Fayette, MI Townsite

On the Boardwalk

Monday, Aug. 8.  Happy Birthday, Michael.  Sorry we can't be there to celebrate with you.  In re-reading the previous entry, I realize this may be confusing to you.  I wrote it yesterday about Sunday and a bit of yesterday.  So now I'm writing about what we did yesterday.

company store (r) & hotel (l)

Fayette Iron Ore Works

We went to the townsite of Fayette, MI.  This is now a state park located on the Big Bay de Noc on the north shore of Lake Michigan.  Fayette was established in 1867 as a company town that processed iron ore into iron ingots, which were then shipped to the major manufacturing areas on other parts of the Lake. The company folded in 1891 and the town was pretty well abandoned by the 1910.  During its time it was a bustling little town with a variety of housing types, a company store, a doctor, a barber and a hotel.  The town now is being restored to give us insight as to how folks lived back then...a tough existence.

Neat old bldg in downtown Manistique

Sunset over Indian Lake

We then went into Manistique and did a LOF on the Edge and returned our Red Box movie (the Adjustment Bureau was very good.  We also picked up Lincoln Lawyer for last night and it was good as well.)  We took a walk on the boardwalk along Lake Michigan and drove thru the residential areas.  There some beautiful old homes (very classic) and some that have had deferred maintenance for too long.  Lots of empty spaces in stores in the downtown.  It looks like they're just hanging on.

our home on wheels