Benefits of Picking Up Litter

The other day my wife Eva and I were having a great evening in the Rec Area when we spotted an orange plastic bag in the forest. We chose to stop and pick it up to take it to a nearby trash bin.

As we approached we realized that we had found something truly special...

A giant forest fungus! Don't ask me to give it's proper latin name because I have no idea.

Have you ever seen a mushroom/fungus as amazing as this?

Our Highland Recreation Area is truly a place of natures' wonder. Take a walk in the park and be rewarded like we were.

Evening Barn

Sometimes the spring sun is at the right angle each evening for the bandaged barn to really look nice. Click on the pic below to see a full-sized photo taken yesterday, May 17, 2008.

The trees almost make this look like a fall photo, but what you see is actually the evening "golden hour" sun on the new spring leaves.

March Arrives Like a White Lion!

And the barn is covered in another white blanket of snow!

The DNR rangers were plowing this Saturday... check out these great shots of the plow and the truck roaring by!

Eva and I drive into the Highland Recreation Area fairly often because we live nearby and love the outdoors. March 1st several folks were getting outside to go skiing and hiking even at 8:30 in the morning. Interest and use of the area seems high/good to me.

Recent Workday Another Success!

The group tore down more second floor flooring above the north east room  on Sunday the 24th of February. We also added more tarps to the lower east roof.

The 2nd floor boards are rotted most severely under each of the old skylights that have leaked in the roof overhead.

We worked to demo the old floor safely on scaffolding from below.

Above: What a view looking up through the 2nd floor supports!

The debris pile... we need another dumpster soon!

The Gatehouse

I had a new adventure the other day after the work day at the barn... I found and photographed the old Gatehouse to Haven Hill. It's located a hundred yards east of the Ranger Station. Click on the pics to see the larger version of each photograph.

What a neat old structure... rotting away unfortunately. I can just imagine guests to the area arriving here years and years ago, checking in with the attendants, and then shuttling off through the winding roads and hills towards the lodge!

I'll learn more of this structure from other members of the Friends Group I'm sure. I can't wait to ask more about it. Amazing.

Haven Hill Lodge Ruins

Well I finally did it... I grabbed the dog and we headed over to the rec. area and hiked up to the ruins of the Edsel Ford Haven Hill lodge. Beautiful in winter, the ruins seemed kind of pristine covered by a blanket of snow. This was my 1st visit to the ruins - I had heard of the site that is inside of the Highland Recreation Area in Southeast Michigan several years ago. From the parking area the hike appears to be just at or under a mile (I'm guessing) until you come upon the "carriage house" or what appears to have been the "welcoming building" for guests.

This is an amazing little cabin - the only remaining structure from Edsel's day.

I am told that this carriage house is an excellent example how the lodge was constructed - solid stacked logs and a wonderful stone chimney.

From the backside it's obvious that vandals have broken into the old building - a gaping hole in a plywood board covering the window to a bathroom. Shame.

Here's a great photo (below) of the Haven Hill Carriage House - larger size. Click to view the full-size image.

As you look North and slightly west you then see what appears to be the remnants of an arched entranceway to what I assume was a walkway to the lodge's front door.

Then a large fireplace/chimney appears and you can begin to understand the actual size of the lodge by the ruins of the foundation. I wish I had seen the actual building before it was burned to the ground in 1997.

This day in mid February the snow was obscuring the ground all around and inside the foundation.

The building must have been truly amazing in it's hay day! And to think that the likes of Thomas Edison, Admiral Bird, and other famous figures have stood right there many years ago!

PRESERVATION: Sometimes I wonder if the information that I'm posting on this website might result in those with "ill-wills" damaging a historic site like this. I hope not. As a matter of fact, I believe that by sharing this information maybe attention can be drawn to this amazing location that might inspire caring persons to visit the area and be a part of its' preservation. Come and see and join the forces for good will!

Barn in a Deep Freeze

The only thing nice about today in Michigan was the sunshine managed to make it out between the clouds of blowing snow.  Eva and I went over to the barn inside of the Highland Recreation Area at about 10:30 am and the temperature was nearly only 4 Degrees! Wind chills are well below zero - and the wind has been blowing over 30 miles per hour all day! This photo gives the viewer a good perspective of how large the barn really is...

I took the photo looking to the North East down the hill. Click to see the full-sized picture. Is this picture "cool" or what? lol

Barn in a Blanket

The other day we received another 6 - 8 inches of snow. The barn seemed to be sleeping under a white fluffy winter blanket.

1000 Points of Light

One look up to the ceiling inside of the barn and you can see how important it is to cover the roof. The tiny points of light are holes with daylight shining through.

Click on the picture and you can see the  image up close.  This last work party included more covering of the ever-important skin of the barn with heavy plastic/vinyl tarps.

Work Party Entry

On January 13, 2008 we had a great group of volunteers come out to the Highland Recreation Area and work on the Edsel Ford Haven Hill barn. More large tarps were put on the roof to stop water and snow damage, and lots of interior cleanup was accomplished as well. It was my 1st time inside of the barn.

Believe it or not, the photo above is a picture of the SECOND FLOOR... the barn is huge! Click on the image to see a larger photo.

All of the volunteers had a great time and the weather cooperated (snow and rain were in the forecast but none fell). Keep in touch... a more extensive post will be coming soon...