We were up early this morning following another great night's sleep in the guest bedroom at Greenstone and Thimbleberry's home and were on the road by 7:15 a.m. We soon picked up U.S. Hwy. 2 going west toward Michigan's Garden Peninsula. We stopped to check out a "pole" that had caught our eye on Tuesday when we were driving east on Hwy. 2 going to Mackinac Island. We were curious and intrigued enough to stop today and read the plaque and snap a photo. All the twigs were green when it was first erected, but now they have turned brown.
Hopefully you can read the story from the sign/plaque.
We then continued on and made another stop at the Cut River to check out the new bridge.
We were very brave and walked under it and guess what! We found out where the "Troll" lives!!
We met up with Greenstone at Garden Corners and left our car in a parking lot and we all rode together in their car since they have a passport for all the Michigan State Parks, traveling down Hwy. 183 to Fayette Historic State Park, which houses a historic town site, a representation of a once bustling industrial community.
It is amazing how many structures have survived here over the many years since the iron ore smelting plant ceased operation. There is extensive restoration still in progress on some of the surviving buildings, however the ones that have been completely restored to their previous life is true to that period and is a site to behold in a tranquil setting on an inlet of Big Bay De Noc.
This sign explains the Smelting Process that went on right here.
Thimbleberry, Tom, and Greenstone are standing in front of one of the blast furnace towers.
This odd-shaped building was the town's Music Hall, a busy center of activity, I'm sure.
This is inside the old Music Hall, and I do believe that is Tom on the stage ready to do a little "song & dance"!
I love this old photo of a large group of the townspeople taken inside the Music Hall in 1908.
We looked inside the restored Doctor's residence, the old school and several other buildings that have been restored. University of Michigan students who are history and archeology majors are contributing research and "man hours" to aid Michigan's State Historical Society with the restoration of this project.
There are lots of work still ahead as they work on all these others houses that are still standing after all these years.
This is the remains of a home that did not survive the years!
What a unique tree!!
This is the old hotel that they are currently restoring to its original splendor!
I took this photo of a huge wall-size picture of the former iron ore workers.
I am totally enthralled with all the uniquely different wood stoves in all the restored buildings!
Having a wood stove in our home is sort of a novelty, however these pioneer folks relied on those wood stoves for all the cooking (sometimes for large families), heating water for bathing, heating their whole home (and winters along Lake Michigan are brutal!).
We loved reading about life in another era and seeing how folks lived back then, and what gorgeous weather we have today for being outdoors with good friends!
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