M'Art

04/10/2026

Might have the six frames at the right, the center plaque and its description to be framed, and five of my books on the shelf sold so far this month! My colonoscopy has been cancelled, so it has been a good month!

03/10/2026

Mother's Flowers about 2017!

02/28/2026

A ChatGPT Caricature of Me. Done Perfectly.

02/21/2026

If you visit the Tuscola County Advertiser website and search "Mark Putnam," you’ll now find a full list of the columns and articles that include my name — including the pieces I’ve written over the years. (A subscription is required to read them.)

I’m proud of every column, but one that remains especially meaningful to me is “Caro’s First House.” The photograph featured with it and below is one I took a few years ago.

This is the link to the column: https://www.tuscolatoday.com/eedition/page-a02/page_460d9c0b-8e11-5271-925c-8115d56bb10e.html

02/08/2026

A Wonderful Read! "Caro’s Most Loved & Admired House"

Step inside one of Caro’s most cherished landmarks and discover a story that is as rich, elegant, and enduring as the house itself. *Caro’s Most Loved & Admired House* is more than a history—it’s a journey through time, craftsmanship, and community pride.

Through vivid storytelling and careful research, this book brings to life the people, events, and traditions that shaped the house and the town around it. Whether you’re a lifelong Caro resident, a lover of local history, or simply someone who appreciates beautiful homes with meaningful pasts, this book will capture your imagination.

Warm, engaging, and deeply rooted in place, *Caro’s Most Loved & Admired House* celebrates architecture, memory, and the stories that make a community feel like home. It’s a perfect gift for history lovers—and a must-read for anyone who believes that buildings can hold the soul of a town.

This publication explores the storied past and importance of Caro's most renowned dwelling, which has been home to some of the town's most distinguished and influential citizens. The importance of the property dates back to Caro's inception. Its most notable resident, W. J. Moore, dubbed the "gad...

02/08/2026

Hey! My book "Logging Cass River" is available for only $15.00!

Logging Cass River was a phenomenal event that forever change the local landscape of the Upper Thumb of Michigan. Cass River Pine timber was during this period of its harvest considered the finest or best in the country. Logging Cass River is a timeline that also describes the how and why the loc...

02/08/2026

Just wanted people to know that that my book "Caro's Most Loved & Admired House" is available:

This publication explores the storied past and importance of Caro's most renowned dwelling, which has been home to some of the town's most distinguished and influential citizens. The importance of the property dates back to Caro's inception. Its most notable resident, W. J. Moore, dubbed the "gad...

10/31/2024

The Thumb of Michigan just after the Revolutionary War was commanded by an African American!

So, my story goes . . ..

Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable

From Saint Dominique's shores, Haiti, young Du Sable's journey sprang,
In France, a youth learned in arts, where cultured voices rang.
His father’s ships, his early world, across the sea did sail,
Till fate in New Orleans' embrace and told a stormier tale.

However, among Jesuit mentors, he found his feet on solid ground,
Venturing forth to Illinois where a new life he found.
With Kihihawa's hand in hi, on Peoria's broad expanse,
Eight hundred acres flourished wide, beneath their steadfast glance.

To the Chicago River's mouth, in the 1770s' stride,
He built the first enduring home where the river waters glide.
A hub for trade, a gathering place, by bakehouse smoke defined,
Here, Du Sable's dreams took root, with commerce intertwined.

Yet the Revolutionary war's harsh grip detained him, on Mackinaw's distant shore,
Five years held 'neath British watch, amidst the conflict's roar.
In St. Clair’s land at the trading post in the pinery, he labored then, under the Crown's decree,
Until Chicago called him back, to the life he yearned to see.

Returned to his beloved land, where once his trade post stood,
Chicago saw him prosper still, as only pioneers could.
But in 1800's shadow, he chose to leave behind
His mark upon this nascent town, where his legacy would wind.

To Peoria he turned once more, where his final years would pass,
Amidst the plains where he once traded, now just whispers in the grass.
Though in Michigan Chippewa's waters might not recall his storied tread,
His influence endures in tales of where his journey led.

Through changing hands and shifting sands, his story we retell,
A pioneer, a trader, in whom, ambition did swell.
From Haiti's child to Chicago's guide, through lands so wild and free,
Jean Baptiste Pointe Du Sable, who shaped such destiny.

10/28/2024

In the Cass River Valley's embrace, White Pines rise,
Mighty sentinels, reaching for the skies.
Their shadowed groves, a hushed retreat,
Where daylight fades and nature's heart beats.

10/24/2024

I described what I felt the Cass River Looked like about 1850 to Chat-GPT, and this is what It produced:

10/19/2024

This comet is currently visible in the sky. Unfortunately, I couldn't capture its tail in the photo. The landscape features the Caro State Police Post, which is located across M-24 from where I reside on the hill above Caro.