Welcome to the “Sunrise Side “of Michigan where miles of sandy
Lake Huron shoreline await you. This is where we go when we want to
kick back and relax.
If it’s not a good day for visiting the beaches or we are too tired
to go for a hike, we get in the car and start driving to some of the
historic sites in Alcona County.
Alcona County Map - Chamber of Commerce
The first thing I did was print the 53-page brochure for the “Driving
Tours of Alcona County Historic Sites”. You can print your
copy by clicking on the following link:
The tour includes old churches, one-room schoolhouses, railroad
depots, a lighthouse, historic inns, cemeteries, centennial farms,
quaint villages … and a ghost town.
Alcona County is full of history. So, it’s no surprise to find
they also have the US-23 Heritage Route and a Quilt Trail Tour (links to
these tours are provided at the end of this post). Many of the
historic sites appear on all three tours but each of these driving
tours offer other worthwhile places to see.
So, I took an Alcona County road map and plotted each stop from all
three tours creating our own route. Of course, time didn’t allow
us to drive all over Alcona County and see everything … this trip.
For now, we concentrated mostly on the sites around the Harrisville
area because that is where we were staying.
Bailey School (operated from 1907-1941):
Old Bailey School - Exterior & Interior
LOCATION: 6071 Point Road,
Harrisville, Michigan (USA)
In 1998, the school was moved from the Mikado area to the grounds at
the Sturgeon Point Light. The public is invited to view the interior
of the school which is open on a seasonal basis.
Sturgeon Point Light (completed in 1870):
Sturgeon Point Lighthouse - Exterior & Interior
LOCATION: 6071 Point Road,
Harrisville, Michigan (USA)
The
keeper's house is now a maritime museum. It is open to the public
during the summer months.
On your way to the Bailey Log Schoolhouse and
the Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, you will drive right by the Cedarbrook
Trout Farm Quilt Barn.
Quilt Trail Block
LOCATION:
Cedarbrook Trout Farm, 1543 N. Lakeshore Drive, Harrisville,
Michigan (USA)
Their Quilt Trail block depicts their customer
– a child in overalls with a fishing pole
If you are interested in Quilt Trails, I invite
you to view by Blog Post on “Old Mission Peninsula” by clicking
on the following link:
Denice's Blog Post - Old Mission Peninsula
Mount
Joy Cemetery:
Mount Joy Cemetery
LOCATION:
Alcona Road in Haynes Township
This cemetery provided a final resting place
for those residents who lived in the former village of Alcona. The
earliest date on a headstone is 1855.
Mount Joy School (operated from
1888-1948):
Mount Joy School
LOCATION:
5130 Alcona Road in Haynes Township
Today, the schoolhouse is a private residence.
Please respect private property.
The Village of Alcona - a Ghost Town Site:
Archive Photo of Alcona - Courtesy of Alcona Historical Society
Michigan Historic Sign - Alcona Village
LOCATION:
Intersection of Lake Shore Drive and Alcona Road in Haynes Township
In its heyday, the town had a population of
1,000 residents. After the sawmill burned in 1893, residents began
to leave. By 1903, it was a “ghost town”. Nothing remains of
the once thriving town but the signs that mark the spot where it once
stood. It is a designated Michigan Historic Site.
Low School Site:
Low School Site & Bell
LOCATION:
Corner of Lake Shore Drive and Alger Smith Road in Alcona Township
The school was built in the late 1880’s but
when the lumbering era ended, enrollment declined. The school was
moved to another location in 1908. The bell from the Low School is
in front of the Alcona Township Hall (5576 US-23, Back River,
Michigan (USA).
St. Gabriel Catholic Church:
St. Gabriel Church
LOCATION:
5570 North Lake Shore Drive, Black River, Michigan (USA)
Located in Alcona Township, this church was
built in 1894. The church hall was added in 1976. It is still an
active church.
