Located just west of downtown Douglas, at the corner of Ferry and Center Street, stands an enormous wooden barrel. This local icon, a favorite spot for summer treats, was almost lost to history.

Built in 1952, the barrel was originally a root beer stand designed to attract beachgoers. Over the years, it changed hands and eventually fell into disrepair, sitting abandoned and deteriorating in the Michigan weather for decades. The barrel was even slated for demolition until the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society intervened with a plan to save it.

The community rallied, raising funds and providing over 600 hours of volunteer labor. In 2011, the barrel’s lead paint was removed, and it was dismantled and moved to a garage. Volunteers repaired and sealed the 120 wooden staves, while students from the Saugatuck High School Industrial Arts Program fabricated a new steel base ring and support structure.

In June 2015, ownership officially transferred to the City of the Village of Douglas. By 2016, the beloved barrel was back in business, once again welcoming tourists and selling them treats.

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In Bridgeport, Michigan, a classic piece of Americana stands as a reminder of a bygone era. Just south of Saginaw, near where the Cass River winds through town and by the old footbridge, is a beautifully restored service station. This little brick building, once the Bridgeport Oil and Gas Co., got its start in 1937, supplying gas for cars and fuel oil for local homes.

For nearly 40 years, it was a hub of activity until it closed its doors in 1976. Unlike today’s sprawling gas stations, like Buc-ee’s, this humble spot represents a time when service was personal. A service attendant would greet you, check your oil, and pump your gas.

Recently, the building has been given new life. Its original charm has been restored, and its windows now serve as a display for historical artifacts, offering a glimpse into a very different time in America.

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The Flats On The River building in Belding, Michigan, has a history deeply intertwined with the city’s past as a center for silk manufacturing. Constructed in 1886, the structure originally served as the Richardson Silk Mill, a key component of the Belding Brothers & Company, which earned the city the nickname “Silk City of the World.” After the silk industry declined in the 1930s, the mill stood vacant for over fifty years. Recognizing its historical significance, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 before being repurposed. In 1986, the former mill was transformed into the residential apartments now known as Flats On The River, preserving a piece of Belding’s industrial heritage while giving the historic structure a new purpose.

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Strolling past Pennsylvania Park in downtown Petoskey, you might notice a curious building among the offices and retail spaces – one emblazoned with “Wright Cycle Co.” It looks like a relic, frozen in time, and you’d be right to wonder about it, as it’s almost never open.

However, as reported by The Petoskey News-Review, this intriguing building springs to life once a year, every December 17th. This date marks the anniversary of the Wright brothers’ first historic flight, and on this day, the doors of Petoskey’s Wright Cycle Co. swing open to the public.

Stepping Inside History

Venture inside, and you’ll find a meticulously recreated replica of the original Wright Cycle Company shop. The space is a treasure trove of historical artifacts, exhibits, and information all dedicated to Wilbur and Orville Wright. The building and its impressive collection are owned by Dave Russell, a devoted expert on the Wright brothers.

A sign within the Petoskey shop illuminates a crucial connection: how the brothers’ work with bicycles provided the calculations essential for their groundbreaking first flight. As one visitor, Kaplan, read from a sign, “Here on this day, Dec. 17, 1903, the first powered flight took place… The Wright brothers were flying for you, they were flying for me and they were flying for all humanity. They broke the bonds of gravity. On the sands of Kill Devil Hill, Wilbur and Orville Wright gave the gift to soar like an eagle. We thank the Wright brothers for this gift.”

A Passion for Flight

Russell’s fascination with the Wright brothers began around age 12, sparked by a visit to Greenfield Village with his father. The historical village, maintained by the Henry Ford Museum, houses the original Wright Cycle Shop, and his dad’s explanation of its historical significance clearly left an impression. His interest was further cemented when he later met Ivonette Wright, the Wright brothers’ niece.

Through a friendship with the curator of the Wrights’ home (also owned by the Henry Ford Museum), Russell acquired his most prized possession: Orville Wright’s personal address book. Dating back to 1906, this book contains the names of many early aviators, a testament to its historical value.

A Building’s Journey

The Petoskey Wright Cycle Co. building itself has an interesting history. It was originally located next to the City Park Grill. In the 1990s, the city planned to demolish it to create a parking lot. Russell intervened, asking if he could move the building and purchasing a plot of land for it.

Initially, the city intended to give him the building for free, but legal complexities prevented it. Instead, they sold it to Russell for a symbolic $1. In 1996, a collaborative effort by community members saw the bricks carefully washed and relocated to the building’s current spot on Park Avenue, facing Pennsylvania Park.

Today, the building serves as a unique home for Russell’s extensive collection of Wright brothers memorabilia. He doesn’t sell anything from the shop; rather, it’s a dedicated space for his artifacts and a cherished opportunity, once a year, to educate the public about the incredible legacy of the Wright brothers and their pivotal role in history.

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The Temple Theatre, Saginaw’s “Showplace of Northeastern Michigan,” was rescued from demolition in 2002 by the Shaheen family, who restored its 1927 grandeur. Built after a fire destroyed the city’s previous concert hall, the Temple Theatre was a technological marvel, featuring fireproof construction, geothermal cooling, exceptional acoustics, and advanced stage rigging and lighting systems. It originally hosted live vaudeville acts and silent films with orchestral accompaniment, and boasted a custom-built Butterfield Special Barton Pipe Organ, opus #195.

One other thing about the theater is that it’s where my story begins. My parents met here while working at the theater when they were in high school.

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The Burnham Historical Building, an Italianate-style mansion built during the Civil War, stands as a testament to Adrian’s past. Originally constructed for prominent merchant George Bidwell, it occupied a prime location on Broad Street, within easy walking distance of the city center.

In 1877, Bidwell sold the property to banker William H. Waldby for a substantial sum of $18,000. Years later, it was acquired by W. H. Burnham, president of the then-dominant Lamb Fence Company. However, the advent of the automobile era shifted the preferences of Adrian’s affluent residents towards suburban living. Facing the threat of demolition in 1957, the building was repurposed as the offices of the Adrian Public Schools, ensuring its preservation. Today, it continues to serve as an office building.

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