Uncategorized Archives - Page 11 of 18

The Castle on Woodward in Detroit

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, Iconic Buildings, Uncategorized .

This beautiful french renaissance castle on Woodward Ave. was the home of railroad and ship-building baron Col. Frank J. Hecker. In 1888, Hecker hired architect Louis Kamper and began construction on the mansion at Woodward Avenue on the corner of Ferry and Woodward. The massive home is 21,000 square feet, and is an imposing example of French Châteauesque style based on the Château de Chenonceaux near Tours, France. Hecker used his home to host elaborate parties where he entertained luminaries such as presidents William McKinley and Rutherford B. Hayes.

The exterior of the home has large turrets at the corners, and Flemish dormers in the steep hip roof. Several bays project from the main body of the home, and wrapped around the whole is a balustraded, colonnaded loggia. A carriage house in the rear is clearly visible from Woodward. At one point this structure was converted into a concert hall capable of seating 200.

The interior has 49 rooms, including a large oak-paneled hall designed for large parties, an oval dining room done in mahogany, a lobby done in English oak, and a white and gold music room. The fireplaces were constructed of Egyptian Nubian marble and onyx and Italian Siena marble were used in the vestibules.

Hecker lived in the home until his death in 1927. For the next twenty years, the home was owned by the Hecker family, but operated as a boarding house for single college students. In 1947, the mansion was sold to Paul Smiley of the Smiley Brothers Music Company, who used it for musical instruction and practice, as well as a sales office. When Smiley died in 1990, the building was sold to Charfoos & Christensen, P.C. law firm that renovated the mansion, and it served as their law offices until 2014. In September 2014, Wayne State University purchased the house for $2.3 million for its Alumni Relations Department.

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The Haunted Bruce Mansion

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Haunted Places, Houses, Uncategorized .

Near Brown City in Burnside Township is this beautiful old Second Empire mansion built in 1876 by John G. Bruce who owned the Bruce and Webster General Merchants with his brother-in-law. Burnside township was originally Allison Township, but the name was changed in 1866 to honor Ambrose E. Burnside, a union general in the Civil War. John G Bruce was the postmaster for 16 years in Burnside. Most of the town was destroyed by a fire in 1881, but the mansion and general store was spared from the flames. in 1894 Bruce lost the general store to a fire, and rebuilt it with a brick building.

He eventually sold the home to Cynthia Smith who died in the house from a fever in 1921. Cynthia’s son sold the house and it changed owners a few times. It was eventually purchased by John Walker in 1926. Rumor has it, he was driving his automobile when he hit a pedestrian. Terrified at what he had done, he took the body back to the mansion and buried it somewhere on the estate. Some say the ghost of the victim, others say guilt, caused the man to lose his fortune and he hung himself in the old tower. It is said the be haunted, I am not sure about it but it is a beautiful old house and it’s kinda spooky with the ghostly light green paint and it seems like an odd location for an old mansion. you would expect to see something like it in one of Michigan’s large cities but not in the middle of farm country.

NOTE this house is NOT abandoned and please do not trespass and be respectful of the owners. you can follow their facebook page HERE

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Top 8 round of the Michigan State Park March Madness Poll

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Michigan State Parks, SP March Madness, Uncategorized .

Skunk Creek in the Rifle River Recreation Area

Now we are down to the Top 8 State Parks. and there are some really fantastic parks that made it to this round. We lost some equally wonderful parks. Last years winner, Tawas Point State Park, knocked off 2014 winner Ludington State Park in their head to head matchup. Vote for your favorite in this week matchups to see who gets to move on to the final four.

you can see the last round of polls HERE

Polls end Sunday night March 20th.

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Lost In Michigan Calendars $5 off and FREE Shipping.

Posted on December 20, 2015 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

Lost In Michigan calendars are $5 off and FREE shipping today.

the Michigan Barn calendar is sold out, and I only have a few Forgotten Michigan calendars left. if you want one before they are gone you can get them HERE

Lost In Michigan Calendars are back in stock and On SALE

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

Calendars make a great gift for all your Michigan friends, I got some more after running out of the first run I had printed. Now is the perfect time to order while they are on sale and in stock so you will have them in before Christmas. you can get one HERE

Thank you to everyone who got one already, the calendar sales help me with expenses to do this website and it really means a lot to me that you like what I do enough to purchase one.

