In partnership with
THE STORIES WE KEEP — THREE PREMIERES, ONE PURPOSE
This week’s episodes uncover pieces of Michigan that most people walk right past — unaware they were ever there at all.
History isn’t loud.
But it always leaves clues.
Here’s what we explored:
Streets of History: Brush Park - Rails of Michigan: The Train Lines That Built a State
Premiered Monday at 6 PM
Before the freeways, before the auto boom, before steel shaped Detroit’s skyline — the rails built Michigan.
This episode takes you through:
The Michigan Central Railroad lines that connected Detroit, Pontiac, Ann Arbor & Chicago
How Corktown grew around rail yards, Irish labor, and early industry
The forgotten depots erased from the skyline
The trains that carried workers, immigrants, soldiers, and opportunity
These tracks didn’t just move goods.
They moved people — and in the process, they built the Michigan we know today.
Learn Real Estate Investing from Wharton's Best Minds
In just 8 weeks, learn institutional-grade real estate analysis and modeling from Wharton faculty and seasoned investors.
You’ll gain:
Insider insights on how top firms like Blackstone and KKR evaluate deals
Exclusive invites to recruiting and networking events
Direct access to Wharton faculty and a certificate that signals credibility
Join a thriving community of 5,000+ graduates for ongoing career development, networking, and deal flow.
Use code SAVE300 at checkout to save $300 on tuition + $200 with early enrollment by January 12.
Program starts February 9.
Pontiac Pulse: Pontiac’s Forgotten Hotels — The Lost Landmarks That Built a City
Premiered Wednesday at 6 PM
This week, Pontiac Pulse takes us inside the once-grand hotels that shaped a city built on travel, commerce, and culture.
We uncover the stories of:
The Hotel Strand
The Oakland Hotel
The Anchorage Inn
The Seville Hotel
The Wilcox House
The Woodward Inn
…and multiple others lost to time
These hotels weren’t just addresses.
They were community hubs — ballrooms, dining rooms, lounges, and meeting spaces that brought the city to life.
Today, only fragments remain.
But the stories still echo.
Homes of Michigan: Belle Isle Before the Park: The Historic Homes You Never Knew Existed
Premieres Friday at 6 PM
Long before Belle Isle became Detroit’s famous island park…
it was home to actual homes.
Summer estates.
Cottages.
Retreats for the wealthy.
And a handful of small residences whose history has all but vanished.
In this episode, we explore:
The mansions that once stood along the riverbanks
The families who lived on the island in the 1800s and early 1900s
Lost architecture swallowed by time, vandalism, and redevelopment
The hidden remnants still visible today if you know where to look
Belle Isle was never just a park.
It was a story — long before anyone realized it.
COMMUNITY CHRONICLES: Pontiac's Little Art Theatre — History, Art & Survival in the Heart of Pontiac
From 1868 Grocery to Cultural Lifeline
The building at 47 N. Saginaw Street — home to the Little Art Theatre — dates all the way back to 1868, originally known as the “Turk Building,” a grocery/dry goods store operating under early Pontiac expansion plats.PLAT+1
Over time that structure transformed — and eventually, thanks to passion, vision, and a lot of grit, became a cultural hub for Pontiac.
Revival Under True Stewards
Thanks to the dedication of Karen Jorgensen and her late husband Robert Karazim (of K & R Studios), the PLAT was resurrected from disrepair into a functioning, intimate venue — restoring history and giving the building new purpose.
After Robert’s passing in January 2022, Karen continued alone — committed to keeping the theatre alive.
Because of their stewardship, the PLAT now stands as a rare surviving 19th-century structure repurposed for modern performance, film, and community events.
What the PLAT Is Today
The PLAT offers a versatile 72-seat theatre space that can expand up to ~130 with multi-use seating — ideal for concerts, independent films, community theater, live music, comedy nights, and more.
The venue features a full screening projector, updated sound system, and dressing/green-room facilities — bridging modern entertainment needs with historic character.
Above the theatre are loft-style residential units — part of a creative reuse model that helps carry the building’s financial weight while preserving its public mission.
What It Means for Pontiac
The PLAT isn’t just a theatre. It’s:
A safe gathering place for local artists, community theater groups, musicians, and creatives who might not otherwise have access to affordable venue space
A living museum of Pontiac’s architectural and social history
A symbol of what preservation + contemporary use can achieve — showing that old buildings can be relevant again
Many historic structures disappear when their original purpose fades. The PLAT survived because its caretakers believed that old walls still have stories to tell.
Why This Matters to Us
For our History Loves Company community, the PLAT offers a perfect real-world example of what we believe in:
Respecting history
Saving what matters
Giving old spaces new life
Mixing preservation with practicality
If you're curious about preservation — or you love the idea of living history becoming community history — the PLAT is one of the greatest success stories in Pontiac today.
MARKET MOMENTS: THE MARY DAY HOUSE
Pontiac’s First Historic-Themed Airbnb — Progress BeginsYour support helps fund:
For the first time in five months, we stepped back inside the Mary Day House — our very first home in Pontiac, purchased over a decade ago.
This 2,400-sqft, 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath historic home — complete with an extra lot — is now becoming something new:
Pontiac’s First Destination-Level, History-Themed Airbnb.
It will be:
Immersive
Story-driven
Designed as a celebration of Pontiac’s 1800s–1900s architecture
A place for travelers, creators, and history lovers
A home filled with displays, photos, exhibits, and curated narrative touches from across the city
Special events date pricing will increase — weddings, elopements, photo shoots, retreats, workshops, and corporate stays.
This will be a landmark experience, not just a booking.
More updates coming soon.
SOBER STRIDES: A Pause in Training — and a Proud Dad Moment
I’m still in the walking boot.
Still healing.
Still itching to run again.
But this week brought a bright spot:
My son Kit earned a spot on the Michigan Mustangs Track Club.
His first real running team — and he worked hard for it.
We picked up his first pair of kids’ Nike Pegasus, and seeing him lace them up almost made the boot feel irrelevant for a moment.
Sometimes the healing season is actually the gratitude season
APPAREL SPOTLIGHT: The Foundation Collection — Built on Story
We released our first full lineup of History Loves Company Apparel — 18 pieces inspired by Michigan’s architectural past.
Your support helps fund:
The Forever Home Project
Preservation storytelling
The Mary Day House restoration
Production for our weekly series
IN CASE YOU MISSED THESE RECENT FAVORITES
Detroit’s Oldest Neighborhood: The Story of Corktown
Inside Pontiac’s Abandoned Central School
A Forgotten Tudor in Detroit’s 1913 District
THANK YOU
Volume 5 marks five straight weeks of deep storytelling — and the community behind this newsletter is growing faster than ever.
If you enjoy this series, consider:
Forwarding this to a friend
Sharing one of this week’s videos
Joining the Forever Home Project
Booking a historic home consult
Supporting the apparel drop
The stories we keep today become the legacy we leave behind tomorrow.
— Chris Hubel
History Loves Company | Pontiac, Michigan
History Loves Company | Pontiac, Michigan
A portion of all apparel proceeds support The Forever Home Project — restoring homes, rebuilding lives.