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Category Archives: Houses

Michigan School for the Deaf.

Posted on June 19, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

michigan school for the deaf flint

This old house stands in Flint near Powers Catholic High School. The school was originally the Michigan School For the Deaf. A historical marker stands next to the house and reads:

The Superintendent’s Cottage, completed in 1890, is the oldest building on the campus of the Michigan School for the Deaf. With the exception of the masonry work, the cottage was built almost entirely by male students. In addition, students made the furniture for the house in the school’s shops. The building reflects the craftsmanship of the boys who studied under instructors Edwin Barton and James Foss. Student labor saved the state money while preparing the boys for future employment. Construction of the cottage began during an 1880s diphtheria epidemic when faculty housing was reorganized to make room hospital space. Beginning with Francis Clarke and his family, who lived in the house from 1892 to 1913, every superintendent has resided in the cottage.

In 1848 the Michigan legislature established the Michigan Asylum for Educating the Deaf and Dumb and the blind. Flint was selected as the site for the new institution. The first student arrived on February 6, 1854. After the  School for the Blind opened in Lansing in 1880, the Flint facility began serving only deaf children. The curriculum, which combined academics and practical training. emphasized “market gardening and general farming.” Boys studied carpentry, printing, tailoring and farming, while girls learned the sciences of cooking, sewing, darning and patching. The schools mission was to educate deaf children so that they “may earn a living … may have culture enough to enjoy that living … (and) may be fitted for citizenship.

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The House at the Junction

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places, Houses .

This is the old Hewitt house built in 1929. It stands in Cambridge Junction Historic State Park along US-12 near Brooklyn. The house is now used as a visitor’s center.

I have more about Hewitt, Walker Tavern and Cambridge Junction in my recently released Volume 6 available HERE

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The Old House in Da U.P.

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, upper peninsula .

I saw this old house in the eastern Upper Peninsula near Hessel. I am not sure what its story is, but if walls could talk I am sure it would have some interesting tales to tell.

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The Old House near the Pigeon River

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Houses .

I saw this old house, or hotel, or saloon, or whatever it used to be, near the Pigeon River between the towns of Wolverine and Afton. It looks as if it has had a hard life living among the trees enduring the harsh Michigan weather. It’s just barely standing, but it has not totally given up yet. I am sure a long time ago, there was a lot of pride when it was first built, but from the looks of it, that was several years ago.

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The McMillan House

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

I saw this old house in the small town of McMillan west of Newberry. I don’t know anything about it but it caught my attention. The community of McMillan was first settled in 1881 when the railroad built a depot named the McMillan Station to serve the area. The station was named after railway executive and future Michigan senator James McMillan.

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The Striker House

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

It’s hard to miss this big old green house near downtown Hastings. It was constructed by Daniel Striker in the 1880s.  He lived there until his death in 1898 and his wife Sarah lived in the house until her death in 1915. After that, the house was used as the second home for Hastings’ first hospital, then known as Good Samaritan. In the 1960s, it was converted into apartments and became a convalescent home. since then it has been converted back into a single-family home.

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Deer Lick Outlets

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, small towns .

In the middle of Birch Run is this beautiful old house with a wrap around porch, It was built by Charles Wolohan,  he operated a granary elevator for local farmers and later added lumber as a sideline business, it was the sideline business that grew into Wolohan Lumber, and it was eventually purchased by Wickes Lumber. I was told the room at the top of the home was used by Mr Wolohan to look out and watch over his workers.

Birch Run was originally founded as a station on the Pere Marquette Railroad by John Moore, its first postmaster, in 1852. It was named after its creek, which runs through a large birch tree area.   I could not find out why, but in 1863, the town was renamed Deer Lick until 1868 when it reverted to Birch Run. It was was incorporated as a village in 1955.

I remember Birch Run before the outlet mall was constructed, and the town sure has changed a lot. There was not much traffic and about the only place to eat was the Exit and Tony’s. It makes me wonder what the town would be like if it would have remained Deer Lick. I have a feeling Deer Lick Premium Outlets would not have been that successful, but I guess we will never know.

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The Blanchard House

Posted on February 22, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

 

This sandstone house sits just outside of downtown Ionia. It’s hard to miss when driving through town and the historical marker in front tells the story of the house and the man who built it.

John Celsus Blanchard (1822 – 1905) epitomized the American “self-made man.” He left his home in Cayuga County, New York, at the age of fourteen for the western frontier. Blanchard worked as a laborer in Detroit, Livingston and Shiawassee Counties before walking sixty miles to the U.S. Land Office at Ionia. Using $50 of the $53 he had saved, he purchased forty acres of land in 1837. Two years later he began “reading the law” as a student in the law offices of Roof and Bell in Lyons. His appointment as Ionia County prosecuting attorney in 1850 began a distinguished public career. That year Blanchard and his wife, Harriet, moved to Ionia where they devoted themselves to civic affairs and became generous benefactors to churches and schools, including Albion College.

The brick walls of this substantial Italianate House are veneered with variegated sandstone selected by John Blanchard from the Ionia Sandstone Quarry, which he co-owned. The house stands where the Blanchard’s first Ionia home was located. In 1880 they moved that house to the back of the lot and began constructing this elegant residence, completed in 1881. The house looks much as it did when Blanchard’s lived here and retains many original interior features, such as brass chandeliers, faux marble fireplaces and walnut shutters. In 1974 the Ionia County Historical Society purchased the house. The Blanchard House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The one thing that has intrigued me is that fact that it has two front doors. A set of double doors and a single door. I am wondering if that is the door to his office. I did a little research but could not find the answer online. If you know what the extra door is used for please post a comment below.

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Saravilla

Posted on February 19, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

 

This large home is located in the middle of Alma. Called Saravilla, this mansion was built in 1894, originally as an enticement for Sara Wright to stay near her father, local businessman Ammi Wright, after marriage. It has been used as a Masonic Home, a retirement home and for the past few decades it has been a bed and breakfast.

FYI: if you want a t-shirt or hoodie or anything else from my online store everything it 10% 0ff this weekend with code: LOST10 at checkout. you can find my store by clicking HERE

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Enjoying The Winter Sun

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

I saw this old house near Posen enjoying the warm winter sun. It looks as if it has been a long time since it was heated from the inside. I drive past these old houses and always wonder about the people who built it and the life they lived. Way back when it must have been challenging to live in rural northern Michigan. Especially in the winter.

Thank you to everyone that came out to my presentation in Plainwell. It was wonderful meeting all of you. My next presentation will be  March 16th at 6pm at the  North Muskegon Walker Memorial Library 1522 Ruddiman dr. North Muskegon MI 49445

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