CHARLEVOIX’S “PARK AVENUE PROWL” IS SUBJECT OF THE

CHARLEVOIX COUNTY HISTORY PRESERVATION SOCIETY MEETING

The next meeting of the Charlevoix County History Preservation Society will be on Monday, July 28th,  2008, 7PM, at the Charlevoix Public Library, 220 W. Clinton Street, Charlevoix, Michigan, 231-547-2651.

Raechel Wright, Charlevoix County History Preservation Society Board Member, will present a program on the “Park Avenue Prowl”.  She and others involved in the project will explain how the preservation project started and give history on some of the buildings along the Prowl.  See page 3 of this newsletter for more information.  This is an exciting project that has revitalized the businesses along Park Avenue and also added new historical information to the area.

Raechel gives the following information on her website “In Charlevoix, we talk about “side street businesses,” the downtown businesses not on Bridge Street.  Sometimes people don’t know we’re here.  But the upside is that we are fortunate to escape the noise, dust, huge crowds, and general confusion of Bridge Street.   

Park Avenue, the first street south of the bridge, has a long and distinguished history.  Before 1906 it was called Main Street, in anticipation of its becoming the main business street in town, away from the muddy waterfront activities that took place on Bridge Street.  Then Boulder Park was developed, and our street acquired both a new name and a new character. 

It is still, in many ways, the center of old Charlevoix.  The oldest standing buildings in town are there.  Many of the Earl Young houses are there.  And the path to Michigan Beach, and the lighthouse, are there.  If you take a look at an aerial map, you’ll see that Park Avenue links Round Lake to Lake Michigan — a walk down Park is a walk from Lake to Lake.

We invite you to take a walk through Charlevoix’s history.  Take the Park Avenue Prowl.”

The Charlevoix County History Preservation Society promotes understanding and appreciation of the heritage of the people of Charlevoix County through collaboration with the townships thereof and the public by searching out, collecting, preserving, and interpreting artifacts of historical and cultural significance.  Anyone interested in preserving the history of Charlevoix County is invited to join the Society. 

This program is open to the public and guests are encouraged to attend.  For further information contact Carol Goodenough at 582-7042