Local Backroads

Windsor Township, Michigan. Not far from Dimondale.

One of several barn photographs I took one lunch hour. Not sure exactly where; somewhere in Eaton County, Michigan. Camera: Minolta SR-T 101

Not what you expect to find on a dirt road, out in the middle of nowhere. I was standing in the old Lake Shore & Michigan Southern (New York Central) right of way when I took this photo--since those tracks were removed in 1940, this building's at least 70 years old. Wonder what it was used for originally. Wonder what it's been used for since.... Camera: Minolta SR-T 101. North of Eaton Rapids, Michigan.

Let's recap earlier discussion: This building's in the middle of a field , north of Eaton Rapids, Michigan. It's on the abandoned right-of-way of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad , which was a component of the New York Central System. The track beside this building was pulled up in 1940. I don't know what the original function of the building was, nor much about subsequent use. Closer examination reveals that this warehouse is actually an array of buildings, and includes a couple of mysterious peripheral structures.

One last picture of this old warehouse/factory/whatever. Looks like the place was well-lighted, once; I'd guess it's pretty dark in there now. The place has developed a small--very small--neighborhood. Neat truck, no?

Better large! I've shown this farmyard a couple times before, but never with these details. That brick building/shed/whatever is really quite splendid. Got out on my bike a couple times this weekend. It wasn't the first ride of the winter, or the year, or the month, or even the week, but yesterday's ride was the first ride that seemed like a new season. (My heart monitor thought so, too; it claims I've never gotten so much exercise from a short ride. Mostly that was the stiff wind; it was kinda brutal.) Took this picture during that ride.

Over the past fifteen years, this yard's been shedding barns. There were a couple large structures directly beside these which remain, and a couple smaller barns nearer the road. One of the big surprises of my cycling life was passing this place as they destroyed one of the smaller barns--they wrapped a chain around the building, attached both ends to a tractor, and just pulled the place down. Kinda brutal, but it got the job done. The house has lovely porches, too. I've always admired that. Took this photo from my bicycle last weekend. Gosh, it's good to be riding again.

After picking up my baseball tickets , I got out on my bicycle. This barn's at the far point of today's ride--the corner of Mt. Hope and Ionia. Probably a Sunfield address, but not really far from Vermontville.

Needmore Highway, Eaton County, Michigan. Shot from my bike. Most barns were originally built for specific purposes, then repurposed and rebuilt over the years as the farmer's needs changed. I like the way this one shows that evolution.

Needmore Road, Eaton County, Michigan. Shot from my bicycle....

Same barn as this morning; another view....

Joan got out on her bike for the first time on Saturday. When we turned north to return home, we found this sky. We got a little wet. Fortunately, we didn't get the hail ktpupp reports with this picture , which was apparently taken a couple hours later around thirty miles east of us.

A tractor and some other equipment, hiding in the tall grass; St. Joe Highway @ Cochran, Eaton County, Michigan. Better Large, methinks.

Right on the edge of Grand Ledge, Michigan--on Saginaw, where M-43 (Grand Ledge Highway) turns northward. They're for sale, if anyone's interested. Somehow I don't think they'll be with us much longer....

I've shown you these barns before ....

Actually, I had the day off, but stopped briefly at the office to collect Joan's signature. The building across the pond is cleverly called the General Office Building (it's commonly abbreviated G.O.B.) Since there are a dozen or so buildings in the State Secondary Complex, most of which mainly house offices, that title's, well, strange. So it goes.

East of Mulliken, Michigan.