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The Power of the Gales of November

November 9, 2020November 12, 2020 Dianna Stampfler carl d. bradley, christmas tree ship, diving, edmund fitzgerald, Francisco Morazan, freshwater, gales of november, great lakes, inland seas, islands, lake erie, lake huron, lake michigan, lake ontario, lake superior, pure michigan, rouse simmons, shipwrecks, storms, underwater preserve, upper peninsula, whitefish point

While tropical storms and hurricanes continue to attack the region in and around the Gulf of Mexico, the “Gales of November” are stirring up the Great Lakes region just as they have for centuries. This unique weather phenomenon is created when cold, dry air from northern Canada converges with moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, over the still warm summer waters of the Great Lakes.

Throughout the history of the Great Lakes, November has been a prime month for shipwrecks. According to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point (Paradise, Lake Superior), there are over 6,000 shipwrecks throughout the five Great Lakes – with an estimated loss of 30,000 lives. More than 60 of these ships have met their demise during the month of November – the most notably, the Edmund Fitzgerald which sank on November 10, 1975.

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Haunted Haute Cuisine

October 5, 2020October 6, 2020 Dianna Stampfler ghost, ghost stories, ghost tours, haunted, henderson castle, holly hotel, paranormal, pure michigan, restaurant, the whitney

Dozens of Michigan restaurants acknowledge being “haunted,” but only a handful celebrate their spirited side by hosting dinners, tours and

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A Whopper of a Pure Michigan Fish Tale!

July 7, 2020July 8, 2020 Dianna Stampfler

In June 1965, the Trout was officially named Michigan’s “State Fish” — joining other noted symbols like the Apple Blossom (named “State Flower” in 1897, the American Robin (Named the “State Bird” in 1931, the Eastern White Pine Tree (Named the “State Tree in 1955), and the Petoskey Stone (Named the “State Stone in 1965).

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The 2020 Census is Counting on You!

May 14, 2020May 15, 2020 Dianna Stampfler census, community, constitution, family tree, funding, genealogy, history, law, public programs, pure michigan, west michigan

I think I first heard the word census during the summer of 1980, when I was in elementary school, and we spent our summer vacation researching our family tree on a cross-state road trip. I’m not sure I recall what it was or what it meant back then, but in recent years – as I’ve found a growing interest in my family history as well as the lives of others while researching for my writing, I have been finding more and more reason to access census data online.

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Raise a Glass to Celebrate Michigan Wine Month!

May 1, 2020May 1, 2020 Dianna Stampfler drink michigan, lake michigan, michigan ag, michigan grapes, michigan wine, pure michigan, traverse city

There is a holiday for just about anything, but this one is well deserved – especially these days. May is MICHIGAN Wine Month…a time to pop a cork and pour a glass of locally made wine from one of the state’s nearly 150 wineries.

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Recognizing Michigan’s State Symbols

March 3, 2020March 5, 2020 Dianna Stampfler apple blossom, big trees, brook trout, Chlorastrolite, dwarf lake iris, fred meijer, hartwick pines, Kalkaska sand, mastadon, michigan agriculture, michigan history, michigan nature, michigan state symbols, painted turtle, petoskey stone, pure michigan, robin, sylvania wilderness, white pine, white pine trail, white tail deer

On March 3, 1955 (65 years ago), the eastern white pine tree (Pinus Strobus, also known as a “soft pine”) was adopted as the official State Tree of Michigan. This conifer tree can be found in almost every county of the Upper and Lower Peninsula, typically growing in mixed forests and sandy plains. Click here to learn more about this and the other Michigan State Symbols.

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Oh the Places I’ve Spa-ed…

January 13, 2020January 23, 2020 Dianna Stampfler massage, michigan, pure michigan, rejuvenate, relax, resort, spa

Saturday was spent traipsing around the snow-covered landscape at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, celebrating Michigan Winter Trails Day with the find folks at Great Lakes Winter Trails Council. After a snowshoe hike and a winter rafting trip, I was ready to warm my mind, body and soul with a relaxing massage at the Spa inside Treetops main lodge.

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Family Traditions Are Our Family Tradition

December 16, 2019December 17, 2019 Dianna Stampfler christmas, family tradition, heirloom, holiday, tradition

Yesterday we celebrated my family Christmas at my dad’s house on Gilkey Street in Plainwell — the house where his mother was raised and where we lived from when I was about six until moving out on my own after college. My paternal grandparents lived next door at the time – until they sold the house and moved to the cottage at Pine Lake (and also spent winters in Florida).

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Uncovering Michigan’s Haunted History!

September 30, 2019October 1, 2019 Dianna Stampfler ghosts, halloween, haunted, paranormal, pure michigan, spirits

In celebration of Halloween, we’ve dug up 31 haunted sites around Michigan worth a visit.

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The story(ies) of Michigan’s Deadman (Dead Man | Deadman’s | Deadmans | Dead Man’s) Lake(s)?

August 6, 2019 Dianna Stampfler

By Jon H. Ringelberg – Member, Clare County Historical Society No matter how it is written* the underlying message implied

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Uncovering Michigan’s Rich and often Forgotten History, One Cemetery at a Time…

July 23, 2019July 23, 2019 Dianna Stampfler asylum, cemetery, grave, headstone, poor farm, poor house, potters field, pure michigan, tombstone

Inspired during cemetery visits while researching “Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses” comes our latest project…tracking down some of the state’s most noted, historic and forgotten cemeteries. Join our quest by following Michigan Tombstone Tourist on FB.

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Shedding Light on the Spirited Stories from Mackinac Island’s Mission Point

June 20, 2019June 21, 2019 Dianna Stampfler ghost stories, haunted, mackinac island, michigan history, mission point, paranormal, pure michigan, straits of mackinac, witch

During our most recent trip to Mackinac Island, we had the honor of staying at the newly renovated Mission Point

Capone (May Have) Caroused Here

June 1, 2019January 27, 2020 promotemi

There are as many tall tales and legends tied to American gangster Al Capone as there are presumed bodies ordered by his deadly hits. However, there is little question that he often escaped the heat of Chicago (both the temperature and the law) by sneaking off to Michigan, as far north as the Upper Peninsula.

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