“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
If you are searching for Bliss in northern Michigan you will it find somewhere between Mackinaw City and Cross Village. It’s the name of a small town in the agricultural area south of Wilderness State Park. In 1878, the town got a post office, and the little community was named after Arron T. Bliss, a wealthy
South of Empire where Norconk Road makes a sharp bend about a mile west of M22 is the Treat Farm Trail. The trail is not posted but it is part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore. It is along the trail that you will find an old farm. It is not abandoned but maintained
A friend of mine told me a story of an old native american legend about a half dog half wolf ( I always thought a dog was a wolf, but I digress) that roams the Omer Plains along the Rifle River, protecting the spirits of the native american warriors that have died and are buried in
This cute little white and green church stands in south western Michigan. It is a few miles west of Dowagiac and over the door are the words Franklin Church EST 1854. Next to the church is an old cemetery. Listed as the Franklin Cemetery it is also known as Munchkin Land. It got the nickname
The Iron County courthouse is a magnificent building, almost castle like, at the top of the hill, looking over the city of Crystal Falls. The Richardsonian Romanesque Style building which was completed in 1891. Constructed of regional materials, including reddish stone columns quarried from the nearby Paint River and yellow clay bricks. You can’t miss
