upper peninsula Archives - Lost In Michigan

Sac Bay

Posted on January 18, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Ghost towns, upper peninsula .

Sac Bay is in the Garden Peninsula south of Fayette in the Upper Peninsula. It is a small bay on the shores of Big Bay De Noc and a town of the same name was started in 1853. It was given a post office in 1860, but was closed after a post office was opened in Fayette. This old building stands across from an old farm where the town once stood. It looks as if it was a general store at one time and then it had a metal addition added to it. There is a little county park along the bay and it is a nice quiet place to visit if you are at Fayette.

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 Mysterious Death at Grand Island

Posted on December 10, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses, upper peninsula .

Grand Island is in Lake Superior not far from the town of Munising. The old Grand Island Lighthouse sits on the northern edge of the island on a tall cliff overlooking Lake Superior.

The lighthouse was constructed in 1866 to replace an old decrepit light that was built in 1844. In 1961 a metal post with a battery operated light replaced the lighthouse and it was decommissioned. Dr. Loren Graham, a history professor at Harvard, and his wife Patrica a historian and dean at Harvard purchased the dilapidated old lighthouse in 1972. While remodeling the old building they found a newspaper with an article about the body of the assistant lighthouse keeper being found in a rowboat floating offshore. Keeper Genry had also disappeared and it was 15 years later that his body was found washed up on shore 20 miles from Munising. After an investigation, it has never been determined what happened to the two men.

Dr. Graham had researched the men’s mysterious death for 30 years and published a book detailing what he believed had happened to them. It is a fascinating book. In the middle of the book, he digresses into the history of the Upper Peninsula and the Native American culture and European mining immigrants. The book then circles back the death of the two keepers. People’s culture and experiences lead them to believe what happened to the two men. Not only is the book a compelling mystery, but it is also a well written brief history of the Upper Peninsula. If you are looking for something to read this winter I highly recommend Death at The Lighthouse: A Grand Island Riddle which you can see HERE. I think it has been out of print for a while so you may have to get a copy from your local library if the bookstore does not have it.

P.S. As far as I know, the Lighthouse still remains privately owned. I hope I get the chance to see it someday.

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

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com.

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

The Best Water in Michigan

Posted on November 26, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Artesian Springs, upper peninsula .

I was traveling across the Upper Peninsula on US-2 headed to Duluth for my other website Lost In The States. I went through the town of Norway near Iron Mountain. Right along the highway, about a mile outside of town is a stone fountain. The water comes from an artesian spring and flows all year long.

In 1903 Oliver Mining Company was searching for iron ore and drilled a hole about a thousand foot deep. The hole cuts several steeply dipping porous strata that trap water at higher elevations to the north. The difference in elevation creates the pressure in an artesian well. The back side of the fountain is a pipe with flowing water for filling up jugs. I stopped along my journey and filled up an empty water bottle that I had in my Jeep. I gotta say it is the best tasting water that I have ever had. If you are ever passing through Norway be sure to bring a few jugs to fill up with water.

P.S. Lost in Michigan books are ON SALE at Amazon HERE

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

The Old Orphanage

Posted on November 20, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in upper peninsula .

I took a photo of the old orphanage in Marquette almost ten years ago way back when I started Lost In Michigan. Holy Family Orphanage was constructed in 1915 and was used until 1967. It was home to children ranging from infants to high schoolers. It was also where Native American children were brought after being removed from their families to be “integrated” into white Christian culture.

The old building had sat empty for decades and some claimed it was haunted. In 2016 the old orphanage got a new lease on life after a 15 million dollar renovation converted it into apartments. I have taken a lot of pics of old buildings over the years and many of them have been torn down. It is nice to see this one has been renovated and repurposed.

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

The Backwards Lighthouse

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses, upper peninsula .

The sun rising on the Sand Point Lighthouse in Escanaba on a crisp autumn morning. Built in 1867 the lighthouse is a simple design with a square tower. Lighthouse are built with the tower facing the water but Sand Point is unique in that it is on the back side of the building from Lake Michigan. No one knows exactly why it was built the way it was but it is a beautiful little lighthouse.

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

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

The Black River Foot Bridge

Posted on October 30, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, upper peninsula .

The Black River empties into Lake Superior not far from the Wisconsin Border. At the mouth of the river is the Black River Harbor managed by the National Forest Service. The 210 foot suspension bridge was built in 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It was reconstructed in 1967 and refurbished in 2009. The bridge is part of the North Country Scenic Trail and allows hikers to cross the Black River wit a spectacular view as it bounces and sways as you cross it.

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

St Peter The Fisherman Cemetery

Posted on October 22, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, upper peninsula .

south of the historic Fayette townsite is an old cemetery on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. A sign next to the road denotes it is St Peter The Fisherman Cemetery. It was the Catholic cemetery for Fayette and a protestant cemetery was north of town. A short trail from the road leads to the cemetery hidden in the trees.

It is a beautiful little cemetery with old headstones and newer wooden crosses. One of the earliest burials was in 1877. The one thing that stood out to me was the metal fencing surround a couple of burial plots. It was strange how it was all mangled and twisted as if some supernatural force hit it. I am thinking a tree fell on it or maybe ice from a storm but for whatever reason it looked odd. If you like old cemeteries and you are visiting Fayette be sure to check out the old cemetery. It is near the Port Bar & Family Restaurant.

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

First Roadside Park

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, Michigan Historical Markers, upper peninsula .

Last week I took a trip across the Upper Peninsula and I stopped at a roadside park on US-2 near Iron River. The historical marker in the park notes that it is the first roadside park in Michigan and reads:

In 1918 the Iron County Board of Supervisors approved the recommendation of the road commission, through its engineer-manager, Herbert F. Larson, to purchase this 320-acre tract of roadside virgin timber and to dedicate it as a forest preserve. The following year Iron County established Michigan’s first roadside park and picnic tables. This was quite likely America’s first such facility. Since then similar parks have been provided by most states for the comfort and enjoyment of the traveling motorist.

After crossing the U.P. along US-2 I traveled to Duluth, Minnesota and up the North Shore and then back down through Wisconsin. If you want to see my posts from other states I hope you will take a look at my other website. https://lostinthestates.com/

This was my last big trip of the year and I have lots of great stuff to post over the winter. I hope you will check it out. If you like my posts on Lost In Michigan I am sure you will not be disappointed.

Autumn Lake House

Posted on October 14, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in autumn, upper peninsula .

I was on the old 510 Bridge near Marquette and saw this little lake house surrounded by the colorful autumn trees. I don’t know anything about it but I thought it made a pretty photo.

I wish the peak color could last longer but I guess that is what makes it so special.

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

Copper Harbor Cemetery

Posted on October 2, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, upper peninsula .

When I was up in Copper Harbor last fall I took a trip through the old cemetery. I noticed it has several graves with fences around them. I was curious and did a little research on the internets. Although decorative the fencing served to keep animals off loved ones grave sites. At least that is what I found on the internet. I am thinking that makes sense since I see fencing more frequently in the northern Michigan cemeteries where there would be more animals.

If you like old grave sites check out the cemetery off US-41 just before you get into Copper Harbor.

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