Manns Family Funeral Home

07/17/2025

📷:

07/17/2025

Woodward Avenue in 1920

Photo courtesy of the Wayne State University Digital Collections

07/17/2025

Before Detroit became synonymous with the automobile industry, the lumber trade was a primary source of immense wealth, enriching individuals like David Whitney Jr. Already a successful lumberman, Whitney moved to Detroit in 1857 and greatly expanded his operations throughout the Midwest. In 1890, he commenced construction of an elaborate 52-room mansion near the Detroit Athletic Club, featuring pink jasper stone, exquisite handcrafted wood, priceless Tiffany stained-glass windows, and the city's first private residential elevator. The mansion, completed in 1894, served as the Whitney family home until his widow, Sara, passed away in 1917.

The Whitney family eventually donated the house to the Wayne County Medical Society in 1941, and it also housed the Visiting Nurses Association. In 1979, fearing demolition, entrepreneur Richard Kughn acquired the historic property and invested three million dollars in its renovation, transforming it into The Whitney restaurant. Since its conversion, the mansion has gained a reputation for paranormal activity, with reports of the elevator moving independently and a well-dressed man appearing and vanishing, believed by many to be the spirit of David Whitney Jr. himself, leading to the third-floor bar being dubbed the "Ghost Bar."

07/15/2025

7/10 138 years ago today, Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island opened for the first time (July 10, 1887). This photo is from near the end of its first construction (it has expanded many times). The original of this photo is in the Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library.

07/15/2025

Early morning moonset in Ludington, Michigan. 7/10/25.

07/10/2025

07/10/2025

07/10/2025

County Road 426 runs along the center part of the Upper Peninsula. It passes through the old town of Watson. A few homes still stand in the area but it looks as if it has been a long time since the old store was open for business. At one time an IGA sign hung from the metal bar at the top of the building but that is gone. The old building just stands by the road watching cars pass by remembering the days when people stopped for groceries.

07/07/2025

07/07/2025

The Livonia landmark will get a new name, a new menu and a new look, but some local favorites will remain, the restaurant's new owner said.

07/01/2025

It is a little bit of a trip south of the Sleeping Bear Dunes to visit the red white and green lighthouse but it is well worth the trip. Completed in 1858 the Point Betsie Lighthouse, north of Frankfort, is the oldest building in Benzie County. Standing along the shores of Lake Michigan marking the southern entrance to the Manitou Passage. In 1875 one of the first life-saving stations was established by the U. S. Life Saving Service at the lighthouse. This was the last manned lighthouse on Lake Michigan, and the last Michigan lighthouse to lose its keeper after it was automated in 1982.

Erosion of the sandy point has always been a problem threatening the lighthouse, and in 1890 a ring of concrete was inserted under the tower. A curved breakwall was constructed at the water’s edge to absorb the energy of the waves crashing into the shore. I am thinking the blocks protruding from the surface of the concrete are there to keep the ice from Lake Michigan from pushing up to the lighthouse, but I could not find anything to confirm this.

Point Betsie Lighthouse is said to be one of Americas most photographed lighthouses, and with its red gamble roof and its green trim, it is a beautiful lighthouse standing watch guiding ships as they pass by.

📕 If you love lighthouses, I hope you will take a look at my Lighthouse book on Amazon. Link is in the comments