Lost In Michigan

Based on the popular Lost In Michigan website that was featured in the Detroit Free Press, It contains locations throughout Michigan, and tells their interesting story. There are over 50 stories and locations that you will find fascinating.

Many of eastern Michigan's old boomtowns and sleepy villages are faded memories. Nature reclaimed the ruins of some while progress paved over the rest. Discover the stories of lost communities hidden in plain sight or just off the beaten track. The vanished religious colony of Ora Labora fell into a state of near-constant inebriation when beer became the only safe liquid to drink. Lake St. Clair swallowed up the unique currency of Belividere along with the place that issued it. Abandoned towns still crumble within Detroit's city limits. Alan Naldrett delves into the fascinating history of eastern Michigan's lost settlements.

Ann Arbor might have become just another small Michigan village had it not been for one crucial event: its designation as the home of the University of Michigan in 1837. Its subsequent development into a thriving cultural and intellectual community was marked by its extraordinary architecture, from the grand 1878 courthouse to the exquisite original university buildings and fashionable East Huron Street. The expansion of the town and university, the arrival of the automobile, and frequent fires began atransformation of Ann Arbor that led to the tragic demolition of some of its most remarkable structures. Lost Ann Arbor is a tribute to these long-lost treasures and the 19th century way of life that accompanied them.

In the bitter cold of 1985, two buddies embark on a hunting trip from suburban Detroit to rural Michigan, unaware they would soon become the hunted. Darker than Night tells the chilling true story of the mystery that haunted a community and baffled the police for two decades. The eerie silence surrounding their sudden disappearance is broken after nearly two decades when a relentless investigator inspires a terrified witness to break her silence. The witness narrates a haunting scene that had unfolded years back, pointing fingers at the prime suspects–the Duvall brothers. With no bodies unearthed, the justice system is riveted by the startling revelations during an electrifying trial in 2003. The brothers, Raymond and Donald Duvall, had bragged about the murders, evocatively explaining how they dismembered their victims and fed them to pigs. Despite the shocking confession, the case holds its ground purely on a single witness's account, taking the courtroom through a labyrinth of dark secrets and sinister acts. This gripping thriller presents a vivid tale of crime that reveals the devastating power of evil.

Fruitvale was an area in Muskegon and Oceana counties.

The fourth volume in the Lost In Michigan book series. It contains unique and interesting stories throughout the "Mitten State" that are off the beaten path. Tales of tragic accidents, to historic places and inspirational people that showcases Michigan's diverse history. If you have traveled to the popular tourist destinations in Michigan, and are looking for something a little different, you will enjoy reading this book. It's the perfect book to take on a road trip and get "Lost In Michigan."

Americans are hungry for good news from their cities, and here's a heartening example from the heartland, with mouth-wateringly beautiful photographs to pull you in. Almost Lost, Building and Preserving Heritage Hill, Grand Rapids, Michigan begins like a suspense novel, with the startling declaration, We almost lost it. Turn to a full-page, black-and-white photograph of wrecking cranes demolishing the 1888 Romanesque Revival, Grand Rapids City Hall. That image clearly demonstrates what was at stake when well-meaning urban renewal projects threatened the old houses on Heritage Hill. Thanks to local advocacy groups and government recognition, Heritage Hill Historic District is saved -- for all kinds of residents. Variety is a keynote sounded throughout the story, from diversity of architectural styles, home cost and scale, to diversity of residential population. Author Thomas Logan identifies and discusses 15 major architectural styles found on Heritage Hill.

The third volume in the Lost In Michigan book series. Fun and informative stories that are off the beaten path throughout the "Mitten State" that are. Tales of tragic accidents, to historic places and inspirational people that showcases Michigan's unique history. If you have traveled to the popular tourist destinations in Michigan, and are looking for something a little different, you will enjoy reading this book. It's the perfect book to take on a road trip and get "Lost In Michigan."