Waterfalls in Michigan You Must See other than Tahquamenon

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized, Waterfalls .

I do love Tahquamenon Falls, and they are Michigan’s most famous and visited falls, but there are several other waterfalls to see in the Mitten State, here are some of my favorites.

Sable Falls

Sable Falls are located in Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore, at the east end of the park a few miles west of Grand Marais on H-58. It’s about a half mile walk from the parking to the falls and a set of stairs that takes you to the base of the falls. there are enough stairs to make you think ” wow this is a lot of steps” but it’s worth it once you get there and then relize it was not to bad of a climb.

Sable Falls

Black River Falls

The Black River Falls are 8 miles south west of Ishpeming off of Country Road 581 in the Escanaba River State Forest. there is a small parking area in the woods and the river and falls are nearby maybe 100 yards, the interesting thing about this water fall are the enormous boulders in the river, I climbed out onto them to get a better view of the falls.

Black River Falls

Wagner Falls

Wagner Falls are located south of Munising, on the east side of MI-94 just south of the MI-28 MI-94 junction. There is small parking area and a sign with a boardwalk that leads to the falls and is an easy waterfall to access.

Wagner Falls

Eagle River Falls

Eagle River Falls are in Eagle River, on MI-26. This is a roadside falls. There is a small park and a pedestrian bridge where you can get a nice view of the falls. There is an old dam at the top of the falls. The falls used to power the Lake Superior Safety Fuse Factory. I like to stop by and see these falls on my way up to the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse.

Eagle River Falls

Bond Falls

This is Bond Falls way over on the western side of the U.P. on Bond Falls Rd, east of Pauding MI. This is the second larges waterfall in Michigan and the water flow is controlled by a dam so it always has a good flow water cascading over the rocks. It is also a state scenic site and if you have a recreation passport on you cars registration you are all set. if not you have to stop and pay at the post, but this is definitely a don’t miss waterfall.

Bond Falls

Laughing Whitefish Falls

The falls can be found off of M-94, about 30 miles from Munising or Marquette, and just outside of Chatham. the falls are one of the highest in Michigan and cascade down a rocky face. It is difficult to get a photo of just how large these falls are and it is a must see to appreciate them. after a short hike down a trail in the woods you can view the falls from the top or get your exercise for the day and go down the stairs to the bottom.

Laughing Whitefish Falls

Adler Falls

Alder Falls are located about 20 miles north of Marquette on County Road 550 near Big Bay Michigan is one of my favorite falls to visit, you have to drive down a two-track of the main road, then from there you have hike down a steep ravine to get to it. it is nice a secluded so there are few people there when I visit. you can just sit there and soak up nature and listen to the falls.

Adler Falls

Ocqueoc falls

I love taking photos of Waterfalls but most of them are in the U.P. and a long trip for the weekend for me. Did you Know Ocqueoc Falls is in the L.P. I was traveling between Onaway and Rogers City and came across the falls, I knew there was a waterfall in the area but forgot about it until I saw the sign. It is a wonderful waterfall and park that was recently updated.

Ocqueoc Falls

Seven Bridges Recreation Area

Seven Bridges area between Kalkaska and Rapid City on Valley road is a beautiful place to walk around and take in the wonders of Mother Nature. It has a few small water falls some cute little foot bridges and several streams all in about an acre and it’s easy to walk around. If your a leaf peeper looking at the fall colors this is an excellent place to visit.

Seven Bridges Recreation Area

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Flag Day and the Man From Michigan Who Designed our Current Flag

Posted on June 14, 2015 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Uncategorized .

In honor of Flag Day, I want to remember the man who was born in my hometown of Saginaw who designed our nation’s current 50 star flag. Robert Heft moved to Ohio when he was young. At the age of 17 in 1958 for a school project, he took his mother’s flag and sewing machine, removed the 48 stars, and placed 50 stars on the field of blue. His teacher gave him a B- for his efforts, he thought he deserved a better grade but the teacher told him that if his flag’s design was selected he would give him an A.

