upper peninsula Archives - Lost In Michigan

Michigan’s Sugar Island and the United Nations

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in island, upper peninsula .

East of Sault Ste. Marie the Sugar Islander II car ferry transports vehicles across the St. Mary’s river to Sugar Island. It is one of the largest islands along the river that shares a border with Canada. For $20 you can ride in your car over to the island and back. There is not a lot on the island. It is mostly vacation homes and a few small farms. The Island was named Sisibakmatominis (maple sugar island translated into English) by the Chippewas for its abundant maple trees.

One of the most notable residents of the island was Chase Osborn. He was the governor of Michigan from 1911-1913. After World War II it was Osborn that promoted the idea of having the headquarters for the United Nations on Sugar Island because of its international border with Canada. Obviously that plan never came to fruition. There are a few historical sites on the island and I will share them in later posts.

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Two Hearted River Bridge

Posted on July 11, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Bridges, upper peninsula .

Way up north of Newberry the Two Hearted River flows into Lake Superior. A one of a kind suspension bridge with wood planking spans the river for hikers to cross over it. The bridge located in the state forest campground leads over to a sandy beach with rocks along the shoreline. It is a great place to enjoy the refreshing water of Lake Superior or go rock hunting for your favorite rocks. The bridge is also part of the North Country Trail that runs from North Dakota to Vermont and passes through Michigan.

It is a strange feeling walking over the bridge as it bounces and sways, or maybe I just need to lose some weight. If you are ever up that way, It is a long trip down dirt roads but it is a unique experience to walk across the bridge.

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The Store in Stalwart

Posted on July 10, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in General Store, upper peninsula .

In the southeast corner of the Upper Peninsula, near what’s left of the town of Stalwart, I came across this old store. It looks like it has not been occupied for a while. Yellow flowers and green grass are growing all around it without any foot traffic to impede their growth.

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Remembering The Myron

Posted on July 9, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Ships and Boats, upper peninsula .

Mission Hill Cemetery sits on a hill near Bay Mills overlooking Spectacle Lake and Lake Superior. It is an old and historic cemetery and in the middle is a white picket fence. Buried inside are the remains of eight crew members of the S.S. Myron. The steamer sank in a storm in November of 1919 near Whitefish Point. The crew escaped in lifeboats but unfortunately, the little boats did not save their lives. Eight bodies were found onshore encased in ice during the spring of 1920. The crewmen were buried in Mission Hill Cemetery spending eternity together. The captain who stayed with the ship was saved while floating on a piece of wreckage.

There a beautiful overlook across from the entrance to the cemetery. It is a beautiful spot to watch the ships sail past or take in a sunset.

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The Mysterious Mansion at the Soo

Posted on July 8, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Houses, upper peninsula .

I was not sure where to start with my pics of the eastern Upper Peninsula so I figured I would start at the beginning. I had to get something to eat when I got up there, so I went over to Clyde’s for a burger. I went past this old house or whatever it was along the St. Mary’s River east of downtown. I am not sure what the story is, but it looks really old with its cobblestone foundation. It must have been a fantastic place back in the day looking out the windows as ships sailed past.

I looked online, but I could not find any info. It looks like someone is doing some work to it and there are no trespassing signs on the front porch. I stopped and took a pic from the road. If you know anything about this place I would love to know. please post a comment below.

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End Of The Road Depot

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Train Depots, upper peninsula .

The old train depot on the outskirts of downtown Ontonagon sits alone and forgotten. The railroad tracks that trains took to the station are gone. The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad referred to as the Milwaukee Road built the station in the late 1800s. From the map of the railroad I saw, it looks like it was the northern most point of the line so I guess that makes it the “end of the road”

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The Upper Peninsula Rocket Range

Posted on June 29, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in upper peninsula .

At the northernmost point of the Keweenaw Peninsula in the U.P. is the remains of an old rocket launchpad. The site was used in the 60’s to launch experimental rockets. The only thing that remains of the old site is a concrete pad and an old iron rail. A stone memorial was placed a the site to commemorate the historic achievements.

The memorial reads:

The Keweenaw Rocket Range
The State Of Michigan established a rocket range on this site which was used from 1964 – 1971. Michigan’s first rocket to enter space was launched from this site on Jan. 29, 1971. In tribute to the historic work done in the field of rocketry, this memorial stone was placed in the summer of the year 2000.

It is an interesting a beautiful place to visit along the Lake Superior shoreline. The road to get to the former site can be challenging and requires a four-wheel drive vehicle or some people have ridden a mountain bike to the old rocket range. you can learn more about the old rocket range in Volume 3 of my Lost In Michigan books.

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You could own this Historic Michigan Lighthouse

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses, upper peninsula .

The historic Mendota Lighthouse is for sale, and You are probably wondering where Mendota is located, I know I was. The lighthouse is named for a nearby mining company and stands near a man-made canal on Bete Grise Bay in the Keweenaw Peninsula. The canal was dug to Lac La Belle in 1865. A light was placed to guide ships into the canal but it was used infrequently a few times and then abandoned altogether. The original light was removed a few years after it was constructed.

It was about two decades later at the end of the century that the current lighthouse was built, not to guide ships into the canal, but to help them find refuge. Bete Grise Bay on the inside of the Keweenaw was a safe harbor for ships to find shelter from a storm. The current lighthouse was built to mark the bay and help sailors find it when Lake Superior turns angry.

In 1933 the lighthouse was decommissioned and sold to Heimo (Paddy) Jaaskelainen who owned it until his death in 1996. Gary Kohs from Royal Oak purchased the lighthouse after learning about it on a motorcycle trip through the Keweenaw. He purchased it for $500,000. The historic lighthouse is back up for sale as of June 2020 for the asking price of $495,000. If you ever wanted to own a historic lighthouse here is your chance. You learn more about the lighthouse at their website HERE

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Paradise School

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Schools, upper peninsula .

I came across this old building which I thought was a farmhouse in the Keweenaw Peninsula not far from Chassell. I just assumed it was an old farmhouse but then I came across something that referred to an old school called Paradise School. When I think of Paradise I think of the small town near the T-Falls. I then realized this old building was on Paradise Road so I figured that made sense.

I always thought the shape of it seemed a little odd for a schoolhouse, since most one-room schools are simple buildings with a simple roofline. It’s hidden behind the trees but it is a “T” shaped building and roofline. I came across this photo this old photo on the internet that said it was the Paradise School near Chassell so I guess that it is the old Paradise School.

P.S. I wonder what became of the children in the photo. I look at old photos and I always wonder about the people in them.

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The Famous Upper Peninsula Courthouse

Posted on June 3, 2020 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in courthouses, upper peninsula .

The courthouse in Marquette was compleated in 1904. It is a beautiful Neo-Classical Revival building built with local sandstone. The courthouse has held a few notable cases. in 1913, President Theodore Roosevelt won a libel suit against Ishpeming newspaper publisher George Newett and was awarded six cents, “the price of a good newspaper.”

In 1952 Lt. Coleman A. Peterson was tried for killing a man in Big Bay. His trial gained notoriety when he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. The murder and trial inspired the book and movie Anatomy of a Murder. The movie starred Jimmy Stewart and portions were filmed in the courthouse.

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