In Bridgeport, Michigan, a classic piece of Americana stands as a reminder of a bygone era. Just south of Saginaw, near where the Cass River winds through town and by the old footbridge, is a beautifully restored service station. This little brick building, once the Bridgeport Oil and Gas Co., got its start in 1937,
The Oden Fish Hatchery is situated to the north of Petoskey, close to Alanson. Established in 1921, the hatchery focuses on raising brown trout and rainbow trout for stocking in both inland lakes and streams, as well as the Great Lakes. The facility also keeps broodstock—mature fish designated for breeding—which produce millions of eggs each
Growing up, many of us remember the thrill of collecting trading stamps at the grocery store. After saving enough, you could redeem them for household goods like dishes and silverware. The most well-known of these were S&H Green Stamps. The idea originated with Shelley Byron Hutchinson, who first used stamps to promote his family’s shoe
I saw this old building north of Escanaba in the Upper Peninsula. According to Google Maps, it is located in the town of Brampton, which was named after Brampton, England. A post office was established there in 1874 and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1984. I wonder if this is the building
“Torch of Freedom,” a magnificent sculpture of an arm holding a torch, is located near the marina in Rogers City. Created by Tom Moran of Moran Iron Works in Onaway, the sculpture originally shot flames from the torch. However, the flames have since been replaced with a shiny, gold-like metal. The sculpture made its debut
The Flats On The River building in Belding, Michigan, has a history deeply intertwined with the city’s past as a center for silk manufacturing. Constructed in 1886, the structure originally served as the Richardson Silk Mill, a key component of the Belding Brothers & Company, which earned the city the nickname “Silk City of the
The deep turquoise water of the St. Clair River in Port Huron is always a striking sight. Having grown up in Carrollton and now living in Saginaw, I’ve always known the Saginaw River to be brown and murky, likely due to erosion and runoff from surrounding farmlands. I did a little research online and learned
There’s a smal parcel of Burt Lake State Park situated at the intersection of Old US-27 and M-68, just south of Burt Lake. It appears to be a forgotten corner, with overgrown grass and weathered picnic tables clearly in need of repair. A lookout platform, once offering breathtaking vistas of Burt Lake, now stands
The Grayling, Michigan depot holds a significant place in the town’s history, dating back to 1882 when it was built by the Michigan Central Railroad. Initially, the area was known as “Crawford” by the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad Company, which laid tracks to the location in 1872 and constructed a freight house. However, the
Strolling past Pennsylvania Park in downtown Petoskey, you might notice a curious building among the offices and retail spaces – one emblazoned with “Wright Cycle Co.” It looks like a relic, frozen in time, and you’d be right to wonder about it, as it’s almost never open. However, as reported by The Petoskey News-Review,
