These two locations were established by the earlier settlers of Hartwick Township, who relocated to northern Michigan after the Civil War. One man was poor farmer, the other a wealthy lumberman. They would later become influential in shaping the towns near them after being elected for public office, but both of them would eventually see their legacies lost.

This first settlement was a modest, but comfortable one, providing just the bare necessities, but with an obvious pride in craftsmanship. There was a working well outside, and eventually electricity, but never any indoor plumbing.

This next residence is easily missed from the road, despite it’s grand size. People not knowing what to look for would never guess what is standing a quarter mile from the dirt road, behind tall grass and overgrown trees. What makes this house more out of place is the large, elaborate, and lavish design of the house itself, all very uncommon investments in this area during its time.

As I approached the house, I quickly noticed the roar of bees swarming the plants growing on and around the building. Luckily, none were to bother me inside.

Just what every cool house needs: a trap door into a dungeon! This was actually a heat vent for the large furnace in the brick basement, more examples of modern conveniences. These kind of things are typically expected in urban homes of established towns (think today’s frat houses), not in the middle of nowhere.

Some unfortunate baby kittens were stuck between the joists of the wall by this corner. Their screams and clawing haunted and disturbed me the entire time. The walls were solid, too, in case you were wondering if I had tried to help them out.

In the end, both men and their families ended up in the same place.