In The Midst Of A Harvest Sky

It has often been said that a picture is worth a thousand words but more often than not those words cannot be accurately portrayed within the framework of the picture. That is to say, the picture frames the dialogue, and not the reciprocal.

Allow me to set the stage.

It is early autumn and the leaves have turned. The aroma of Concord grapes sweep through the countryside on the whim of the wind and for a few short weeks it is possible to smell the color purple. The vibrant palette of nature is on display as a fleeting escape of foliage jettisons the mighty sentinels of our Southwest Michigan forests. Our season gives way to the magnificent desolation that will be another Midwest winter with the splendor that only Michigan can provide.

The tourists are gone and the purists remain, save for the vestige of our annual refrain.

To live in the Midwest is truly a gift of seasonal survival. We brave the torrent of spring rain as we traverse the bridge to summer, we endure the harsh rays of an unforgiving sun as we strive for harvest, we pray for rain yet curse the floods, and we thank the soil for all that she bestows upon us. Thank you Mother Earth!

Tonight the sky is crimson red which is due in no small part to the dust kicked up by the harvesters as framed in the foreground of the setting sun.

To smell the soil is quite remarkable, to await the harvest is our destiny.

These unadulterated parcels of productive farmland our quickly becoming the dinosaurs of our modern era and unless we recognize them for the significance that they represent we risk losing them to the urbanization of the housing market.

It is time to educate ourselves as to the existence of PDR’s and Conservation Easements as well as a plethora of other land preservation mechanisms as we endeavor to set aside the very essence of family value as it pertains to our dinner table and how we feed our families.

Can you make a difference or will you stand by waiting for somebody else to do something?

I await your reply…and so does the rest of the Midwest!

A City On The Rise

The City of Buchanan was settled in 1833 at the spot where McCoy Creek meets the St. Joseph River and was once a major transportation route for Native American tribes in the area, especially the Potawatomi.



An historical marker to that effect has been placed on Moccasin Trail north of Buchanan near Batchelor's Island.



Buchanan is in the midst of a civic rebirth in that many of the historic buildings that have come to define the downtown district are under renovation.



Not to be lost in translation, it is important to be cognizant of the industry that once flourished here.



Buchanan was historically known as the headquarters for Clark Equipment Corporation. A manufacturer of truck axles, fork lift trucks, front-end loaders, and other heavy machinery; Clark left the area in the 1990's and this departure forced the city to diversify which resulted in a number of smaller businesses which ultimately took over the buildings that Clark had essentially donated to the city.



Another industry leader was the Electro Voice Corporation which was a manufacturer of high quality audio equipment such as microphones, amplifiers and loudspeakers. Soon after being purchased by Telex Communications, Inc., Electro-Voice's management left Buchanan and several years later, in 2002, the remaining Electro-Voice manufacturing plant closed.



In addition to the remnants of industry, it is the beauty of this enclave that truly defines the character of Buchanan.



Bear Cave is a camping resort north of Buchanan featuring a cave which was once a stop along the Under Ground Railroad, assisting freed and escaped slaves from the Southern States to reach freedom in the Northern States or Canada. Bear Cave offers canoeing and boating along the St. Joseph River.



The Tin Shop Theater, located near Pears Mill, is a wonderful, little theater with great performances in the summer. The seasons run into September and a variety of shows for everyone of any age and any occasion are performed here.



Pears Mill which utilized the water power of the swiftly flowing McCoy Creek, was built in 1857. This beautiful piece of Americana remains open during the summer for visitors.



Fernwood is a nature preserve along the Eastern bank of the St. Joseph River along Rangeline Road and Redbud Track 'N' Trail is an event site north of Buchanan featuring motocross, BMX, and other motor sport activities. Certain races held there are of national interest and are often featured on ESPN and other such cable sports networks.



The hidden treasure and jewel of Buchanan lies in the diversity of the citizenry. There are winemakers and farmers, there are entrepreneurs and visionaries, but best of all there are the people who will shape the future while embracing the past.

History of Harbor Country/Southwest Michigan

Harbor Country is situated in the Southwest corner of Berrien County in the Southwest corner of the state of Michigan. This geographic region is limited to the following eight lakeshore communities and villages: Michiana, Grand Beach, New Buffalo, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert, Sawyer, and the inland community of Three Oaks. This trademarked region begins at the Michigan state line and stretches approximately 15 miles North along lake Michigan as well as 6 miles inland to the East.

In The Beginning
The Miami Indians were this area's first residents and were challenged for territory by the Iroquois of New York. These territorial struggles were short-lived as the Iroquois soon lost interest in the area and began returning to their native homeland. The Pottawatomi Indians migrated Southeast from Wisconsin by the early 1700's and assumed land from the area that is now Chicago to as far North as Grand Rapids. This area was infiltrated, over time, by French fur traders as their territories became diminished through treaties. Finally, in 1838 the Pottawatomis gathered their families and worldly possessions and migrated to a new home in the Kansas plains.

Growth In The Region
The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 brought an increase in travel and soon thereafter stage coach routes were carved out of the densely wooded forests. These new routes linked the larger cities of Detroit and Chicago which spurred growth and recognition along this new trade route. Many business investors from the East Coast realized the potential that the vast, dense forests offered and saw mills began to spring up in Harbor Country. Large ships were being constructed on the shores along the beaches and numerous piers (Union Pier) were built to service the demand created by the upstart local logging industry. The City of Chicago provided a proximal destination for the lumber as it continued to grow and flourish and even moreover as it recovered from The Great Chicago Fire. Eventually the forests were depleted and as the logging waned, the open spaces that remained became fertile farm fields which gave rise to fill a new demand for produce markets.

A Rebirth, as it Were
Harbor Country has experienced a veritable renaissance over the past decade as this tantalizing get-away has grown in both population and culture. While there are many new development and housing projects on the landscape the enduring charm of this lakefront community has and continues to be preserved. The shops, restaurants, and galleries, but most importantly the residents, create the sense of belonging and longing to be here as the sunsets over beautiful lake Michigan. Only ninety minutes from Chicago but a world away, Harbor Country offers the best of all worlds to both our full time residents and our welcomed visitors.