Thumb Archives - Page 8 of 10

What is That Brick Structure in Port Hope?

Posted on December 10, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Thumb .

From a distance, this tall structure in Port Hope looks like lighthouse since it is so close to Lake Huron near the tip of the Thumb. After you get up close to it you realize it is something different. Thankfully there is a historical marker next to it that tells you what it is and its significance. Maybe I am one of the few people that bother to read the signs but I appreciate them. In this day and age of google sometimes a plain old sign still works extremely well and reads:

This chimney was built in 1858 by John Geitz. It is all that remains of the lumber mill established that year by William R. Stafford. Port Hope grew up around the mill. For a score of years, this town was the center of lumbering in the Thumb. It also became an important producer of salt. In 1871 and again in 1881 the mill, the docks, and possessions of hundreds of people were destroyed by fire. This chimney is a monument to those pioneers who by their courage and industry developed this area.

If you love reading about odd and strange Michigan history Lost In Michigan books are available on Amazon HERE

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Caseville Church

Posted on November 24, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Churches, Thumb .

It’s Sunday and time for another historic church post. This is the tall and graceful Methodist Episcopal Church in Caseville. The historical marker standing nearby gives a little history and reads:

In 1868 the Reverend Manasseh Hickey and twelve settlers organized a Methodist Episcopal Church in Caseville. Services were held in a schoolhouse until the present church was built. Upon its dedication on November 15, 1874, the Gothic-inspired structure, with its 70-foot-high steeple, became a focal point for the community. Local contractor William Ormiston built the church, which contains stained-glass windows by McFadden and Reed of New York City. In 1907 a basement was excavated, and in 1940 the memorial windows were installed Over the years the steeple, which provided a landmark for Saginaw Bay boaters, was racked by structural problems and lightning, and had to be continually repaired. In 1974 the spire was replaced with a duplicate of the original.

I have never gone out fishing from Caseville, but I imagine back before GPS many fishermen would look for the steeple to help find the entrance to the Caseville harbor. I also wonder how long the pine tree has been growing next to the church. It is almost as tall as the steeple reaching into the sky.

Don’t forget to order your copy of Lost In Michigan Volume 3. t makes for a perfect Christmas gift for the person who loves Michigan.

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Applegate Barn

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Barns and Farms, Thumb .

I was zig-zagging my way across the Thumb when I saw this old barn hanging out with the Autumn trees. I could not tell you where it is located or probably even find it again. I was not paying close attention to the names of the roads I was traveling down. I know it is somewhere near Applegate but don’t ask me where I am just wondering a traveler seeing what I can discover along the way. There is no better place to get lost than Michigan in Autumn.

“Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.” Henry David Thoreau

Reminder: My next presentation will be in Omer on Monday, November 4th at the historic Masonic Lodge at 7 pm.

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The Standard School in the Trees

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Schools, Thumb, Uncategorized .

On my trip to Marysville I could have taken the expressway but that would be rather boring. I decided to zig-zag my way through the thumb. I got near Sandusky and I figured I would take some back roads since I had already been through the town. I came upon an old building among the trees. I knew it was a school because the faded metal sign above the door had the words ” Standard School ”

I have seen many schoolhouses in Michigan that are a standard school. I searched and searched the internets to figure out what that is but I am still not exactly sure. I think it is a K-8 or K-12 school but I am not sure. I know a normal school is a school for training teachers. If you know what a standard school is please leave me a comment I am curious.

P.S. thank you to the Marysville library for having me and to everyone who came out to listen to me speak. It was a fun time. I have another presentation coming up in Lakeview at the Tamarack library on October 29th at 6 pm.

I also have one coming up in omer on November 4th at the Masonic Lodge at 7pm

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The Short Barn

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Bars and Restaurants, Thumb .

I have driven past this barn near Bay Port on M-25 a few times. It has always intrigued me as to why it is so low to the ground. If you have followed me for a long time you know I am a city boy. I am not an expert on farming but I assuming this is a chicken coop but it’s only a guess. if anyone could enlighten me please post a comment I would appreciate it.

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Martini House

Posted on June 10, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, Thumb .

In a quiet subdivision not far from downtown Sebewaing is this ornate yellow house. The historical marker prominently standing in front of it reads:

Sebewaing businessman John C. Liken built 5 houses, one for each of his children. Constructed in 1890 – 95 in the fashionable Stick Style, this house remains the only historically intact structure associated with Liken, one of Sebewaing’s most prominent citizens, Liken intended this house for his daughter Mary and his son-in-law and business partner, Richard Martini, but the Martini’s never lived here. Instead, their oldest child John C. Martini (1878 – 1974) moved into the house with his wife, Tillie Kemp, in 1909. John C Liken retired in 1913, leaving control of the business to the Martini’s, Richard became president and John succeeded him. The Liken and Martini families were integral to Sebewaing’s development.

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A Soldiers Final Resting Place

Posted on May 27, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Thumb .

When thinking of Memorial Day many people can recall an image from a national cemetery with row and rows of headstones and American flags placed alongside them. I have visited many old rural cemeteries and see some individual tombstones with the Stars and Stripes proudly waving in the breeze. They may not be laid to rest with their brothers and sisters in a large elaborate cemetery, but that does not mean that the sacrifice they made was insignificant or forgotten. Thank you to the people who honor the veterans by placing flags next to the graves. I notice them and am grateful for their sacrifices.

I saw this headstone and flag on a hill in the Old Bayport Cemetery where many of the residents of the Ora Labora Colony are laid to rest. you can read about that HERE

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The Forgotten Schoolhouse in the Thumb

Posted on May 7, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Schools, Thumb .

I saw this old school house somewhere between Bad Axe and Ubly. I can only assume it was an old school since there is a swing set next to it.

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Lost In Quanicassee

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Thumb .

I saw this old building in Quanicassee. I am not sure if it was a schoolhouse or not, it looks as if it had a sign above the door at one time. I don’t have a story to tell about this place I just thought it was interesting on one of my trips through the thumb. If you are wondering, according to Wikipedia the name Quanicassee is a Native American word meaning “lone tree”

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Bach Michigan, but not that Bach

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in General Store, Thumb .

Southeast of Sebewaing is the little town of Bach which is home to this old general store. If you are like me and think the town was named after the famous composer than you would be incorrect. You know what they say about assuming, you make an ass out of you and… well I guess I better get back to the town of Bach. The town was named after Fredric Bach who founded it in 1889. The little town even got a station on the Michigan Central Railroad and a post office in 1912.

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