This church-like white frame structure sits in the small town of Omer.  It was built in 1890 as the second Arenac County Courthouse. The first courthouse on this site burned the previous year. Omer had been a part of Bay County until Arenac was organized in 1883 and this city, then a village, became the county seat. Less than a decade later, voters made nearby Standish the county seat. The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the state of Michigan purchased this building in 1893 for the Omer Masonic Lodge. Surviving the disastrous fire of 1914, which swept through Omer’s business district, this edifice housed the temporary headquarters of several firms. It is one of the city’s oldest buildings.

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I was traveling around Portage Lake near Onekama and I came across the Portage Point Resort. It is a historic complex of buildings and it reminded me of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. It was constructed in 1902 by the same builder of the Grand Hotel. About ten years after it was constructed the canal from Lake Michigan to Portage Lake was dredged. Large steamships could bring guests from Chicago and Milwaukee to the relax in northwestern Michigan. Over the decades the resort has continued its unique historic look and there are plans to restore and improve the historic property in the next few years.  You can see more on their website HERE

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Burrage Library stands on the campus of Olivet Colege which is in the town of Olivet. The Library was constructed in 1889 with a gift of $35,000 from Leonard Burrage.  In front of the library is a Michigan Historical Marker that reads:

On Feb 14, 1844, the Rev. John J. “Father” Shipherd and 39 followers arrived by ox-cart on this wilderness hilltop, driving their herds before them. They felt that God had directed them to this oak grove for the purpose of founding a coeducational Christian college open to students of all races. First chartered as Olivet Institute, the school received its charter as a college in 1859. For over a century it has given a broad liberal arts education, with strong support from the Congregational Church. Many alumni have gone forth “Pro Christo et Humanitate.”

The Story I read is that when Father Shipherd was driving his Ox Cart the oxen pulling the cart continued to disobey his orders and would stop on top of a hill. This was the revelation he needed to decide where to start his school. I am not sure how true the story is but if Father Shipherd wanted a quiet out of the way place he definitely found it.

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This historic town hall sits in Tyrone Township south of Fenton. The historical marker on the front reads:

Tyrone Township was settled in 1834, and Joseph M. Becker was elected as the first township supervisor in 1838. Township meetings were held in the homes of the townsfolk until 1887, when this hall was erected on Hartland Road at a cost of $640. Locally referred to as the town house, it served as a gathering place for township business, elections, and 4H activities until a new hall was constructed in 1967. In 1975, as a bicentennial project, the town house was relocated, restored and rededicated on this site.

The township recently built a new township hall and the historical society is working on moving the historic building to a new site. You can see more on their website HERE

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This massive building complex sits along the Kalamazoo River in Plainwell. It was a paper mill built in 1886 and at its peak produced 50 tons of paper daily. It changed owners a few times and then it closed in 2000. The city of Plainwell purchased the old mill and have been redeveloping the property into office and retail space.

If you are near the Plainwell area I will be giving a presentation at the Ransom District Library on February 16th, at 7pm. You can learn more about my winter presentations HERE

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the small town of Alba sits in northern lower Michigan near Mancelona. It is situated in Star Township and the first township hall built in 1897 still stands in Alba..

Reminder: I will be at the Tyrone Township Hall giving a presentation this Saturday January 29th from 2-4 pm 8420 Runyan Lake Road, Fenton, MI 48430

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North of downtown Flint near the Flint River is this two-story brick building. It is not ornately decorated with victorian ara trim, nor is it extremely large but it is an important starting point for one of America’s largest companies. It was constructed in 1895 to be used as an office and showroom for the Durant-Dort Carriage Company.  In 1915 the company became the Dort Motor Car Company manufacturing four different models of cars until production ended in 1924. It was Dort’s partner William Durant that went on to consolidate several automobile manufacturers into General Motors.

Over time the building went through a few different ownerships and configurations. It even had a third story floor and flat roof added to it. In the 80s, the Genesee County Historical Society restored the building to its original construction. In 2013 GM purchased the building and designated it a General Motors heritage site.

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