Houses Archives - Page 3 of 25

The Stone Home

Posted on August 12, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places, Houses .

I have seen some houses and buildings around the Mitten State that have been constructed using local field stones and rocks. This one is unique because the stones were shaped to be square and rectangle blocks. It was difficult for laborers to hand chisel these rocks into shape but it is a beautiful work of masonry. The house is located in the town of Hart near US-31 east of Silver Lake. It was constructed in the late 1800s for a local physician and druggist Harvey Jenner Chadwick. It later became the home of L.P. Munger, a physician and fruit-grower. It eventually became the offices of the Health Department for Oceana County and in the 1980s it became part of the Oceana County Historical Society.

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

The Log Cabin and the Co-op Community

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, upper peninsula .

The Alva Kepler log cabin in Manistique’s Pioneer Park next to the water tower. The rustic house dates back to the 1880’s and was once part of the Byers’ settlement in Hiawatha Township, 12 miles north of Manistique. The cabin was part of the cooperative community known as the “Hiawatha Village Association.” It was formed in the 1890s when people were struggling from an economic depression at the time. About two hundred people agreed to turn over there assets to the community and live in the village. They had about 225 residents the first year and grew crops and made goods to sell in Milwaukee.

After the first year they were not successful because they could not sell there crops and the cost to ship the products they made were more than they could sell them fore. When Alva Kepler and his brother John were supposed to move into the village the following year they sued to withdraw from the community. Shortly afterwards many other people sued and the homes and items were split up among the members ending the short lived experiment.

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

The Big House in Hudson

Posted on July 9, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses .

I saw this large house in Hudson in southern Michigan. I was not able to find any history about it other than it is now used as an assisted living facility. It is a beautiful looking building.

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

Michigan School for the Deaf.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

Lost In Michigan Books are ON SALE at Amazon. You can see more by clicking HERE

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

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.

Lost In Michigan Books are ON SALE at Amazon. You can see more by clicking HERE

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

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.

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

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.

Lost In Michigan Books are ON SALE at Amazon. You can see more by clicking HERE

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

« Previous Page