In 1890, James O. Scotford, a sign painter living in the central Michigan town of Edmore, claimed to have found a strange clay cup and carved tablets in the ground near his home. As he found more ancient artifacts he started drawing the attention of investors who purchased the strange objects with intention of making
Near the town of Mayville is a unique looking octagon house with a cupola on the roof. The house was built in 1870 by William Randall. He was a Canadian born carpenter who traveled the United States working on construction projects. He retired and took up farming in Mayville and living in the house until
I saw this magnificent old round barn on M-66 somewhere north of the small town of Sears. It is a rather unique looking barn since it is truly round with a cone-shaped roof. The urban legend is round barns were built because the devil could not catch you in a corner. The most common theory
St. Andrew’s in Grand Rapids is one of Michigan’s oldest parishes. The current church was constructed in 1875. In 1901 lightning struck one of the steeples and a fire destroyed part of the church building. It was rebuilt and expanded. Some of the wooden beams above the ceiling still show the charred marks from the
This old mill stands near Posen northwest of Alpena. A Michigan historical marker gives a little history about his old mill and reads: 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
I saw this old house somewhere near Mancelona. I don’t know its story but it looked rather sad and lonely. It seems like we are in that part of winter where it is time for it to be over with. I have a lot of places I want to visit but the snow makes the
I was driving around Frankfort admiring the old houses. I like this one up on the hill along with several others. I don’t know its history but it is a beautiful looking old house. In the past, I have wondered if anyone else enjoys looking at old houses but since Facebook and social media I
If you have followed my posts for a while ( Thank you ) you know I can’t help but make stupid dam puns. I was passing through Glennie and I had to take a quick trip over to the Alcona Dam a few miles away. The dam was originally named for a nearby road called
This bright red “Big Wheel” greets visitors at the entrance to Hartwick Pines State Park. Years ago lumberjacks would use them with a team of oxen to pull out logs from the Michigan forest. The park has 49 acres of old-growth pine forest and a logging museum open during the summer. The road to the
This historic house now sits on the grounds of Midland County Historical Society’s Heritage Park. It originally stood near downtown Midland before it was moved to its current location. The house was built in1874 by Benjamin F. Bradley, an early businessman in Midland. He lost the house in 1921 after filing for bankruptcy and then
