This pale yellow building in the historic village of Glen Haven is (or was) the Sleeping Bear Inn. It was constructed in 1857 and used as a boarding house for local dock workers and Lumberjacks. The town was a popular spot for passing steamers to get firewood to fuel the boilers. In the late 1800s,
This little red train depot sits in the small town of Sparta north of Grand Rapids. The historical marker proudly mounted to the side of it gives a little history and reads: In 1888 the Toledo, Saginaw and Muskegon Railway (TS&M) built this depot. It was one of six constructed that year on the line
I saw this grand old Victorian house in Coldwater. I don’t know a lot about the house, but I did find out it was built by attorney Frank Skeels in 1886. The woodwork on these old homes are fascinating. A builder today could probably do ornate trim like it, but the labor costs would be astronomical. I
I saw this old school on a farm near Bad Axe. I took this pic from the road and don’t trespass, but the doors on the side have me wondering what they were used for. The entrance is in the front so I am wondering if the side doors were an attached outhouse. One for
The fire station in Manistee just earned the Guinness World Record for the oldest continuously manned fire station in the world. Manned 24-hours a day, seven days a week since 1889. The historical marker for the station gives a little bit of its history and reads: In early October 1888, the Manistee City Council hired Frederick Hollister
I saw this old barn near Lakeview with a nativity scene depicted in the upper window. I stopped immediately and took a pic of it. I am don’t know who’s barn it is but I thought it was a nice scene. It has been really challenging this year but I hope you are having a
I was in Grand Haven and I saw an enormous steam locomotive on display and my first thought was, ” that looks like the Polar Express” but I knew it wasn’t since the 1225 is in Owosso. I looked at the number and it was the Pere Marquette 1223. I wondered what holiday that was and looking on
One of the first photos I posted on my website was of this old grain mill in Manton north of Cadillac. I posted it back in 2013 and it is nice to see that it is still standing. The hand-painted mural was even repainted. As time goes by some of the places I have posted
This beautiful white church stands in the town of Tustin south of Cadillac. The historical marker standing in front of it gives a little history and reads: In 1870 the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan,, the Grand Rapids and Indiana, and the Evangelical Church of Sweden collaborated in promoting Swedish immigration to Michigan. Through the
I went through the small town of Lyons near Ionia and I saw this little white building with a Christmas tree inside. I thought it looked charming and I had to stop and take a photo. I am not sure what it is or was with a hand-painted sign reading WOMEN above the door. It
