Union Depot Michigan Historical Marker at Clara’s Restaurant

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Union Depot Michigan Historical Marker at Clara's Restaurant

Union Depot Michigan Historical Marker at Clara’s Restaurant, photo by Kalamazoo Richard.

Today’s photo fits with Absolute Michigan’s latest Michigan Site of the Week: Michigan Historical Markers, a tremendous resource for Michigan history.
The marker reads:

The Union Depot began passenger service for the Michigan Central and Pere Marquette Railroads in 1902. The Detroit architectural firm of Spier and Rohns, which planned many Michigan Central stations, designed the building with Chateauesque conical towers and cut stone arches. The depot closed in 1972. Restauranteur Peter Jubeck bought the building in 1978 and transformed it into an eatery, retaining the quarter-sawn oak interior and installing locally crafted stained glass windows.

You may also want to check out Clara’s Restaurants web site (lots of history on the Lansing and Battle Creek train stations) and Flickr’s Historic Michigan group for lots more rail stations and other history.

Waugoshance Shoal Lighthouse

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Waugoshance Shoal, Lake Michigan

Waugoshance Shoal, Lake Michigan, photo by katbailey718.

The Waugoshance Shoal Lighthouse is one of only three remaining “birdcage” lanterns left on the lakes and is considered one of the most endangered lighthouses in the world. It marks the western entrance to the Straits of Mackinac and in 1832 was the site of the first Lightship. In 1851, the Lighthouse Board ordered the construction of the Waugoshance Lighthouse. In 1912 the light was superceded by the White Shoals Lighthouse. During WWII, the abandonded lighthouse was used as a practice bombing target, hastening the light’s decay.

Check out Waugoshance Shoal Lighthouse at Terry Pepper’s Seeing the Light for much more history and some photos. Also see the Waugoshance Lighthouse Preservation Society for information about what is being done to preserve this lighthouse (and a ghost story).

If you are interested in lighthouses and their preservation, be sure to check out out latest Michigan Site of the Week, the Michigan Lighthouse Fund.

Central Lake, Michigan … all week long in 1973

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

1976_july_001

1976_july_001, photo by kbreenbo.

I guess we’ll continue yesterday’s “when we were younger than we are now” theme with today’s pic.

The photo is one of a large set that reminded me of a recent conversation with a friend who told me we can’t have any fun anymore – the world moves too fast and our work and free time are all tied together with email and cell phones and beeping reminders (or something like that). I don’t know if he’s right or not and I’m curious to know what you think so feel free to comment! (or just skip the comment and head out to do something fun and unwired). Click the Dune Ride picture to view Central Lake, MI 1970s … and some other parts of northern Michigan.

view dunemobile photo

Whitefish Point Lighthouse & The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Whitefish Point Lighthouse

Whitefish Point Lighthouse, photo by heidigoseek.

Heidi writes This light, the oldest active on Lake Superior, began operating in 1849, though the present tower was constructed later. Early a stopping place for Indians, voyageurs, and Jesuit missionaries, the point marks a course change for ore boats and other ships navigating this treacherous coastline to and from St. Mary’s Canal. Since 1971 this light, fog signal, and radio beacon have been automated and controlled from Sault Ste. Marie.

The Whitefish Point Lighthouse & The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum form the premier destination for lovers of Great Lakes maritime lore. You can get much more information and many more photos at Destination: Michigan Whitefish Point Lighthouse & Museum on Absolute Michigan.

Hessel Antique Boat Show

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Antique Boat Show

Antique Boat Show, photo by gretchdorian.

The above photo by Gretchen Dorian is part of a great set of photos from the Hessel boat show. You can see most of them by clicking the pic above, but there’s a couple extra at her Gretchen Dorian Photography web site (click the Hessel link when you get there).

I was reminded this morning that the annual Hessel Antique Wooden Boat Show and Festival of the Arts is held every year in Hessel on the second Saturday of August (Saturday, August 12 this year).

