In the heart of downtown Buchanan is the Pears Mill. It was built in 1857 and is the last of thirteen mills that were built on the McCoy Creek. It was slated for demolition in 1983 after the co-op that used the building moved out. A group of citizens saved and restored the historic mill
I feel fortunate to live in a country that I can travel freely and pursue my happiness. My ancestors came to this country looking for a better life for themselves and their families. I feel as if I owe it to them to do what I can to continue on with the dream this great
The town of Idlewild near Baldwin was started as a resort town for African Americans in the early part of the 1900s. Because of discrimination, many African Americans were limited to where they could vacation. Called the “Black Eden of Michigan”, from 1912 through the mid-1960s, Idlewild was an active year-round community and was visited
This general store, the Nahmah Inn next to it, and some houses still remain in the company town of Nahmah. It stands along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Big Bay De Noc east of Escanaba. The town was established in 1881 by the Bay de Noquet Lumber Company of Oconto, Wisconsin. At Its peak, the
In 1867, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers dredged the Saginaw River channel so that larger vessels could navigate the river. In 1876. a pair of lighthouses were erected in a range light configuration. It is generally believed (but not well documented) that the Saginaw River lighthouse was the first place where range lights were installed. The “front” range light was
Deerfield Hills Nature Preserve is southwest of Fenton. The 365 acres have hiking trails that wind their way through the trees and to Howe Lake. It is a wonderful place to explore the great outdoors. What captured my attention is the foundations near the parking lot. I am not sure what they are from but
This is or at least was the old Brownsville School on Cass County. It closed in the 1950s and is now part of someone’s farm. I can’t figure out want the corrugated metal is for that surrounds the outside of the building through the center of the windows. Maybe it was converted into a henhouse
This old log cabin is one of a few buildings that still stand in the Old Victoria Historic Townsite. The hills around the area are one of the first places in the state to be mined for copper. The historic town is near Rockland on the west side of the Upper Peninsula and tours of
This beautiful stone church stands along US-12 near Brooklyn. A historical marker stands next to it and reads: St. Joseph’s Church originated as a missionary church during the 1850s. Priests from Adrian, Clinton, Manchester, Tecumseh and Monroe served the parish until the first resident priest arrived in 1954. The original church, which is still part
This old shack is one of a few buildings that stand at Vermillion Point. The buildings were used by the U.S. Life Saving Service. They sit along Lake Superior west of the Whitefish Point Lighthouse and the men stationed at them would rescue sailors in distress. They were abandoned decades ago but have been slowly
