Photo of the tablet sent to the Smithsonian

I not sure if it is a hoax or real, but it is an interesting story. Way back in 1896 two lumberjacks were hired to clear some land for a farmer near the Upper Peninsula town of Newberry. They happen to stumble upon two small clay figures and a tablet. The 19 x 26 inch tablet had 140 characters carved into a grid pattern. No one knew what to make of them so photos were sent to the Smithsonian and University Of Michigan. The experts at the time could not recognize the writing and they deemed the tablet as a hoax. Some modern experts believe the text is similar to Minoan writing. The Minoans lived from about 3000 BC to about 1100 BC on the Greek island of Crete.

The tablets remained somewhat of a local curiosity. Eventually, they ended up at a St. Ignace tourist destination called Fort Algonquin. ( you can see my post about the fort HERE)  The fort was built by Vaughan Norton in the 1920s to look like an old fort from Michigan’s fur trading days. Somehow Vaught acquired the mysterious tablet to display for the tourist.

Eventually, the tablets and figures were purchased by Dr. Donald Benson. A doctor from Lansing who moved to St. Ignace. He loved to collect odd and historic artifacts and displayed them in the gift shop he owned. After his death, the artifacts went on display at the Fort De Buade Museum in downtown St. Ignace. The tablets, or more like what is left of them because they have been reduced to a couple of crumbling pieces with none of the writing remaining, is on display with the worn-down figures.

One theory is they have to be a hoax because if they are supposed to be hundreds or even thousands of years old, from the time of the Minoans, how did they survive for so long only to be eroded away in a short amount of time after they were discovered. Like I wrote at the beginning of the post, I am not sure it is real or a hoax, but it is an interesting story.

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If you travel along M-25 near Unionville you will pass by an old Historical Marker standing in front of the Wisner Township Cemetery. It tells the story of a remarkable and enigmatic man known as Indian Dave.

It is unclear exactly when and where he was born but he was given the name Ishdonquit or, Crossing Cloud. He claimed to be the son of Chief Nipmup of the Chippewa tribe but he was considered an outcast by the tribe. He is officially recorded as David Stocker but most people in the area called him Indian Dave.

He witnesses the beginning of Michigan and was at the signing by the tribal chiefs for the Treaty of Saginaw. He lived off the land in the Tuscola County area making baskets, arrows and carving wooden toys for children. He would travel into the different towns around the thumb selling his trinkets and telling stories of days gone by to the local children.

Indian Daves’s most notable contribution to Tuscola County came when he transported the county records by canoe to the new courthouse in Caro. At the beginning of the county’s history, Vassar was the county seat. It was decided to move the county seat in 1866 to Caro which was more centrally located in the county. Local businessman Peter D. Bush donated the land for the courthouse. Vasser was not willing to transfer the county records to the new county seat. As legend has it, Mr. Bush and Indian Dave snuck into the Vassar building holding the records. After retrieving the records they went by canoe down the Cass River and promptly secured the records in the new courthouse in Caro.

He was believed to be 106 when he died, and is buried in an unmarked grave in the Wisner Township Cemetery. The historical marker stands as a reminder of the man who was an important part of the Thumbs history so long ago.

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After years of living in Michigan and visiting the popular tourist spots, I wanted to find other places to see.  If you are looking for new places to discover and explore this summer here is a list of some of my favorite places throughout Michigan. Check out the list below. Some are really off the beaten path and are challenging to get to like the Rocket Range and Crisp Point Lighthouse. Be sure you use your judgment if you can make it or not. I recommend visiting some in the summer when the logging roads are dry.

• 1 Rocket Range
• 2 Quincy Dredge
• 3 Lake Of The Clouds
• 4 Ford’s Sawmill
• 5 Bond Falls
• 6 Alder Falls
• 7 Sable Falls
• 8 Crisp Point Lighthouse
• 9 Seul Choix Lighthouse
• 10 Sacred Rock
• 11 Middle Village
• 12 Ocqueoc Falls
• 13 Old Presque Isle Lighthouse
• 14 Woolsey Memorial Airport
• 15 Boekelodge
• 16 Transportation Cairn
• 17 Pere Cheney
• 18 Harrisville Depot
• 19 Iargo Springs
• 20 Mouth Cemetery
• 21 Curwood Castle
• 22 Huron City
• 23 Port Hope Chimney
• 24 Fallasburg Bridge
• 25 Stepping Stone Falls
• 26 Felt Mansion
• 27 Climax Post Office
• 28 War Dog Memorial
• 29 The Witch’s Ball
• 30 House Of David
• 31 McCourtie Park

You can find out more about each destination and the exact location in the Lost In Michigan books Available HERE or on Amazon HERE

If you want a printable version of the map you can download a PDF file HERE

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Several people have sent messages asking to learn more about me. I figured that I should do a post to let you know who I am. My name is Mike Sonnenberg, I grew up in Saginaw and still live there today. I did automotive tooling design for about 20 years, but the automotive industry in Saginaw is not what it used to be. After losing my job when the housing bubble burst, I had time to explore Saginaw with my camera. I started with www.puresaginaw.com posting photos and sharing stories from around Saginaw. As I traveled Michigan I starting sharing my photos at www.lostinmichigan.net. I eventually went back to work, but continued doing my websites. I get busy sometimes at work, and so if I disappear for a little bit on the internet that is probably why.

I have always enjoyed traveling Michigan and love to visit popular places like Petoskey, Traverse City, and Mackinaw City.  I began looking for new and different places to see and visit. I started exploring the back roads and small forgotten towns around Michigan. The more obscure and remote the better. I do my best to travel to all parts of the state, from the thumb to the southwest corner and all the way to the tip of the Keweenaw. Most everywhere in Michigan has an interesting story and I have been slowly finding and sharing them. 

As far as the website and everything is concerned, It’s just me. I take all the photos and write posts, along with maintaining the website and handling online sales. Some people think I have a staff or larger organization helping me, but that is not the case. I love what I do and enjoy finding something most people have forgotten about or never knew altogether. My posts can be a little scattered and incomplete. They are basically my notes from my trips and over time I learn more to create a story for my books. A few years ago I would have never imagined considering myself an author. It has been a lot of work, but also a lot of fun to write and publish the Lost In Michigan books. I still have more stories to tell and places to see. At one time I was worried about running out of new places to visit, but the more travel and research, the more I discover I have a lot to do.

Whether you have just started this journey with me or have been following me for a long time thank you very much. I may not have time to respond to all the comments but I do read and enjoy them.

P.S. I want to give a big THANK YOU to all of you out there that purchased a book, calendar or t-shirt from me over the years. It really helps me with expenses to do this website.

P.P.S. I am usually behind the camera but if you really want to see a photo of me you can by clicking HERE

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More than two centuries ago a ragtag army fought the most powerful empire in the world. It was an impossible endeavor and the king thought they were destined to fail. The desire for freedom from the British Monarchy could not be defeated. Shortly after their victory from oppression, the founding fathers wrote on a piece of paper the words that outline the new nation’s government by the people and the freedoms granted to its citizens The virtue and authority of this piece of paper does not come from the men who wrote it. Rather, from the men and women that have taken an oath to defend it with their lives.

Thank you is not a strong enough word to use for the sacrifices made by the veterans who have fought, and continue to fight, defending a piece of paper that defines our nation. Until a word is created in the English language to convey my gratitude, all I can say is Thank You and hope that they will understand how much my freedom means to me.

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