happens when you take pics of old buildings and houses.

Besides the granary, the snow collapsed the roof on the old fire hall in Brimley next to the old wooden water tower, you can see my post with a pic of the tower HERE

I hope you subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts,

[fbcomments]

The Old Grain Elevator in Avoca

Posted on February 8, 2017 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators .

The Old Grain Elevator in Avoca between Imlay City and Port Huron. The town was founded in 1884 and named after the Avoca river valley in Ireland. It had a train station at one time, but it’s gone now, and the old elevator has not seen a train in some time. The town is the northern end of the Wadhams to Avoca rail trail.

It would really mean a lot to me if you subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts

Milling About in Linden

Posted on December 26, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators, small towns, Winter Wonderland .

The Linden Mills were a vital source of the village of Linden’s economic growth. The first mill, located on land granted to Consider Warner, was used to cut lumber. From 1845-1850 Seth Sadler and Samuel W. Warren, local residents, erected both a saw and grist mill. Operating along with the earlier facility, this complex was called the Linden Mills. The grist mill continued to function for over a century until the machinery was dismantled and sold at auction in 1956. The village then purchased the building for municipal offices and a public Library.

Linden was settled in late 1835 by two brothers, Richard and Perry Lamb who provided housing for travelers. The Village was incorporated in 1871 and was named after the Linden tree.

If you like this post I am sure you will love my Lost In Michigan books. They help me with expenses and are available on my website HERE

, I hope you subscribe to email updates so you won’t miss any new posts,

The Michigan Bean Elevator in Henderson

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators .

I like this old Michigan Bean Elevator in Henderson. I especially like the old “Ghost Mural” of the Jack Rabbit Beans Logo, that’s probably because I am from Saginaw.

A few miles north of Owosso a post office with the name of Hazel Green was opened on May 14, 1868. Later in 1876 the village was renamed to Henderson and named after John Henderson who built and operated a store there in 1868.

you can get a print of this pic or any of my images HERE

It would mean a lot to me if you Subscribe to Lost In Michigan

[fbcomments]

Monarch Milling Co. in Alpena – Michigan Historical Marker

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators, Michigan Historical Markers .

The historical marker says: In 1916 the Monarch Milling Company, a grist and flour mill, began operations in this building, which was constructed in 1914. By 1920 it was known as the Alpena Flour Mills, producing “Leader” and “Velvo” brand flour. The mill closed in 1956, but during its forty years of operation, it played an integral part in the daily life of the community. Much of the original equipment remains in place.

Lost In Michigan books are ON SALE this weekend on Amazon HERE

I hope you will Subscribe to Lost In Michigan

Sharon Mills Historic Site and Park

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators, Historic Places .

Sharon Mills near Manchester was built in the 1830s. Later a gristmill was erected and operated by John Rice and subsequently by the Kirkwood family until the late 1920s. In 1928, Sharon Mills was purchased by Henry Ford for use as a small plant. He rebuilt the mill, added a stone addition, and installed a hydroelectric generator for power. Sharon Mills became the thirteenth Ford Village Industries plant employing approximately 15 men who manufactured cigar lighters. Regrettably, Ford’s Village Industries concept proved economically nonviable and the Sharon Mills plant closed in 1946. This association with Henry Ford makes this site particularly significant according to the Michigan Historic Commission. Apart from a brief period as an antique business, through the 1950s until the close of the ’80s, Sharon Mills was used primarily as a private residence. Sharon Mill was listed as a State Register Historic Site in 1989. In the 1990s, the mill was converted into the Sharon Mills Winery, bottling and selling Michigan wines. When the winery closed, the family sold the mill and its 24-acre site to the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission (WCPARC) in December 1999. Additional purchases of surrounding farmland have increased the park to 170 acres.

Subscribe to Lost In Michigan

« Previous Page