Focusing On Travel : Historic Villages in Michigan

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

We're Gonna Be Back In Time at Historic Charlton Park

We take a Sunday drive to Hastings, Michigan (USA) to discover the Historic Charlton Park located at 2545 South Charlton Park Road, Hastings, Michigan (USA). The phone number is: (269) 945-3775. The Park grounds include picnic tables and restrooms. The Upjohn House Visitor Center has brochures for a self-guided walking tour of the village. The best part – admission is free (but donations are always appreciated).

The park was established in 1936. The first building on the site was the stone museum (construction from 1944-1950).

Irving D. Charlton Memorial Museum

The Historic Village is open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Unfortunately, we arrived at 4:30 p.m. and the buildings are closed. The good news - the grounds stay open until later and we are able to walk around the village and look through the windows for a peek into the past.

The Village’s 25 historic buildings are located in a park-like setting along the banks of the Thornapple River. They offer a glimpse of what life was like in Barry County in the late 1800’s – early 1900’s.

Village Scenes

The first building we see is the Upjohn House (1852). It was home to one of Hastings first doctors. The building now houses the gift shop and administrative offices.

Upjohn House

The Bristol Inn (1848) was a stagecoach stop until 1869.

Bristol Inn

The Carpenter Workshop was originally a barn. In 1871 it was repurposed into a Carpenter Workshop. Next to the Carpenter Workshop is a small open-weaved cubicle with a door and paddle lock. Was this actually used as a jail?

Carpenter Shop

Jail Cell

The Blacksmith Shop was added to the Village in 1968. In the “olden days”, the “Village Smithie” performed a vital service to the community making and repairing various objects.

Blacksmith Shop

Hastings Township Hall (1868) was moved to the Village in 1981. Town meetings and elections were held here until 1988. Once in awhile, the township will hold a meting at this building just “for old times sake”.

Hastings Township Hall

The Village is home to the Lee School (1869-1923). It was originally located at the corner of Carlton Center and Martin Roads.

Lee School - Exterior and Interior

In case you don’t know this about me, one-room schools are one of my favorite things to find and photograph. If you would like to see more of them, please refer to my Blog on Michigan One Room Schools by clicking on the following link:

Denice's Michigan One Room Schools

The Sixberry House (1868) represents the village’s lawyer house and office.

SIxberry House

The main floor of the Hastings Mutual Building represents a typical Village Bank in the early 1900’s.

Hastings Mutual Building (Bank)

The Main Street consists of a Hardware Store, General Store, and Print Shop. These buildings represent the typical businesses found in the community.

Main Street

The Carlton Center Church (1885) was used until 1972 when it was moved to the Charlton Park village.

Carlton Center Church

Even though the outside temperature is a hot and humid 90 degrees F, we spend over an hour walking around the property. It may take you more or less time to visit this historic park. Either way, you’re gonna be back in time!

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Passion for the Past - Historic White Pine Village

LOCATION: 1687 S Lakeshore Drive, Ludington, Michigan (about two miles south of Ludington)

Over the summer, I have visited 12 historic villages throughout Michigan. The number of buildings in each site ranged from just a few buildings to 29 buildings. The White Pine Village had the largest concentration of historic buildings (29) we have seen this summer.

Considering many historic villages are free or under $5, the $9 adult admission seems a little high but they do offer “mini” discounts ($1 or less) for certain groups. There are restrooms here and many of the buildings are handicap accessible. We spent 1-2 hours walking around the Village.

The Village is operated by the Mason County Historical Society. It is open on Tuesdays – Saturdays from May through October and Sundays from June 1-September 1. It is closed on Mondays.

In 1976, the village started with 11 buildings and over the years has added 18 more buildings to its collection. The Hamlin Lake Cottage is the newest addition to the village (2015). Each building has been recreated to take you back to another time (mid-1800’s to mid-1900’s).

My main reason for visiting the Village was to see the one-room school but there are other interesting things to see too.

Marchido School (1895)

The village has a quilt barn. It is a stop on the Mason County Barn Quilt Trail. I was born and raised on a farm. Some things take me back to those days … like a hand-sewn quilt that kept me warm on cold winter nights. We picked the colors and pattern and my Mom sewed the quilt. I think that’s why I like quilt barns. It’s combining two childhood memories into one.

Jorissen barn

There is a brochure that leads you through a self-guided tour of the buildings I like self-guided tours – I can spend as much or as little time in each place as I wish.