According to the Les Cheneaux Islands Area Tourist Association:

The Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show, held each year in Hessel, Michigan, has been a center of attraction since it began in 1976. The show boasts more than 170 entries each year, and is easily the largest show featuring antique and classic wood boats.

Held in conjunction with the Antique Wooden Boat Show each year is the Festival of Arts. Artists and craftspersons display and sell a variety of gift items including photographs, paintings, pottery made with natural Upper Peninsula clay, wood toys, dolls, and many other items. Around 75 of the state’s finest artists will be showing and selling their work.

Here are a bunch more photos from the Hessel Antique Wooden Boat Show!

Watch the Fords Go By

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Watch the Fords Go By

Watch the Fords Go By, photo by Maia C.

A billboard on the side of the Model T barn at Greenfield Village.

This is one of several photos by Maia in Destination: Michigan’s visit to The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Check it out!!

Michigan’s Family Album

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Photo from Michigan's Family Album

Michigan’s Family Album opens Aug. 5, 2006 and runs through Jan. 14, 2007 at the Michigan Historical Museum. The exhibit features more than 1,200 historical photographs from the collection of David Tinder that explore all aspects of Michigan life from the 1860s through the 1930s. Formats include daguerreotypes, tintypes, stereo views, cabinet cards, large-format photos (including panoramas) and a special display of postcards honoring every county in the state.

While most of the photographs in the collection were shot by professionals, the photo above was taken by an amateur, F. R. Oesterrich of Detroit. It shows a comfortably prosperous family (perhaps the photographer’s own) relaxing in the back yard, probably celebrating a child’s birthday. The ring toss game might be one of the gifts.

Learn more about Michigan’s Family Album from the Department of History, Arts & Libraries.

40 Mile Point Lighthouse

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40 Mile Point Lighthouse

40 Mile Point Lighthouse, photo by midmichphotos

According to the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse Preservation Society, the lighthouse is located on the shores of Lake Huron in Presque Isle County’s Lighthouse Park (about 7 miles north of Rogers City).

In 1889, the Lighthouse Board recommended that $25,000 be appropriated for construction of a new light and fog signal near Hammond Bay on Lake Huron … Major Milton B. Adams, Eleventh District Engineer selected and surveyed a site approximately 40 miles southeast of Old Mackinaw Point and 40 miles northwest of Thunder Bay.

The main lighthouse structure models the Big Bay lighthouse which was being constructed simultaneously near Marquette in the Upper Peninsula. 40 Mile Point is a two-story duplex with a tower incorporated into the center of the side-wall facing Lake Huron. Its footprint measures 35 feet by 57 feet.

Lighthouse photographer Terry Pepper has some great historical information (and photos) about Forty Mile Point Lighthouse in his Seeing the Light.

As a side note, I had to search to find this photo again and the photos Flickr pulled up for a “40 mile point” search are really cool!

Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum

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Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum

Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum, photo by oldbrushes.

Kathy got up early this morning to catch the sunrise at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids.

Today is President Ford’s birthday – he’s 93. According to Wikipedia:

Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. (born July 14, 1913 as Leslie Lynch King, Jr.) was the 38th (1974–1977) President of the United States and the 40th (1973–1974) Vice President. He was the first person appointed to the Vice-Presidency under the terms of the 25th Amendment, and upon succession to the presidency became the first (and to date, only) President in U.S. history to fill that office without having been elected either President or Vice President.

The Wikipedia page has tons of information about Ford, along with speeches and pictures like this one of a young Gerry Ford and his dog (you wouldn’t think a 5 year old could look like Ford, but there you go). You can also see over 100 images of President Gerald Ford in the Library of Congress and there are some neat pics on this bio at the Library /Museum site too!

Europa Tall Ship

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Bounty Tall Ship

Europa Tall Ship, photo by taylorcraft75.

This photo is from the 2003 Bay City Tall Ship Celebration. News reports say that the popularity of the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie is boosting the festival this year.

Linda pointed out that this ship is the Europa … hard to tell since they don’t put the name & numbers on the side. Here’s the web site for the tall ship Europa (click the British flag at the top left if you don’t speak Dutch).