On your fall trip to the U.P. this year, be sure to spend a night at this historic landmark... or at least take in the tour. By the way, after their wedding last month, this is where Jonathan and Katriina's honeymoon began :o)

Thanks to Jon Jacobson of PictureMichigan.net for sharing shots from his visit to the Copper Country. And special thanks to Dave and Julie Sprenger at Laurium Manor Inn for their sponsorship of Pasty Central and being PastyNET members.

Must be terribly foggy up there this morning or someone swiped the bridge!!!! Love this website. It make being trapped in Fla. a little more bearable. Thanks...

It was a little hazy this morning, as the cold air - 34° - pulled the steam out of the canal. Or maybe John Dee could tell us how it really works.

Spent a wonderful evening here a few years ago, except for the ghost.

Foggy, or someone swiped the bridge! I am STILL laughing!

Today's picture is simply breath taking. As many times as we went to Laurium, I am surprised I don't remember this or never saw it.

How beautiful.

Well, stop reading this, and go find your bridge!

Alex

'Tis a beautiful place and brings back memories, some not to good. Many years ago I use to mow the lawn for Maynard and one time walking to the garage, which had a turn table, with him, the Big ALASKAN got too close and got a good bite in my side. Husky,,,as I recall his name, was really a great dog, however tormented by others.

please tell us more about the ghost at this place. this interesting subject, was mentioned lightly by CAROL,IN, Michigan dreaming. thanks

I was lucky enough to get away to
Upper Michigan for a week in July.
Your Page is wonderful. I love it when
people post links and comments.

Yes it's wonderful in the U.P.!

Alex, the only thing visable on the bridge cam this morning at 08:00 were the trees in the lower left corner. I'm glad whoever swiped it has put it back. :^)

I have a room booked here next week. Please tell me more about the ghost!

Rolling on the floor laughing!

Alex

Yes, please Carol, do tell us more about the ghost! I can't take the suspense!

Besides, it would be almost disappointing to learn that such a beautiful old mansion didn't have a ghost story or two... LOL.

(Also wishing I were in the U.P.)

Actually many of the "ghost" stories may have came from the past ,not so distant, history of the place it used to be a funeral home until the early 1970's(not sure when the funeral home started its business in this mansion) But there was also a murder in this beautiful mansion....The old undertaker Maynard (name mentioned above) the details are not completly clear to me ...my understanding was he became terminally ill , and feared he wouldnt be able to take care of his crippled wife,and mentally challenged young grandson..and he mudered them both and also killed himself...GRIM indeed...the mansion sat vacant through most of the 70's and 80's until being restored into this beautiful bed and breakfast that it now represents!
I grew up in the same block as the Laurium Manor and it always had a Errie and yet beautiful elegance to it- So as far as ghosts..I am sure there are many souls in the history of that grand mansion, But I am sure there is nothing to worry about, I have had family since stay there, and it is packed nearly year round with guests, so I am sure the only spirits roaming the halls these days are good ones.

My husband and I spent 2 or 3 nights here at the Laurium Manor B&B about 10 years ago. The first night, we were the only guests in the place. In the middle of the night one of the window shades suddenly flipped up! We weren't frightened, but it did make us wonder about wandering spirits.

I too knew the scarey but true haunting story of the Laurium Manor Mansion,growing up in Laurium it was a subject well known by all who lived there,but hardly ever spoken much of, a tobaoo of sorts-not a subject one likes to think of much,but I remember being a lil child maybe 8 or so, and just being so scared to walk by that place thinking a ghost was going to pop out of the doors. But now I just look at it as a beautiful old mansion,with rich history both good and bad- pretty to look at and admire.

I lived almost across the street from there and never had a problem with the so called 'ghosts'. Was in the home many a time during my childhood with Maynard and Jane and never had a problem being in there, except maybe it being a funeral home. I would think that the funeral home started in the late 1940's and lasted until the deaths of the 3 of them, suicide and 2 murders. I also believe that the first owners of the Hoatson mansion defaulted on a mortgage after striping the place, at least that is my recollection. Alice,,,you are right on!

Hey Indiana Yooper: Are you saying there was a suicide and 2 murders at the Hoatson Mansion?