Churchill Point Inn:
Churchill Point Inn
Street View & View of Hubbard Lake
LOCATION:
5700 Bennett Road, Hubbard Lake, Michigan (USA)
Located on the north shore of Hubbard Lake,
Bennett’s Tavern was built in 1926. Today, the Inn operates on a
seasonal basis. It has nine guest rooms and a first-floor
restaurant/bar.
Most of our overnight stays in the Harrisville
area have been at a vacation cottage rental. However, this year
(2016), we spent one night at the historic Churchill Point Inn. We
had dinner at the restaurant (reservation recommended). The
restaurant was not open for breakfast but they did give us a small
basket containing two muffins, two pieces of fruit, and two small
cans of juice.
Johnson School (operated from 1927-1947):
Johnson School
LOCATION:
3930 East McNeil Road in Haynes Township
Since 1963, this school has served has the
Haynes Township Hall.
Old Stone Church:
Old Stone Church
LOCATION:
4505 East Shaw Road, Harrisville, Michigan (USA)
After a fire burned down the church in 1924,
the community rebuilt a new church using the stones found on the
surrounding land. The new church opened in 1934. Today, it is a
non-denominational church.
I love to find
stone buildings. Growing up on a farm,
we used to walk
the fields picking
up stones and throwing them onto
a wagon.
Every time my Dad would plow the fields it
seemed more stones would surface. So, I
have a keen appreciation for stone buildings and the time it must
have taken to collect all those stones
and assemble them into a beautiful
structure.
We return to Harrisville to see another
historic site.
Old Place Inn:
LOCATION:
309 E Main St, Harrisville, Michigan (USA)
This building was built in the 1870’s. For
many years, it was a hotel under various owners. In more recent
years, it has been a restaurant. During our annual trek to
Harrisville, we would stop here for dinner. Alas, the restaurant
appears to be permanently closed.
Located eight miles south of Harrisville on US-23
is the town of Greenbush. The Greenbush
School (operated from 1870-1947) is
one of several one-room schools included in the US-23 Heritage Route
and also appears on the Quilt Trail Tour.
Greenbush School - Exterior & Interior
Quilt Trail Block
LOCATION:
5029 Campbell St., Greenbush, Michigan (USA)
The school is located on the property adjacent
to the Township Hall. Their Quilt Trail block shows the schoolhouse
bell among the community’s namesake trees or “green bush”. A peek through the window is like a momentary step back in time. The
school is a Michigan Historic Site.
We leave Harrisville and begin our long drive
home. Before we leave Alcona County, we find one more historic Site
– the Cedardale School – Second
Site.
LOCATION:
About 19.5 miles west of Harrisville is the Reid Lake Foot Travel
Area Trailhead on the southeast corner of M-72 and Kohler Road in
Millen Township.
The school was built in 1908 and moved this
location in 1930. The schoolhouse no longer exists.
If you have an interest in one-room schools, I
invite you to view my other blog site “Michigan One Room
Schoolhouses” by clicking on the following link:
I wish to express my thanks to the Alcona
Historical Society for compiling the history on these sites, erecting
the signs, and creating the driving tour for all to enjoy. These
driving tours make a great Sunday drive and a fun way to learn about
Michigan’s history. I would challenge every Michigan County
Historical Society to follow Alcona’s example and make learning
local history a fun family field trip.
For more information on the
US-23 Heritage Route, click on the following link:
To download your brochure for the Quilt Trail Tour, please click on
the following link:
Now,
for dining and lodging options … Alpena (population was 10,295 in
2013) has the widest selection of places to eat and stay. You won’t
find every national-chain hotel or restaurant here but there is
enough variety to suit most traveler’s tastes and budgets.
Harrisville
(population was 477 in 2013) is located on Lake Huron. It has a few
locally-owned and operated motels and B&B’s as well as a few
bars and restaurants. Part of the charm of this area is the lack of
national-chain brand services.
There are campgrounds in Harrisville State Park
and the Alcona County Park.
Since
opinions, preferences, and budgets vary, I recommend checking a
trusted travel source for current reviews.
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