Michigan does not have the military bases it once did. Many have closed over the years and have been repurposed into other uses. I don’t see a lot of active military personnel on a daily bases like people who live near an active military base. We designate a day in November to thank the people
Northwest of Gladwin near the intersection of Bard Road at Eagleson Roads is a massive weather vane. Constructed by a local farmer, it has an antique tractor an plow on it that points in the direction of the wind. In the west Michigan town of Montague is a weather vane that has claimed to be
I visited the old historic Fallasburg Covered Bridge a few years ago. I took some photographs of it and because I was short on time I did not drive across the wooden bridge. On a recent visit, I made the trip across the bridge and discovered a whole town of historic buildings and houses. Like the
This yellow octagon house stands on the back roads near Oxford. Known as Maple Grove it was constructed around 1850 by Harry Frink, who was a farmer and master carpenter from New York State. At the time octagon houses and buildings were all the rage and about fifty still stand in Michigan. Thank you for
Prussian immigrant Michael Elowsky fled the turmoil brewing in Eastern Europe in 1862. He settled in Detroit, was joined by his family, and migrated to Presque Isle County around 1870. under President Lincoln’s Homestead Act of 1865, he obtained his land on the north branch of the Thunder Bay River near Posen at no cost. He
“A Ship in Harbor Is Safe, But that Is Not What Ships Are Built For” John A. Shedd Seeing the Mackenzie May fishing tug tied up at the Black River Harbor reminded me of this quote. But with the November gales coming up it also reminded me of what my step father Jim used to
I saw this old farmhouse while I was out roaming the back roads near Harrison. I am not sure what the story is with this old house but it looks as if it has been a long time since anyone has trick or treated at this place for Halloween. Thank you for taking the time
This lonely tombstone stands in the northern Michigan woods near Kingsley. It is for Emma L. Northrup who died while traveling with her parents. Her family was traveling by horse and buggy in 1875 from New York. They were traveling to Michigan to start a new life farming when 6 year old Emma became ill
Standing in the center of the Kalamazoo Regional Psychiatric Hospital is an ornate brick water tower that looks like it’s out of a fairy tale as if Rapunzel is going to let out her long golden hair out one of the windows. The hospital is no fairy tale of a place and was one of
Driving down the Black River National Forest Scenic Byway there is a spot where to road curves and you can see a massive metal structure the overlooks high above the trees. It is the Copper Peak Ski Jump and it is the worlds largest artificial ski jump. It was built in 1969 and stands 1782
