Ore Dock, photo by I am Jacques Strappe.
Here’s an early addition to the Absolute Michigan pool from Jorie O’Brien. See it bigger in her massive Marquette slideshow.
We profiled her way back when on Michigan in Pictures. Check them all out at the links below:
Day I: Michigan Photographers: Michpics Talks with Marjorie O’Brien
Day II: Michigan Photographers: Marjorie O’Brien Answers Reader Questions
Ada Michigan Winter 2010, photo by RichardDemingPhotography.
Here’s hoping that all of you enjoy all of the season, in whatever flavor it comes in.
See this bigger in Richard’s Winter in Michigan 2009/2010 slideshow.
“Better be good!”, photo by ETCphoto (on the road).
If you can grow beard like that, I bet you don’t have any trouble finding work in December.
Happy Holidays to everyone, any and all that they may be!
See it bigger and in Terry’s Wintry Scenes slideshow.
A few years ago we ran an old photo of a Shay Locomotive on Michigan in Pictures. The other day, I came across this photo in our Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr. Joel writes:
I was wandering around the local backroads a few days ago when I spotted this sprawling barn and these tall grasses; seemed like a possible photograph….
Further research about the location turned up an unexpected gem. Seems that Shaytown was named for Ephraim Shay, inventor of the classic narrow-gauge lumbering locomotive, who became famous after bestowing his name on this corner. Recovering railfan that I am, I knew who he was, but hadn’t recognized the local connection.
Near as I can tell, Shay owned this property for four years or so shortly after the Civil War, where he ran a sawmill and (probably) a general store. Those are gone, and to all appearances the existing barn and house were built by later owners.
Nonetheless, a delightful surprise. Unfortunately, and despite the truck parked in the yard, both the house and barn seem to be abandoned.
Check this out nearly lifesize and also in his The Showcase slideshow.
rolling fog, photo by Through My Eyes. [nicole wamsley]. astra_amara.
Much more of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge on Michigan in Pictures.
Check this out bigger in Nicole’s if by sea… slideshow.
Tri-Centennial State Park Lighthouse, Detroit Michigan: Velvia Version, photo by friday1970.
Tri-Centennial State Park is now known as the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor. It was the first urban park in Michigan, and covers 31 acres on the banks of the Detroit River.
This 63-foot lighthouse is a scaled down replica of the Tawas Point Lighthouse, the only true Victorian-era style station on the Great Lakes.
Be sure to check this out background boomtacular and in his slideshow.
Many more Michigan lighthouses on Michigan in Pictures!
Sea Scout whaleboat photo by otisourcat
As a Sea Scout, I promise to do my best
To guard against water accidents;
To know the location and proper use of the lifesaving devices on every boat I board;
To be prepared to render aid to those in need and;
To seek to preserve the motto of the sea, “Women and children first.”
~Sea Scout Motto (via Wikipedia)
otisourcat writes that this shows a ship’s boat used in the 1920’s by the Sea Scouts. The photo was taken somewhere near Mackinac. See it (and many more) in his amazing Photographica Nauticalia set (slideshow).
Untitled, photo by BareBonesDetroit
The folks at BareBones Detroit are doing the Twelve Days of Christmas in Detroit, a series on some of the best things to do and see around the holidays. Check their set out on Flickr at the link above (view slideshow) and don’t miss their cool map of Detroit! Of this photo they write:
Day 2: Indian Village. There’s never a better time to take a drive through Detroit’s historic Indian Village neighborhood. Just east of downtown, many of these homes were owned by some of the city’s most prominent, wealthy families. Grab some hot chocolate, turn the radio to 100.3 WNIC and tour some of the Detroit’s most historic homes lit up for the season.
Detroit’s historic Indian Village by Zena Simmons of The Detroit News says that the architecturally diverse Indian Village was home to famous Detroiters including Edsel Ford & Bernard Stroh. Their homes were designed by some of Detroit’s most renowned architects including Albert Kahn, Louis Kamper and William Stratton. The first Village home was built in 1895 at Jefferson and Iroquois and later became the headquarters for WXYZ and the home of the Lone Ranger.
According to the Indian Village Historical Collections, originally, the land belonged to Francois Rivard and Jacques St. Aubin, recipients of French land-grant “ribbon” farms, long narrow strips of land that gave each farmer some river frontage. Abraham Cook acquired the farms between 1811 and 1815. The area consisted mostly of farms, and a couple of upper-class river cottages, but the main attraction was a mile long oval race track. The track was the site of several Michigan State Fairs during the 1860s and was known as the Hamtramck Race Course.
Around 1893, Cook’s heirs formed the Cook Farm Company, Ltd. to develop a “first class residential district on a generous scale”, and the prices were set high so that only the wealthy could build there.
Many assumed that at one time Indians lived on the land. That may be, but John Owen Jr., a key player in the development of the area, selected the name “Indian Village” because he felt the romantic title would add to the sales appeal.
You can also check out Wikipedia’s entry for the Indian Village Historic District and the Historic Indian Village neighborhood site.
barry barry, photo by daveraoul.
Yahoo has a feature on the five greatest Detroit Lions players. Though them might have missed the tackle on kick-returner Mel Gray (Charlie Sanders anyone?), they definitely nailed the rest with defensive back Dick “Night Train” Lane, linebacker Joe Schmidt, quarterback Bobby Layne and their unquestioned #1, Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders.
The Barry Sanders entry at the Pro Football Hall of Fame begins:
One of the game’s most electrifying runners, Barry Sanders rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his 10 seasons with the Detroit Lions (1989-1998). He was the first running back ever to do so. The 1988 Heisman Trophy winner was also just the third person to gain more than 2,000 yards in a season, a feat he accomplished in 1997.
Sanders, after forgoing his senior season at Oklahoma State, made his pro debut just three days after signing with the Lions, who had made him their first-round pick and the third overall pick in the 1989 draft. He absolutely dazzled a Pontiac Silverdome crowd when he dashed for an 18-yard gain on his first carry as an NFL running back. But that was just the beginning. His 1,470 yards rushing that season, a-then Lions record, fell just 10 yards short of the league’s best for the year.
Read the rest and if you want to put a little jingle in Barry’s probably already jingling pockets, head over to barrysanders.com. If you need a little Barry to wash the Lions dismal decade out of your thoughts, head over to YouTube for the Barry Sanders highlight reel.
Dave writes that he misses this guy. Check the photo out bigger and in his slideshow.
Today’s post goes out to Blizzard Baby Bradley, born Sunday morning at the peak of last weekend’s blizzard in northern Michigan.
Check this photo from near Cadillac out bigger and in David’s slideshow.
Michigan in Pictures 