Pier, Donnell Lake, Mich., photo by shsukatsfan.
Sunrise, summer of 1983. In case you were wondering, Donnell Lake lies in central Cass County in southwest Michigan, 1 mile southeast of the town of Vandalia. The 4,659-acre watershed drains to Christiana Creek which flows south to the St. Joseph River. (DNR Fishery Report on the Donnell Lake)
You might also want to see this photo of a family at Lake Michigan from several years before 1983…
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.
Fields of Gold, photo by Robin of Loxley.
On another photo, Robin of Loxley (aka Brian) writes:
For some reason wheat is the grain of choice this year around Allegan county? This is the first time in the twelve or so years of living here that I have seen ANY of the farmers grow wheat! Really makes for some beautiful golden fields. I have been kicking myself for not getting shots before the harvest…
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!
Dancing Waves, photo by Tom McCall
Tom McCall is a member of the 73+ year-old Twin City Camera Club (of St. Joseph & Benton Harbor). I met Tom over the weekend, and even though the St. Joe North Pier Light is disproportionally featured in our lighthouse photos (I promise to address this!), I think it’s a great shot to use introduce you to both Tom and the TCCC.
So, visit club, view their many galleries and learn more about them. You’ll see a link on the right bar to the TCCC – we’re also going to be linking to other clubs (Michigan only) and representatives may want to send a note to michpics@absolutemichigan.com.
Gibson, Inc., General Assembly Room, 1936. “One section of the general assembling room.” Photographed by Mamie L. Austin.
Visit the Gibson, Inc. Photo Gallery at the Kalamazoo Public Library for many more photos and a brief history of Gibson in Kalamazoo (includes suggested reading!).
In 1898, Orville Gibson was awarded the patent for an “Improved Mandolin,” using principles that could be applied also to “guitars, mandolas, and lutes.” The invention was that of a back, neck, and ribs structure carved from one piece of wood, with an arched soundboard and slightly hollowed neck … This archtop guitar design, influenced by violin construction, marked the beginning of a significant development in American guitar making.
Read more and see some photos at Guitar by Orville Gibson at the National Music Museum. Also check out History of Gibson from Gibson, Inc. and this page from FlyingVintage.com with information and pics of the Kalamazoo factory.
The Gibson section is just one of over 100 short stories and tours of historic photographs and information about the people, places, events and businesses of Kalamazoo in the Kalamazoo Public Library’s Clarence L. Miller Family Local History Room.
This picture wasn't exactly what I expected when I went looking for the most popular "michigan beach" picture on Flickr from the summer 2005.
Perhaps there's a message in there about respecting the power of the Great Lakes when enjoying them in the summer. It's always sad for me when I hear about someone who got caught in a riptide and drowned while enjoying swimming in the waves.
Water Safety & Rip Currents from Michigan Sea Grant has some great advice for how to avoid rip currents (which apparently grab 40,000 swimmers a year from US beaches and are deadlier than lightning or tornados). They also tell you how to handle yourself if you do get caught in one of these powerful currents: stay calm, don’t fight the current and swim parallel to the shoreline.
Right Down The Street, photo by Just an Idea.
The Lake Michigan beach near (in?) Muskegon.
On a totally unrelated note, Exposure.Detroit has their Premier Opening TONIGHT (June 23, 2006) at Karras Bros. Tavern in Detroit. A number of photographers who have been featured on Michigan in Pictures are in the show and you can get all the details at the link above. Enjoy your weekend!
But I'm not sure at all it's my reflection., photo by sgsteffens_83.
Sculpture in the Frederik Meijer Gardens Park by Kenneth Snelson "B-Tree II" in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sarah also took a shot using her sunglasses as a filter.
You can see the many more sculptures in the gardens and get a ton more information at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park web site.
Say goodbye to the Wilsons' barn, photo by BearlyWorking.
Eric writes:
Owner Ray Wilson says a man is coming this weekend to start demolition. Ray says the guy offered to pay him for it (the timbers in these old structures can be quite valuable) but he said he would be just glad to have it gone. The foundation is beyond saving and parts of the structure are leaning already, so better to take it down before it becomes a safety issue.
Michigan in Pictures 
