I've visited historical artifacts and places never actually seen in person; the book has a special place in 'the bathroom', where I frequently gaze through it and wonder about all those places, all those things, all that 'stuff' from the past. Some that really pique my interest are
The world's largest railroad trestle!
The 'longest railroad trestle in the world' in the 1880's was once located somewhat along M-94 and the Anna River---or maybe it was between 'Hallston' and Swede Lake! Do you know where? It 'spanned a gully from the then brickyard kilns near Swede Lake to the brickyard area a half mile from Hallston along the DSS&A railroad'. Expensive maintenance prompted the filling in of the gully with sand from Evelyn Hill. No sign of the trestle remains. 'Hallston' was located at 46.3833333,-86.6766667 and evidence of the railroad track is visible along M-94 as areas where trees aren't quite as thick, but easier to see on satellite photos. Using Google Earth, and assuming the large sand pit/hill along M94 is "Evelyn Hill" and noting the location of Swede Lake and Hallston in relation to one another, one can see absolutely no evidence of railroad tracks that could have run across the 'world's largest trestle' anywhere in that area (nothing between Swede Lake in a line directly to Hallston) unless the article is speaking of the trestle being alongside the existing CN tracks, in which case satellite photos indicate the presence of many large 'valleys' that could have been 'filled-in gulleys' where a mammoth trestle once existed? In either case, no evidence of any 'brickyards' is visible on the sat photos. Maybe the article isn't concise enough, and the trestle & brickyards were closer to Hallston and M-94?
Hammerberg Dam
What about the huge dam across the Whitefish river that washed out i 1918? "The Hammergerg Dam" was being built to bring power to Trenery, but the project stopped when it washed out. The photo implies the dam, all wood, was spectacular, if not several hundred feet long! Wonder exactly where it was---everytime we drive over the Whitefish River near Trenary, I wond "is this where the dam was"?
Potato bunker almost as long as a football field!
A 200-foot concrete storage bunker was built into the bank near the railroad tracks in Wetmore (to store potatos that grew on Hanley Field). In the mid 1980's, it was still partially intact. Seems I remember seeing a concrete 'wall' in that area as a kid...
Gear-driven steam locomotives!
Shay locomotives, even a two-stall roundhouse were located at the railroad tie mill community of Dixon (46.332 ,-86.853) near where Au Train Road intersects M-94. There's a housing development a few hundred feet from the highway just west of the 'Au Train Forest Lake Road' where Dixon 'used to be'. We never stop at 'Dixon', it's never a destination, just a 'whoa, slow down so I can see if...." then it's gone...
Huge smelter furnace!
The 'Schoolcraft-Munising Iron Furnace' stood along the hillside, next to the current Munising Falls boardwalk path...it was located fairly close to where the interpretive center/restrooms now stand. Evidence of some concrete posts, small retaining walls is visible as you walk the path. I asked a Park Service interpeter for more information, but she really couldn't offer me anything. This furnace was huge, and all that's left of it are memories, I guess...
Did I ever tell you about Puss McNabb?
That's what My Dad would say whenever any of us would start in on something we've already talked about. Never did know who Puss McNabb was, and Dad only smiled when we'd ask about him. Found a photo of Puss in the green book...it says "Charles (Puss) McNabb is relaxing under a tree". That's it. That's all there is about Puss McNabb.....
Lots of long-gone structures, places, people, and things to ponder about from my childhood in Munising. Wonder what else is to be discovered in that big green book?