If the Ghost is that of Maynard there is nothing to fear, a kinder gentler man does not exist. Truly an act of compassion. He loved his family and he loved his mansion. A truly friendly ghost indeed.

Yes, Bob there was a double murder and suicide in the once Hoatson Mansion now called Laurium Manor in the early 70's...But I agree with EM *above*I too knew Maynard(the caretaker of the funeral home) he was a very soft spoken gentle man, and When it happened we all knew it was in his way a act of compassion for his fear that his illness would take him from taking care of his crippled wife and grandson who had some mental problems who were unable of taking care of themselves...Although there is NEVER a accuse for murder ..he wasnt a threat to the public and wasnt a mean evil man and I believe he in his own mind thought this was his last desperate attempt of compassion for himself and his family- But there is no fear of him or others being a evil spirit in that home, I am sure that if there are spirits that roam that house are good and they are not to be feared!

Wow, what a relief! I'll be in the Carriage House with my daughter and two grand kids. I'm assuming this is a seperate structure? Victorian Hall I believe. No seperate and more evil ghosts I trust?

You can still find the bullet holes in the elephant hide wallcovering in the dining room.

Carrige house is seperate, and no horror stories as far as I know of the Victorian Hall either,Actually I stayed there(Victorian Hall) with my husband,last summer.
They all are beautiful buildings, but I agree with one pasty cam viewer above, that you couldnt pay me to stay overnight at the Lauirum Manor, I am afraid of the bumps in the night,and good or bad ghosts I like to sleep without them at all;)

It is a good thing ya'll don't work for the chamber of commerce!! Ghoasts and all -- I bet Dave and Julie would love it if those ghoasts would help out around the mansion. :-)

Actually the first night that my wife and I stayed in the Manor we read about a ghoast dog, and being dog lovers we hoped to meet it -- but alas nothing. We have returned since then and stayed in the Manor and Victorian Hall. And NEVER regretted a nickle that we spent there.

The only reason we don't stay ther now is that we fell in love with the area and bought a camp.

Without the Laurium silver mines there would have been no Golden Age democratic Athens.
Something worth remembering...

Hey C.J. What?

Hey Dave, don't get down too hard on C.J. One of my cousins think that coal was the going concern in the Keweenaw..

I didn't think things like that happened in the U.P. .

Alex

I stayed at the Manor about 10 years ago and had no encounter with ghosts, but my dad and step mom stayed for a night summer before last and she swears that she heard someone walking around in the attic right above their second floor room. She's not the type to tell tales so who knows.
Also, Alice from Indiana, I too lived on Tamarack St. in the 1950's.

What's cousin Jack been sippin'?

Each weekend I check in to "pasty.com" see a feature of my favorite place.. da UP.. and what..! to my surprise this morning is a photo of my "VERY" favorite place in da whole UP (haven't seen the whole world).. an annual visit to da B&B is about to occur in a couple weeks.. however.. we prefer to stay across the road in da "Victorian Hall".. we love that place.. and are counting the days..

Dave & Bev in Holly
http://www.homestead.com/DaveWoodshop/

Misery Bay?

Hi: does anyone happen to know how Misery Bay got its name?

Thanks!
Michael (mmoore@mtu.edu)

I don't think there was a ghost in that home. I did grow up with the challenged boy Tom. He was a foster child of Maynard and his wife. I don't recall him ever referring to his foster parents as Grandparents. He was severely burned playing with gas a few years before the deaths. We walked by the home a few minutes before the police arrived. I spent a lot of time with Tom in our neighborhood. The house was empty for many years after the deaths. I think that the Funeral Home was closed in the early 70's like Emily said. We checked out a few coffins as children, but were too scared to peak inside. If anyone has history on Tommy , I would like to hear.

Became a funeral hoe in the 50's after being vacant for a number of yeras. as I reacall was owned by the Edwards/Hoatson families. spent a lot of time in the home back in the 40,s and especially in the garage on the car turn table. After the deaths the Thoimas family (survivors) stripped the house of anything valuable. I grew up from 1937 till 1955 across the street as well as did "Yooper" in Indiana.Am in Alabama however am heading to the Copper Country Thursday for two weeks.Have some Alabama guests that will be certain to tour the home and all the other sights.

i love to study ghosts, and if any won wants to contact me e-mail me at buddyferretlove@zoominternet.net.