Robert Heft source: Wikipedia

Approximately 1500 flag designs were submitted, when Alaska and Hawaii were considered for statehood, but it was Bob Heft’s flag that was approved by Congress. And yes his teacher did change his grade to the A that he deserved.

Heft became a high school teacher and later a college professor and he also served as mayor of Napoleon, Ohio, for 28 years. After retiring he moved back to the Saginaw area and continued giving speeches, and was a member of the Toastmasters.

Sadly Bob passed away in 2009 and is laid to rest in Saginaw at Holy Cross Lutheran Cemetery on Brockway, His marker is visible from the road, and with its Patriotic theme it’s truly fitting for the man who designed our nation’s flag.

I was never fortunate enough to meet him, but I was told by his friends that he was a great guy who loved sharing his story. I wonder, since there were so many designs, and some similar to Bob’s, I think the Eisenhower administration chose him, because he was an outstanding student and all around good guy. And if you think about it, what a great American story about a Midwestern kid and his mom’s sewing machine that created the design of our flag.

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Hancock Town Hall and Fire Hall – Michigan Historical Marker

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Michigan Historical Markers, Uncategorized, upper peninsula .

The Quincy Mining Company platted Hancock in 1859, a decade after the company began mining Keewanaw copper. While many copper towns boomed and busted within a short period of time, Hancock remained stable, incorporating as a city in 1875. By 1897, Hancock’s four thousand citizens wanted a government building that would reflect the city’s prosperity and stature. The Quincy Company sold this lot to the city in 1898 and in January 1899 the Town Hall and Fire Hall opened.

The Marquette firm of Charlton, Gilbert and Demar designed Hancock’s Town Hall and Fire Hall. Completed in 1899, the building housed city offices, the fire department, and the marshall’s office and the jail. Built of Jacobsville sandstone with stepped and curved gables, it exhibits Richardsonian Romanesque, Dutch and Flemish influences. The building is listed in the National register of Historic Places.

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The Hecker Castle on Woodward in Detroit

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, Uncategorized .

This beautiful french renaissance castle on Woodward Ave designed by Louis Kamper was the home of railroad and ship-building baron Col. Frank J. Hecker.In 1888, Hecker hired architect Louis Kamper and began construction on the mansion at Woodward Avenue at the corner of Ferry. The Col. Frank J. Hecker House, with 21,000 square feet, is an imposing example of French Châteauesque style based on the Château de Chenonceaux near Tours, France.Hecker used his home to host elaborate parties where he entertained luminaries such as presidents William McKinley and Rutherford B. Hayes.

The interior has 49 rooms, including a large oak-paneled hall designed for large parties, an oval dining room done in mahogany, a lobby done in English oak, and a white and gold music room.The fireplaces were constructed of Egyptian Nubian marble and onyx and Italian Siena marble were used in the vestibules.

Hecker was friends with lumber baron David Whitney, who built another Woodward Avenue mansion.

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The Calumet Theatre Haunted by the ghost of Madame Helena Modjeska

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places, Michigan Historical Markers, Uncategorized, upper peninsula .

The Michigan historical marker next to the Calumet Theatre reads:
“One of the first municipal theaters in America, the Calumet opened on March 20, 1900, “the greatest social event ever known in copperdom’s metropolis.” The theater contained a magnificent stage and elegant interior decorations, including an electrified copper chandelier. For over a decade, Copper Country audiences witnessed a broad panorama of American legitimate theater, and many prominent stage personalities, both American and European, trod the boards of the Calumet. By 1920s, motion pictures replaced live theater, and subsequently, live drama returned to the Calumet. The reopened community theater resumed its position as a focal point of civic pride for the people of Calumet and the Copper Country.”

According to Wikipedia the Theater is inhabited by the ghost of, Madame Helena Modjeska. The story of the ghost first emerged in 1958, when actress Adysse Lane claimed that the ghost of Madame Modjeska appeared to her during a performance when Lane had forgotten her lines. Since then, unexplainable happenings have occurred. Many people have heard music and felt cold air from nowhere\

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