Haunted Places Archives - Lost In Michigan

The Old Hotel in Kalkaska

The Sieting Hotel, located in downtown Kalkaska, first opened its doors on Thanksgiving Day in 1912. Like many historic buildings, it has a past steeped in tragedy and is rumored to be haunted. It’s believed that the spirit of a man who died in one of the rooms in 1920 still lingers there. Guests and staff have reported hearing strange sounds throughout the old hotel, including moans, voices, and screams. I am not sure about it being haunted, but it is a nifty old historic building that has many storied stories to share if walls could talk.

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Royal Oak’s Oldest Home: A History Steeped in Time… and Maybe a Few Ghosts?

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Haunted Places, Houses .

Royal Oak’s oldest standing home, the 178-year-old Orson Starr House, isn’t just a historical landmark with a Michitan State Historical Marker standing in front of it – The house is rumored to be one of Metro Detroit’s most haunted locations.

Built in 1845 by early settlers Orson and Rhoda Starr, who initially ran a cowbell manufacturing business before pivoting to brick and tile, the house became a significant part of Royal Oak’s history. Orson Starr himself was a prominent community figure. The house later became city property and is on the National Register of Historic Places; the Starr family bible is still used for official swearings-in.

Despite their success and influence, the Starr family also experienced profound loss. Orson and Rhoda had ten children, but sadly, only five survived to adulthood. In a particularly tragic turn, three of their children passed away within a single week, the cause of their deaths remaining unrecorded.

It’s perhaps these echoes of the past that contribute to the numerous reports of paranormal activity associated with the property. Some believe that Orson Starr himself still resides within its walls, occasionally accompanied by the spectral presence of his German Shepard. With multiple generations of Starrs passing away in the house and a brief period in the 1900s when it served as a funeral parlor, it’s no wonder whispers of other unseen residents persist. Haunted or not, it is a historic part of Royal Oak and it is wonderful it is being preserved to tell the Starr family’s story.

P.S. This time of year my photos end up looking a little gloomy with brown grass and bare trees but I still like to get out and explore to find interesting places and stories to post.

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River Raisin National Battlefield Park: A Haunting History

Posted on October 14, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Haunted Places .

The River Raisin National Battlefield Park in Monroe, Michigan, is not only a significant historical site but also a rumored hotspot for paranormal activity. The bloody battle that took place here during the War of 1812 has left a chilling legacy that some believe continues to linger.

The Battle of Frenchtown occurred on January 20-21, 1813, when American forces were ambushed and defeated by British and Native American troops. The subsequent massacre of American prisoners of war, known as the “River Raisin Massacre,” is a dark chapter in American history.

Paranormal Activity at River Raisin

Many visitors and staff members claim to have experienced strange occurrences at the battlefield park. Some common reports include:

Ghostly apparitions: Soldiers in period uniforms have been spotted wandering the grounds.
Eerie sounds: The sounds of battle cries, gunfire, and moans have been heard, even when the park is deserted.
Cold spots: Areas of the battlefield are said to be unusually cold, as if a draft were blowing through, even on warm days.
Electronic disturbances: Cameras and recording devices have reportedly malfunctioned or captured unexplained images and sounds.

Is the River Raisin Battlefield Truly Haunted?

Whether or not you believe in ghosts, the historical significance and haunting tales surrounding the River Raisin National Battlefield Park make it a fascinating and potentially eerie destination. If you’re brave enough to explore this historic site, you might just encounter something extraordinary.

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Camp Sauble

Posted on April 16, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Haunted Places .

A few miles east of the town of Free Soil is a large building surrounded by a fence topped with barbed wire. The words CAMP SAUBLE are above the front door. It was part of the Michigan state prison system and was a camp for troubled youth. It was constructed in 1960 and closed in 2005. It is currently being used as a haunted attraction in the fall.

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Holmdene Hall

Posted on January 15, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Haunted Places, Iconic Buildings .

Holmdene Hall at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids was originally built as a family home for Edward Lowe and his family in 1903. He was such a prominent member of Grand Rapids society that President Theodore Roosevelt stayed there when he visited Grand Rapids for a speech in 1911. In 1945, the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids bought the estate and moved Aquinas College to the estate from its site downtown. The mansion served as the main offices and classroom building for about 10 years while new construction expanded the college.

Students and staff have reported strange events in the old mansion. Like lights mysteriously turning on and off. The elevator seems to be operating as if someone was in it when there is no one inside. Others say doors slam shut on their own. There is also a rumor that Mr. Lowe’s son, James drowned in a pond on the property, or that he fell down a dumbwaiter shaft and died, but that is not true. He moved to San Francisco and became a successful businessman and died at the age of 65.

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The Ghost Stories of Franklin Church

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Churches, Haunted Places .

