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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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

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

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

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

This unique looking house sits near the center of Marshall. It was built by Abner Pratt, a former chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. Under President James Buchanan he served as United States Consul to Hawaii. After returning from the Hawaiian Islands in 1860 he built this palace-like home in Marshall to look like the homes on the islands of Hawaii. The home is now a museum maintained by the Marshall 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. 

This beautiful old brick house sits in St Louis. It was built in 1884 by Narcissa Paige the owner of the Paige House hotel in St. Louis.  Narcissa could see her hotel from the windows in the tower. Her daughter daughter Lillian lived with her, and she married George Charles who owned a drug store downtown. Sadly George passed away at an early age of 44, and soon after Narcissa died at the age of 80 years old, leaving Lillian to live in the house alone for almost 50 years. They say their spirits still reside in the home that they loved. I am not sure about that but it is a beautiful old house and is currently being renovated.

One more thing. Happy Valentine’s Day. Thank you for taking the time to read my posts. I do my best to post things that you will enjoy seeing in your e-mail.

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

This Italianate cream brick house on Oliver Street in Owosso was built by Amos Gould in 1860. When Owosso was incorporated as a city Gould became the city’s first mayor. He also organized the first bank in Owosso operating it out of this house. He owned large amounts of property around Michigan and lumbering interest in the Upper Peninsula around the Gould City area,  and if you’re wondering, yes the town was named after him.

Besides the Gould house, there are several beautiful old ornate houses in Owosso, I love driving around the area looking at them.

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