In 1886, William Crapo “Billy” Durant and business partner Josiah Dallas Dort leased this building along the Flint River to form the Flint Road Cart Company. Eventually, it became the Durant-Dort Carriage Factory and one of the largest carriage builders in the world. In the early 1900s, Durant would take control of the Buick Motor
South of Empire a little ways from M-22, I saw this old red building. Normally, I would not think much of it but I saw the wooden sign that read: PLATTE POST OFFICE 1868-1905. One of the residents of the town was F.B. Van Platten, Maybe that is where the name of the town came
Today is Groundhog’s Day. I don’t know about a rodent predicting the weather and have never seen a groundhog. I live in Saginaw and I am familiar with a popular bunny in the Steering City. The BEANS bunny has become an unofficial symbol of the city. Along the Saginaw River, the Michigan Bean Co. elevator
I have been going through some of my older photos lately since I have not been able to take a road trip in a while. I came across this photo of an old schoolhouse I saw near Kalkaska last winter. Doing a little research I learned that it was the Lewis School built in 1905.
This beautiful old wooden church stands in the small town of Hersey in the central Lower Peninsula. A historicla marker proudly stands in front of it and reads: The First Congregational Church of Hersey was formally organized in 1870. Services were held in a local schoolhouse for three years. Delos A. Blodgett — early explorer,
This grand old castle made of fieldstone stands in a quiet neighborhood in Battle Creek. Known as Penniman Castle it was completed in 1906 to resemble a medieval castle with 4 towers at each corner and a great hall in the middle. The house originally had a 3rd floor, but it was destroyed by fire
Located between Indian River and Onaway people pass through the little town on M-68. There are a few modern houses and a store in the mostly forgotten town. When I drive by these old houses I wonder what their story is. The town started as a lumber camp in 1887. In 1905 it was given
This building was built in Elberta in 1887 as a station for the U.S. Life Saving Service. One man would be in the cupola while another walked the beach watching for ships or sailors in distress. The building was used until 1935 when a new Coast Guard station was built on the other side of
A few miles south of Unionville is an old schoolhouse. Above the door is the lettering 1909 Columbia Dist. No. 2. Most of the old schools I find have the date when they were constructed, but I have never seen the date when they closed. I am not sure when this old schoolhouse last taught children inside
I saw this old barn with its stone silo somewhere near Alpena. I have always been a city boy and not an expert at farming but I know an old barn and silo when I see it. Not much of a story with this pic I just liked the old silo. I hope you do
