Getting off U.S. 23 and heading thru Ypsilanti, there is this natural flow of traffic that takes you past the world famous historic water tower then loops around down by the river near Depot Town and past the old Fire Station and EMU, and on the loop near the river is this grand old second empire building used as offices by a local law firm. Looking at the structure, it was obviously originally built as a house, and from the size of it, someone of great wealth. Searching google, it did not take long at all to find out the house was the home of Daniel L Quirk Sr, who established the First National Bank of Ypsilanti in 1864 along with the Peninsular Paper Company in 1867. The Second Empire style home was constructed in 1860 and in 1914, it was donated to the city and served as the City Hall until 1977.

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I am back from my trip to the Upper Peninsula. 1450 miles, 750 photos, 10 days, 3 lighthouses 2 state parks, and an island (probably not the one you are thinking) along with countless bugs splatted on the front of my jeep. I Have lots of great stuff to share and new places I visited. Yes, I was socially distant, not many people go to where I go, and I am fine with that. I like the peace and quiet.

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Walking around downtown Ann Arbor, from a distance, I saw the tower on this building which I thought was an old church, but then as I got closer I noticed the doors on the front and then realized it was an old fire station.  It is now the the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum but above the doors carved into the stonework, it reads “Engine House 1882”. it’s easy to imagine the horses coming out of those doors pulling a steam pumper galloping down the Ann Arbor streets off to fight a fire. The bell tower was used to summon volunteer fireman to the fire station to fight a fire. The fire department moved out of the old firehouse in the 1970s.

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Although it is in the middle of the lower peninsula about 30 miles from Lansing it sure felt like the middle of nowhere to me. Located somewhere between Potterville and Vermontville the Gresham United Methodist Church has unique looking steeple and stands quietly surrounded by miles of farmland. The historical marker gives a little bit of history and reads:

Members of the Gresham United Methodist Church first worshipped in a school and in homes. In 1879, Palmer and Rebecca McDonald gave this site on which to build a church. In order to erect the church, people in the community donated logs which were cut at Dade Merriam’s sawmill. The building’s pointed arch windows and steeply pitched roof exemplify the prevalence of Gothic Revival elements in rural church architecture. The church was completed in 1881.

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I guess summer has officially started here in Michigan but with the current state of things I have not left my immediate neighborhood in a few months. I have underlying health conditions and it would not be a good idea to put myself or others at risk. I hoping I will be able to travel some this summer and most likely to places up north away from lots of people. I still have a lot of photos in my archive to share but I hope to get out and explore new places.

I don’t know what the next few months will be like but I hope to as time goes on things will get better. It may be a little while until I get back up north but I am sure the sun is rising over Lake Huron and setting over Lake Michigan. The water is still flowing down the rivers in the Upper Peninsula. This is a pic of the Lower Silver Falls near L’Anse, I wish I was there now but I will be back.

P.S. I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my cemetery pics last week in honor of Memorial Day. I am looking forward to sharing some other places with you this summer.

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Michigan has some beautiful Queen Anne Victorian-style houses and the Heather House is one of the finest in the state. Located in Marine City on Main Street it looks out at the St. Clare River watching the enormous steel freighters passing by.  Construction of the home was finished in 1885 by retired ship’s captain William Sauber who emigrated to Marine City from Germany. He worked in the shipyards and became general manager of the Marine Sugar Co., but I can imagine him sitting on the front porch watching the old wooden steamers going by and longing for the days sailing on the Great Lakes. You can find out more about the grand old house on their website HERE

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St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church was established in 1889 by Slovenian immigrants who came to the area to work in the mines of the Copper Country. The wood frame church in Calumet erected by the parish in 1890 was destroyed by fire in 1902. The following year this elegant Romanesque church, designed by Erhard Brielmater of Milwaukee, was begun. It was completed at a cost of $100,000 in 1908. Built of locally-quarried Jacobsville sandstone, the structure displays Cathedral-type stained glass windows from the Ford Brothers Glass Studio of Minneapolis. Its interior features a beautifully painted sixty-five foot nave. In 1966 four parishes consolidated, making this building their church and changing its name to St. Paul the Apostle.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there who work so hard to protect and care for their children no matter how old they are. (the kids, not the moms)  In case you missed it be sure to check out my post on the history of Mother’s Day and how Albion Michigan was one of the inspirations for it. you can see my post HERE

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I was traveling through Bad Axe, and I saw this old mansion boarded up. I thought there has to be some history, or something significant about the house. Thanks to my followers on facebook, after I posted a pic, they told me that it was former Michigan governor Albert Sleeper’s Mansion. It was turned into a funeral home that was now closed. Sadly the house sits abandoned and forgotten about. It was a magnificent home, and I think that is what got my attention to photograph it. I hope someone will step up to restore it.  The interesting thing is what I learned about Governor Sleeper in 1917, Governor Sleeper created the Michigan State Troops Permanent Force which became the Michigan State Police.  Governor Sleeper also signed the State Parks Act creating the State Park system In 1919. Huron State Park in Caseville, was renamed Albert E. Sleeper State Park in his honor.

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A few days ago, I asked Where Am I? ( I should have said where was I since I am not traveling right now) I posted this photo of an American flag.  Before I get to the answer just a reminder I have lost In Michigan books available on my website HERE or on Amazon HERE

Some of you may have noticed the pattern of stars looks a little different. That should have been the clue for the location of the flag which is at Fort Wilkens in the tip of the Keweenaw.  You can find out more about the flag and fort on my post HERE

Congratulations to Art Brabbs he was the winner of the t-shirt chosen at random from the correct answers. Please email me the design color and size along with your shipping info to mike@huronphoto.com

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