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A Michigan home made from bottles

Courtesy Photo A table full of images, memorabilia, and other historical artifacts is seen in the Bottle House in this undated image.

In the northwestern portion of Michigan’s lower peninsula is Manistee County.

Located in this county, approximately 10 miles from the Lake Michigan shoreline is the village of Kaleva. The hamlet of over 500 residents, was incorporated in 1900 mainly by Finnish settlers.

A CREATIVE MAN WITH A VISION

Arriving in Kaleva in 1903 was Finnish immigrant John J. Makinen, Sr. A business leader in numerous aspects, he established and operated the Northwestern Bottling Works Company. The company used a variety of bottle shapes and colors to contain soft drinks. The brand, called Mission, was available in a variety of flavors.

During his bottling process, Makinen noted the bottles were able to adjust to varying hot and cold temperatures. He found when some of the bottles became chipped, flawed, or cracked they were no longer useful to hold beverages. Rather than disposing of the bottles in a landfill, he thought, “What other use might these bottles offer?”

Courtesy Photo The siding of a Michigan home made from bottles is seen in this undated courtesy image. The house is located at 14551 Wuoksi Avenue in Kaleva.

Makinen’s creative mind moved forward. He determined with 60,000 bottles he would structure the exterior of a house.

According to Cynthia Asiala, president of the Kaleva Historical Society, “Makinen developed a special mortar to hold the bottles together in the structure’s exterior walls. To this day, we are unaware of his mortar’s composition.”

In the early 1940s, the house was designed, and the building process began. Regretfully Makinen’s creative vision was not enjoyed by him. He passed in 1942 before the family occupied the two-story residence.

Asiala revealed the residence used a variety of bottle colors and shapes on all the exterior sides. She commented using a variety of brown and green border bottles at the home’s front Makinen spelled out in large and vivid letters “Happy Home.”

The home became a piece of local art and glistens when the sun directs its rays at the house. Historic records noted there were a number of other community structures made from bottle bottoms. However, over the years these have been torn down.

Courtesy Photo The front of the Bottle House is seen in this undated image. “Happy Home” is written in bottles along the bottom half of the home.

Makinen’s family occupied the home up until the early 1980s. In 1983, the Kaleva Historical Society acquired the residence and established the community’s museum.

INSIDE THE BOTTLE HOUSE AND ON THE GROUNDS

Asiala stated once inside the residence, the walls and floor plan are what you would typically expect in a residence of this era.

Inside are historic displays and offerings of Kaleva and the region’s Finnish-American heritage. Care has been given to offer “period” furnishings, wall decor, and kitchen appliances and equipment.

A number of interesting exhibits are also offered in the house.

Courtesy Photo Sunlight reflects off the bottle used to build the Bottle House in Manistee County.

Makinen’s son, William, established the Makinen Tackle Company. The company, which began out of a garage with three employees, grew to employ 50. In 1945, the company produced 135,000 fishing lures. On display are samples of every lure design the company produced.

During the Great Depression, a Works Progress Administration artist came to Kaleva and sketched some unique and historic mural outlines. These were then painted by area students and displayed in the local high school. When the school was torn down, the murals were quickly salvaged and brought to the historic museum.

Kaleva Historical Society entered a fund-raising campaign to construct a Finnish sauna on the bottle house’s rear grounds. The sauna was officially dedicated and opened for viewing in 2017.

Near the residence’s entrance are two plaques recognizing the house on the National Register of Historic Places and as a State of Michigan Historic Site.

The Manistee Chamber of Commerce’s website noted Ripley’s Believe It or Not has recognized the bottle house.

ONE LAST WORD: ‘POP’

Across America, soft drinks are known under various names. One of the names is “pop.” It is perhaps believed this name is attributed to Makinen’s bottling works, where on occasion, a bottle under pressure would release the cork lid to a loud “pop.”

HOW TO CONTACT

The Kaleva Historical Society Museum and Bottle House can be called at 231-362-2749. Their extensive website is at www.kalevamichigan.com. They also offer a Facebook posting.

Throughout the year, the museum offers a variety of theme venues and displays. Be sure to note other unique sites to visit in the region. Consult the Manistee Chamber of Commerce and the museum’s websites.

Jeffrey D. Brasie is a retired health care CEO. He frequently writes historic feature stories and op-eds for various Michigan newspapers. As a Vietnam-era veteran, he served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserve. He served on the public affairs staff of the Secretary of the Navy. He grew up in Alpena and resides in suburban Detroit.

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