A POPular House - The Kaleva Bottle House

We frequently visit the northwest quadrant of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.  After awhile, we begin to wonder, “What else can we see or do that we haven’t already seen or done?” A little research revealed a small village in Manistee County that has a unique house built with 60,000 glass soda pop bottles.   I love history and unique architecture so I had to see this for myself.

We drive to the Bottle House located at 14551 Wuoksi Avenue in Kaleva, Michigan (USA).  Fortunately, the museum is open from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  It’s about 3:30 p.m., on a Sunday in June when we arrive. 

"HAPPY HOME"

We have a pleasant conversation with the retired couple who are here today at the Bottle House.  We learn that John Makinen owned and operated the local Northwestern Bottling Works Company.  The house was completed in 1941 using chipped or flawed bottles from his pop bottling factory.  A display inside the museum shows how the bottles were laid side-by-side with the ends of the bottles facing outward.  Most of the bottles have the “KALEVA” mark on the bottom of them.  However, there were other types of bottles used too.  In fact the blue bottles above the front door are Noxema bottles. 

 How It Was Done

At the front of the house, clear bottles and brown color bottles were used to spell "HAPPY HOME."  John Makinen died just before he and his family were to move into the new bottle house. 

All Bottled Up ...

The Kaleva Historical Society bought the nine-room house in 1980.  They renovated it and made it into a museum featuring 19^th and 20^th century items.  It became a Michigan Historical Site on January 13, 1982 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 7, 1987.

Inside the Bottle House

I was a little surprised to see the inside of the house had normal interior walls.  I’m not sure what I was expecting - maybe some bottle walls.  In the basement, there are old farm hand tools, milk separators, cream separators, old sewing machines, old heavy clothes irons, shoe maker tools, Kaleva fire department items, old photos of local area people and buildings, etc.  I kept thinking of my Dad and how much he would enjoy seeing all these antiques.

Display Items in Basement

As long as we are here in Kaleva, there are a few more interesting things to see. 

The Kaleva Railroad Depot (opened as a museum in 1999) is located at 14420 Walta Avenue (on the west side of the street across from the Kaleva Tavern).  The current depot was built in 1908 and was used until 1970 when the railroads quit running in Kaleva.  Next to the Depot is a restored M&NE Switch engine.   The Depot Museum is open on Saturdays from Noon to 4 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.   It’s closed during our visit … maybe next time.

Kaleva Railroad Depot

Before we leave, we stop at the Centennial Walkway (near the Railroad Depot) which features original sculptures such as the giant Grasshopper.  This 500-pound grasshopper was made out of 100% recycled metal (old car parts).    In 2014, the 13’ high “Tree of Life” was dedicated.  Both of the art pieces are easily seen from the street.  

 Giant Grasshopper

Tree of Life

Kaleva has a Village Roadside Park with a picnic area and allows overnight camping.  Otherwise, there aren’t many choices to eat and sleep here. 

We stayed overnight at the Bear Lake Bed & Breakfast (Bear Lake, Michigan) which is about 11.5 miles from Kaleva.  We did enjoy our stay at this beautiful B&B but the five guest rooms share two bathrooms.   We happened to be the only guests at the B&B that Sunday night so we were okay with that. 

Your best selections for dining and lodging would be in Manistee (population 6,117 in 2013) which is about 21 miles southwest of Kaleva or Traverse City (population 15,018 in 2013) which is about 42 miles northeast of Kaleva. 

Since opinions, preferences, and budgets vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel source for current reviews on the best places to eat and sleep.