Sandstone Castles - Ionia, Michigan
On
a Michigan road trip or weekend getaway the traveler on the
back roads will pass through any number of historic towns.
In nearly every one there is likely to be a beautiful
building from a bygone era.
Many of them have a story to tell if one only knew where to look. In the 1800's, John C. Blanchard was quarrying the beautiful pink sandstone unique to the area around Ionia, Michigan. A number of buildings were constructed using the sandstone.
The Ionia County Courthouse pictured here is said to be the largest structure ever built of Ionia sandstone.
Other sandstone castles here are the Blanchard House serving today as an historical museum and the Frederick Hall House, an Italian style villa, built in 1869, is now the Hall-Fowler Memorial Library.
Visit the Ionia Historical Society - - Blanchard House