Historic Places Archives - Lost In Michigan

The First Women’s Club In Michigan

Posted on May 8, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places, Library .

The Ladies’ Library Association of Kalamazoo officially incorporated in 1852 and it was the first women’s club organized in Michigan and the third organized in the United States. Its purpose was to promote the cause of equal education for women. The organization built This building in downtown Kalamazoo in 1879, and it is the building first in the nation erected for the use of a women’s club. Yearly subscriptions cost fifty cents and were available to both men and women, however, only women could be members of the organization. In addition to creating Kalamazoo’s first lending library, the LLA activities have included advocating for the right for women to vote, the creation of day nurseries for working mothers, founding Kalamazoo’s first art club, and establishing a community education program for women

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River Raisin Battlefield

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places .

A 15 star American Flag waves over the historic River Raisin Battlefield in Monroe. It commemorates the Battles of Frenchtown and the deadliest battle in Michigan’s history.

The first battle was fought on January 18, 1813, when a small American force under the command of Colonel William Lewis attacked a British and Native American force at Frenchtown. The Americans were victorious, driving the British and Native Americans from the town.

The British and Native Americans retaliated four days later. Many of the Americans were inexperienced troops from Kentucky sand they were ill-prepared and unable to retreat. Of the thousand American soldiers 397 were killed, and 547 were taken prisoner. The prisoners were marched to Detroit and those to weak to walk were killed.

The battleground officially began operation as a national park on October 22, 2010 and is the only national battlefield marking a site of the War of 1812. A newly constructed visitor’s center is open seven days a week.

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The PBB Catastrophe of 1973

Posted on May 1, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Barns and Farms, Historic Places .

A stone marker stands next to the former train depot in St. Louis, Michigan. The depot now serves as a history museum and the mark once stood in a nearby field warning people of the contaminated soil from the former Velsicol Chemical plant.

In 1973 farmers around Michigan began to notice milk production of their dairy cows had begun to decline. soon after the cows stopped eating and their calves died. The after researching the illness the cause was traced back to the animal feed and it was found to contain high levels of polybrominated biphenyl, or PBB. A chemical used as a fire retardant.

It was a year later in April of 1974 That it was discovered that the PBB retardant was mistaken for instead of magnesium oxide, a cattle feed supplement. The two chemicals came from the Velsicol Chemical plant and the sacks of PBB were sent to the animal feed plants by mistake. 30,000 cattle, 4,500 pigs, 1,500 sheep, 1.5 million chickens were killed after the discovery of the mixup.

Fifty years later it remains as one of the largest environmental disasters in American history. The Velsicol plant closed down and was demolished and buried where it stood. The stone maker was placed in its location to warn people. It was moved in 2013 to its current location after local residents requested it be replaced with a less ominous warning. It stands as a reminder of that horrific incident a half century ago.

In 1981, Ron Howard and Art Carney starred in the TV movie Bitter Harvest that was based on the tragic event. I was too young to remember horrific event when it originally happened, but I do remember the Ron Howard movie with him as a Michigan farmer.

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Lakeview’s Jail Cell

Posted on April 25, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places .

The town of Lakeview stands along the shores of Tamarack Lake in central Michigan. It is there that you will find the Lakeview Area Museum. Next to the building is an old metal cage with faded red paint that was once a jail cell. It has two cots and I could only imagine what it would be like to be imprisoned in the confined cage for any length of time The museum was not open when I saw the old jail cell to learn more about it so I guess I will have to stop by some other time.

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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 Nike Base

Posted on January 24, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Detroit, Historic Places .

River Bend Park in Utica sits along the Clinton River. It has baseball fields, soccer fields and a shooting range. Near the middle of the park is a historical marker that stands as a reminder of what the park used to be. The property was originally developed in 1955 by the military as a Nike missile base. Fifteen such bases were placed around Detroit to defend the city in an attack. Ajax missiles were used to shoot down any enemy aircraft that could drop a nuclear bomb on the city.

By the 1970s the Soviets had intercontinental ballistic missiles and the Nike bases were not capable of shooting them down. In 1974 the bases were deactivated. The missile silos were filled in and the buildings were demolished. The property was given to the Michigan DNR. All that remains of the old base are a few foundations from the buildings and one small building that is being used as a storage shed.

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A Patriotic Christmas Tree

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places .

Every holiday season the Waterworks building in Saginaw is decorated with lights. It is a magical display enjoyed by many people as they pass by the iconic building on Ezra-Rust Drive. Most people are unaware of the significance of the red white and blue lights decorating the pine tree on the corner.

In 1979, during the Iran Hostage Crisis at the Embassy in Tehran, plant supervisor Wally Rogalski had the tree decorated as a patriot gesture in honor of the hostages. The tree has been decorated with the American colors ever since then. The hostage crisis occurred a long time ago, but I think it’s also a good reminder to remember all the men and women who serve in the military at home and abroad, and the sacrifices they make for us, especially during the holidays.

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The Dome along M-22

Posted on November 16, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places .

If you have ever traveled along M-22 south of Empire you may have noticed a large white sphere sticking up over the trees. If you are curious like me you have probably wondered what it is. It was built in the 1950s as part of the Empire Air Force Station operated by the 752d Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) squadron. It was a long range radar that scanned the skies for missiles from the Soviet Union. The station was deactivated in 1978. In the 1980s it was turned over to the FAA and now the radar is used to monitor commercial aircraft.

It sits near the Empire Bluff Trail Head and I drove up to get a closer look at it but unfortunately the road was closed to visitors. The buildings from the old base is used my the National Park Service and only employees are allowed in. Oh well at least now I know what the giant “golf ball” along M-22 is used for.

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The Land Office

Posted on October 4, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places .

This white building with green trim stands in downtown White Pigeon near the southern Michigan border. It is one of the oldest buildings in the state. the Treaty of Chicago was signed in 1821 by the tribes in southwestern Michigan turning over their lands to the federal government. In 1831 the government opened this office in White Pigeon, one of the largest towns in the western Michigan Territory. Between 1831 and 1834, land was sold from this office at $1.25 per acre. About 260,000 acres of were deeded including the land that includes, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Battle Creek.

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The Old Building in Leland

Posted on September 10, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places, Murders .

The town of Leland in the Leelanau Peninsula is known for historic Fishtown. It draws many tourists to the seaside village but few of them know about this old brick building that stands near the center of town. The bars on the windows gives a clue about what it was used for. In the early days of the county it served as the jail. I am sure it has held many people but one person in particular made this little building world famous in the early 1900s.

Sister Janina, a nun in the small town of Isadore went missing, Years later her remains were found under the church and the local law enforcement believed the priests house keeper Stanislawa “Stella” Lipczynska committed her murder. She was held in this old brick jail while the prosecutors built their case.

Postcard of Lipczynska standing behind the bars of the door in the Leland Jail.

The trial garnered national attention as people read about the case in newspapers. Lipczynska was found guilty of murduring Sister Janina because she was jealous of the affair between the church’s priest, Father Andrew and the nun. When her body was found it was discovered that the nun was pregnant. Lipczynska denied having any involvement in the nuns death until they day she died. Exactly what happened will never be known but if you want to know more you can check out my post from a few years ago HERE

For the whole story I recommend reading Isadore’s Secret by Mardi Link. It was interesting not only for the murder, but understanding the lives and history of people living in the Leelanau Peninsula at the turn of the century.

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