Knobloch Corners, Allegan MI ~ 8-31-24

On our way to Gorby's Sunflowers, 

we passed this old stone building and had to go back for another look.

With a little research, we found that it was originally built as a wooden out-building, located 1/2 mile West. It was later moved to this corner and operated as a Mobil Gas Station in 1935. Here are two old photos posted on the internet by Linda Knobloch Spreitzer.

After operating as a gas station, it was used as a residence for some family members and then became a rental home. In 2004, the west side of the building was destroyed by a truck in an accident but fortunately it was rebuilt. How long it's been vacant is unknown to us but it's cool that it's still standing.

See this little bit of history at this intersection the next time you're in Allegan.

Allegan County World War II POW Camp, 42nd St, Allegan MI

Last summer we took a drive to Allegan to find this spot. There's not much left to see of the camp but it's a historic site nonetheless.

The information panel is well-worn and needs replacing but most of it was still legible.

In 1936, a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp was established here on Lake Allegan. In 1944 it was turned into a POW camp and 250 Germans were housed here and sent out to work on area farms. Closed in 1946, the camp fell into disrepair and was torn down. 

There's a grassy path just beyond the red fence post so we followed it to see what we could find.

Pieces of concrete and old foundations could be seen here and there.

Being that it was July and rather buggy, we didn't walk in further but followed the path back out, satisfied that we had visited a bit of World War II history right here in Michigan.

Allegan County Old Jail (Museum), 113 N Walnut St, Allegan ~ 7/1/23

This wonderful building was constructed in 1906 and held both living quarters for the sheriff and his family and the Allegan County Jail until 1963. A total of 12 sheriffs called this home and it is now the Allegan County Historical Museum. While they have preserved some of the family space and some jail cells, the rest of the building is filled with historic artifacts, which are fascinating in their own right.

The following photos are from the sheriff's office and the two-story living space.

In the kitchen meals were not only prepared for the family but also for the inmates. They would come down from their cells and pick up the food through this window.

Here is the window from the prisoner side.

In the basement is the laundry room where the prisoners would be put on laundry duty, two at a time.

In the back of the building and up some stairs we saw jail cells that remain as they were.

Some old ledgers are on display and still legible.

We liked the clapper caper 😊

These stairs lead up to what were the women's quarters.

The sick room/doctor's office.

This hall brought us to the solitary confinement cells that still have prisoner writing on the walls.

Other jail cells have been turned into historic exhibits. The photos I am including here concentrate on the jail and sheriff quarters and I haven't included the thousands of other unique items on display. 

Since the jail cells have remained intact, some movies have been filmed here and a wall in the hall has become a place for autographs.

At the top you can see "Carel Struyken" who played Lurch in the Addams Family movies and they have a photo of him.

We enjoyed our visit immensely and learned a lot of local history from our tour guide, Mike.

I could keep going and post so many other cool things held in this museum but you'll just have to visit yourself 😉