The violent and ruthless Purple Gang in Detroit was in control of the liquor that came in from Canada across the Detroit River into Michigan. If you wanted a good quality bottle of spirits from the distilleries in Canada you have to deal with the Purples. Two influential members of the Purple Gang, Sam Bernstein, and Louis Fleischer lived in Albion during Prohibition. They would meet with clients that took the train from Chicago to Albion at the Bohm theater. They sat in the balcony under the projector window to discuss business. The noise from the movie and projector would cover the sound of their conversations. Prohibition has ended and the Purple Gang is gone, but the stories still linger along with the historic buildings in downtown Albion.

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

A friend of mine told me a story of an old native american legend about a half dog half wolf ( I always thought a dog was a wolf, but I digress) that roams the Omer Plains along the Rifle River, protecting the spirits of the native american warriors that have died and are buried in the Omer Plains. Maybe I am a little naive but I think many legends and stories start with a little bit of truth to them, and so I figured I would do a little research, Of course I went to where everyone goes looking for information, no not the library, or the encyclopedia, but Google.

Searching for the old native american cemetery, I found the Plains Cemetery on google maps on Jose Road near Grove Road. On my recent trip up north, why not stop by and see what’t there. Heading north out of Standish I found Jose road, and traveled towards Omer, the biggest little city in Michigan, I stopped where Google said there was a cemetery. Maybe there was one there, but I did not see anything that looked like one, nor did I see the Witchy Wolf. A deer ran across the road which scared the bejesus out of me, good thing I was wearing my brown pants. I was there during the daytime. so maybe the Witchy Wolf only comes out at night.

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On this date a few years ago, I was heading home from a long trip around the U.P. As I was crossing the big green bridge, the Stars And Strips were proudly flying on one of the twin towers of the bridge. At the moment I saw the flag I remembered that it was 9-11. I was not alive for the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor, or when President Kennedy was assassinated, but I remember the morning of September 11th vividly. I will never forget that day, and I am thankful for the women and men who diligently protect the United States Of America.

I started Lost In Michigan on July 21, 2013. It is hard to believe I have been doing it for a decade. I never imagined that it would become what it has. It started out as a place for me to share photos of the interesting things I have found on my travels around the Great Lakes State.

I am so grateful for the kindness and support from all of you. I have meet some wonderful people along this journey, and I have also learned a lot about Michigan that I never learned in the history books. I am still out exploring the back roads and have recently expanded my travels beyond the Mitten and posting stories on Lost In The States.

If you want to see my first post you can see it HERE. I think I have gotten better on my posts over the years, but I am still learning.

Thank you all so much for following what I do. The past ten years has been a lot of fun and I hope to continue for another ten more.

Enjoy The Journey,

Mike Sonnenberg

Sunday April, 2 from 1:00 to 4:00 I will be at Charlin’s Book Nook at the Frankenmuth River Place Shops. If you want a book autographed you can bring your own or they will have them available for purchase. If you just want to stop by and say hello and chat for a few minutes that’s fine too. I hope I will see you there. You can find out more about Charlin’s on their Facebook page HERE

It’s hard to believe we came to the end of another year. It seems as though the days flew by and I never got to travel as much as I wanted to. I am fortunate I am still able to get out and explore the Great Lakes State and see all the places I have visited over the years. It surprises me I still find so many new and interesting things. Thank you so much for riding along on this journey with me. I am not sure what I will find next year but I figure if I just keep looking I will eventually find it.

P.S. I have also been wondering beyond Michigan this past year and you can see my posts on my other website www.lostinthestates.com 

P.P.S. I hope you have a wonderful new year that brings you great joy and prosperity.

I wanted to let you know that Wall Calendars and T-shirts are ON SALE on my zazzle.com store HERE

Also the first volume of Lost In Michigan is ON SALE buy 3 for the price of 2 at Amazon HERE If you want to see all of the books I have published you can see them on my authors page HERE

Thank you all so much for your support. I know a lot of you have already purchased books and calendars from me and I really appreciate it. The money I make from the sales of my books and calendars helps me with expenses to continue posting on my website.

Lost in Michigan books are part of Amazon’s special promotion Get 3 For The Price of 2. Volume 1 and volume 4  along with Volume 5 are included in this special offer.  You can see see Volume 1 on Amazon HERE

One of the other books that are included is Darker Than Night. It is a true crime story about two hunters that disappeared in the forests around Mio. If you like true crime stories it is an interesting and story that happened in Michigan. I just so happen to be reading it now, You can see it on Amazon HERE

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read my Lost In Michigan posts. I wanted to let you know that I am doing a giveaway of my latest book Lost In Ohio on my other website Lost In The States. If you want to enter the contest to win a free copy of my new book you can find it on my other website HERE

If you want to learn more about my Lost In Ohio book you can see a preview of it on Amazon HERE

If you love my lost in Michigan books or posts I am sure you will like reading my stories in Ohio. If you live in southern Michigan Ohio is not far away for a road trip and I found a lot of interesting places in the Buckeye State.

The 2023 Lost In Michigan Wall Calendars are 50% OFF on Zazzle today.

You can find the Lost In Michigan wall calendar HERE

you can find the Michigan Barn Calendar HERE

Thank you all for your kindness and support. Zazzle is not Ideal but it works for me and they do a really nice job of printing calendars.