The Big Strawberry Barn, Nunica MI ~ 12/14/23

Update 11/30/24: The remains of the barn have been removed and the old silo is the only thing left standing.

Update 2/11/24:  We heard that the barn had collapsed at the end of the year and February 4 we took a ride past. These are photos from its very sad, current, and collapsed state.

RIP Big Strawberry.

12/14/23

We've driven past this barn countless times on our way to Grand Haven and today we stopped for photos because the barn is rapidly deteriorating. I could not find information on it but it is clearly old and abandoned.

Gene Taylor, a member of the West Michigan Genealogy & History facebook group, let me know that his grand parents, George & Florence Clover owned the barn from the 1930s to the 1950s.  Nature is now taking it over so see it while you can. Find it on M104 just west of the I96 ramp as you head towards Spring Lake.

Your best days are obviously behind you 😟

New Era Potato Chip Silo ~ 10189 E. Grand River Dr, Portland MI

Here is what might be the most distinctive silo in Michigan. It was painted in the 1950s when New Era chips were big having four plants in the Midwest. Founded in Detroit, the company was later bought by Frito Lay and then closed in 1981.

The silo is iconic and yet so misleading with the silhouette of a thin woman reaching up for those scientifically processed potato chips. But I'm happy it's still there. 😊