upper peninsula Archives - Lost In Michigan

The Christmas Tree Ship

Along the Lake Michigan shoreline is a historical marker near the town of Thompson. It marks the spot where the “Christmas Tree Ship” sailed from with a load of pine trees for Chicago. One of the last shipping schooners to sail the Great Lakes was the Rouse Simmons. The three-masted schooner was built in 1868 to carry lumber. At the end of the sailing season, Captain Herman Schuenemann loaded the ship with Christmas trees from the Thompson forests and delivered them to the port of Chicago. Captain Schuenemann was known there as Captain Santa and the Rouse Simmons had a pine tree tied to the top of the mast.

The Rouse Simmons left Thopmson for Chicago on November 22, 1912. The ship sank in a late November snowstorm near Two Rivers Wisconsin. The captain and crew were never seen again. Captain Schuenemann’s wife and daughters delivered trees to Chicago each Christmas until around 1934. Over the years several books have been written about the “Christmas Tree Ship”

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Covington

Posted on December 1, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in General Store, upper peninsula .

There is not a whole lot in the small Upper Peninsula town of Covington. Some houses, a post office, a beautiful church, and an old general store can be found in the town located near the junction of M-28 and 141. John Lyons was the first postmaster in 1895 and he named the town for Covington Kentucky where he came from.

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Crisp Point Lighthouse

Posted on November 27, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses, upper peninsula .

Crisp Point Lighthouse stands along a remote and wooded section of the Lake Superior Shoreline. It is about 15 miles west of the Whitefish Point Lighthouse. Crisp Point Lighthouse was built in 1903 and decommissioned in 1993 and is now the property of Luce County and maintained by the Crisp Point Light Historical Society. The roads to the lighthouse are not plowed in the winter so the summer months are the best time to visit it. If you are looking to get away from the crowds at the Tahquamenon Falls take a trip out to this secluded location. It is also a great beach to go rock hunting while you are there.

If you love lighthouses I hope you will take a look at my new Lighthouse book HERE

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The Bra Tree

Posted on November 24, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in upper peninsula .

I have seen a lot of strange things while traveling the back roads of Michigan but this bra tree is at the top of the list for strange sights. I was heading up the back way to the Tahquamenon Falls and I came across this tree with women’s bras hanging from the limbs. The sign reads BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.

I definitely support the need for breast cancer awareness but thought it was strange to see this in the middle of nowhere. The forest road I was on also doubles as the snowmobile trail in the winter so I am assuming that is when most people see this tree.

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The Spirit Houses

Posted on November 18, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, upper peninsula .

Northwest of Brimley along the Lake Superior shoreline is Bay Mills. The area is home to the Bay Mills Indian tribe. Along the road is an old Indian Cemetery and according to the sign in the back it was established in 1841. The graves are covered with wooden spirit houses. The wooden houses are built to protect the body as the soul passes to the spirit world. Many times relatives would leave food and tools for the deceased loved one to use as they travel to the spirit world.

The cemetery is not open to the public but it is next to the road. I took this pic from the fence. Sometimes I will see spirit houses in other cemeteries, especially in northern Michigan. Next time you are out exploring the mitten state and you see an old cemetery with wooden houses now you will know what they are if you didn’t already.

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Haight Township Hall

Posted on November 17, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Iconic Buildings, upper peninsula .

While I was traveling down US-45 north of Paulding I came across this beautiful two-story yellow building. The sign at the top reads “Town Hall 1904” It is Haight Township Hall. Traveling around Michigan I come across a lot of small rural township halls and offices. most are ordinary-looking buildings and some are former schoolhouses. This one in Haight Township on the west side of the UP is magnificent. Unfortunately, I was not able to find out any history on the building but I did stop the get a few pics.

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Michigamme’s Old Building

Posted on November 9, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, upper peninsula .

This old building stands along the main drag in Michigamme. The town is west of Marquette sits between US-41/M-28 and Lake Michigamme. I can only assume it was a general store at one time but sits empty now. The town of Michigamme was founded around a mine discovered by Jacob Houghton. Mining operations ended in the early 1900s and the population of the town dwindled. It is more of a resort town now being situated on the shores of Lake Michigamme. It is an interesting place with shops, restaurants, and a lot of history. It is easy to miss when you are traveling along US-41 but a nice town to stop and explore.

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Point Iroquois Lighthouse

Posted on November 2, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Lighthouses, upper peninsula .

I always enjoy the drive along the Lake Superior shoreline from Brimley to Paradise. One of my favorite stops is the historic Point Iroquois Lighthouse. It was built in 1870 and is now a museum in the summer months. The grounds are open all year and it is a beautiful place to stop and take a walk on the boardwalk and watch the ships heading to and from the Soo Locks.

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Herman House

Posted on October 30, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, upper peninsula .

This large old house-looking building sits in the town of Herman. The town (or what is left of it) is in the Huron Mountains southeast of L’Anse in the Upper Peninsula. On December 19, 1996, the town received one of the largest snowfalls in Michigan history, with 30 inches of the white stuff falling in the single da. I wonder if that is why the roof has caved in. I am also wondering if this was a boarding house. You can’t see it in this photo but the trees are covering a large portion of the building. I think this was a place where lumberjacks would have lived way back in the day. If wall could talk I wonder what stories this old place would tell.

Note. I only take pics from the road and do not trespass. If you go out exploring please be respectful.

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Wyandotte Falls in the Sunlight

Posted on October 26, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in upper peninsula, Waterfalls .

It was late in the day when I visited Wyandotte Falls. The sun was shining through the trees illuminating the water as it cascades down across the rocky landscape. The falls are located about a mile off M-26 on Poyhonen Road near Twin Lakes State Park. It is a little bit of a hike from the parking area and the trail is covered in tree roots but it is worth the effort to see these waterfalls.

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