This cute little white and green church stands in south western Michigan. It is a few miles west of Dowagiac and over the door are the words Franklin Church EST 1854. Next to the church is an old cemetery. Listed as the Franklin Cemetery it is also known as Munchkin Land. It got the nickname because rumor has it that many people have seen the ghosts of children in the old graveyard.

As the story goes, that I have read on several sites on the internet, In the late 1800s the minister at the church murdered two young girls and burned their bodies in the woods behind the church. After being found out the minister hung himself in the bell tower of the church. I am not sure if the old church is still used for weekly services but I have seen some old photos of it before it was restored. It looked rather dilapidated and that is when I assume the ghost stories started being told. It is nice that the old historic building has been restored.

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The Haunted Cemetery On Dice Road

Posted on September 25, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Haunted Places .

In the northwest corner of Saginaw county, north of Hemlock, there is an urban legend of a girl that haunts Dice Road Cemetery, like many urban legends, I think there is some truth that started the story.

As the story goes, 5 year old Anna Rhodes Fazio was living in Italy in 1816 with her family, when her father went insane, and set their house on fire, killing himself and her mother. Young Anna survived the fire, and sailed to America, and lived with her aunt in the area north of Hemlock. They became friends with the local Indians. Anna and a young Indian boy named Dark Hawk grew up together.

As Anna grew older she fell in love with Jonathan Millerton, and they were married, by the time Anna was 17. shortly after they two wed, Anna’s aunt died, and Jonathan had to sail the Great Lakes for his lumbering pursuits, leaving Anna alone. Dark Hawk became jealous of Jonathan, and began to sexually assault Anna, driving her into insanity. That summer a large storm swept across the state, and when Jonathan’s ship did not return she, feared him dead and committed suicide. Even more tragic, Jonathan returned home after she died, his ship sailed to a few other ports and delayed his return.

If you visit this cemetery please be respectful and follow posted rules.

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Michigan’s Oldest Inn

Posted on March 28, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Haunted Places, Historic Places .

It was a long trip for people traveling by stagecoach between Chicago and Detroit. A popular stopping point was the National House Inn located in Marshall Michigan. The Inn was built in 1835 by Colonel Andrew Mann who used lumber from the Ketchum sawmill and bricks that were molded and fired on the site. The building was a popular rest stop for weary travelers and when the railroad came through town many passengers disembarked to dine at the inn.

When the railroad began using dining and sleeping the old inn no longer had the guests it once had. By 1878, it was converted into a factory for windmill and wagon parts. In the early 1900s, it was converted into apartments. During the 1970s the historic inn was renovated and restored back to its original use.

Like many old buildings with a long history, some say it is haunted. I am sure over the years there have been a few tragic events that occurred inside its brick walls. One can only imagine what has taken place since it was constructed almost two centuries ago. It’s believed to be a stop for escaping slaves on the Underground Railroad. I am not sure about it being haunted, but it is a fascinating old building in one of Michigan’s most historic towns. Today it is a quaint little Inn for guests to step back into time and relax.

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The Keeper of the White River Lighthouse

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Haunted Places, Lighthouses .

William Robinson was appointed as the first keeper of the White River Lighthouse at the mouth of the White River North of Muskegon. After it was built in 1871 keeper Robinson and his wife Sarah moved into the little brick house where they raised their 13 children. William Robinson was the head keeper for 47 years and the Lighthouse board decided since he was 87 years old that the assistant keeper take over the duties of maintaining the lighthouse. Before Assistant keeper, William Bush, who was Robinson’s grandson officially became the head keeper, William peacefully died in the lighthouse that he loved and worked at for so many years. It is said that he and his wife’s spirit still remain at the lighthouse watching over it. Now I am not sure if it’s haunted but while I was there walking around taking photos of the tan brick lighthouse It sounded like footsteps in the snow. I kept turning around expecting to see someone but no one was there. I think it was just the chunks of ice in the river bumping into each other from the waves but I have to admit it was a strange experience. The lighthouse was deactivated in the 60s and is now a museum.

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The Legend of Lakeville Cemetery

Posted on October 26, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Haunted Places .

The community of Lakeville is located between Oxford and Romeo. It is there that you will find one of the oldest cemeteries in the state that was started in 1846. One of the earliest burials was Private Derrick Hulick, a veteran of the American Revolution who enlisted in the New Jersey militia in June 1776.

At the side of the cemetery is a mausoleum dug into the hillside. It is for James and Elizabeth Dunn, who ran a local sawmill in the early 1890s. James passed in 1930, Elizabeth in 1952. There are several urban legends and myths surrounding the old tomb. On suggests that a young teen couple was dared to spend the night in the tomb and died overnight. Another is that a teen girl was locked inside and she died while clawing at the door trying to escape. And another is that an axe murderer hid bodies in the tomb.

While there is no proof that any of this is true the urban legends continues to live on. I did not see any strange events or spirits when I visited. I thought it was a beautiful historic cemetery with an old and interesting stone mausoleum in the hillside.

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