Baldwin Michigan
Development has brought us superhighways and destinations found at the exits. Thankfully, some Michigan treasures remain quiet and unsullied with little traffic. Out on Route 37 is a town that generations have visited. A getaway to Baldwin will almost certainly involve, fun on the water; within a few miles of downtown there are 156 lakes and 46 trout streams. In town is ice cream, shopping, and a lot of nearly forgotten history. This whole region is within the Huron-Manistee National Forest with its streams, lakes and trails.
Many come here for access to unspoiled natural beauty. The Pere Marquette River is famous around the world as one of the best, fly only, trout streams on earth. In 1884 J. F. Ellis of the Northville Fish Hatchery, brought a can with 5000 brown trout fry in it to this area. He dumped them into the Pere' Marquette River near Baldwin, and that is how the first German brown trout were introduced to American waters. Trout fishing is so much a part of life here that one of their main festivals is the annual Troutarama. It has been going on since the 1950s.
Other great reasons to visit Baldwin are the festivals
and the unusual shops. Since 1972 the return of spring is
celebrated with the Blessing of the Bikes. The "Blessing"
started with 4 bikes and 8 riders who gathered at St. Ann
Catholic Church to receive a blessing for a safe and happy
riding season. From that tiny beginning the festival has
grown into a major event. Thousands of motorcycle
enthusiasts gather in Lake County in downtown Baldwin,
Michigan. The event has grown so popular that it isn't
unusual for bikes to be lined up for miles to enter the
blessing area, sometimes with less than half an hour before
the blessing begins. The entire community joins in the fun
to welcome the bikes and the long awaited arrival of warm
weather.
In late summer it is Troutarama. For more than seven decades
they have been celebrating the rivers and those wonderful
trout that populate them. The celebration has grown and now
includes a children’s fishing derby, carnival, concerts and
a grand parade. Whether you go for a day or the whole
weekend, there is fun for everyone and superb trout fishing.
The Lake County Historical Society preserves the long
history and local heritage of the region. The original
museum buildings were two US Forest Service ranger
residences that were constructed in 1938 by the CCC/WPA. In
2012 the County of Lake transferred a prime downtown piece
of property to the Society for its use. In addition, the
Forest Service donated the two ranger residence houses to
the Society so the buildings, and their unique history,
would be preserved. Since then, the buildings and exhibits
have been expanded. The property is located at the head of
the Rails to Trails bicycle and snowmobile trail, so all
visitors find it convenient.
There is something rare and wonderful here. The
Shrine of the Pines Museum houses the largest
collection of rustic white pine furniture in the world. It
is the work of one remarkable man. The contents of this
Michigan treasure are the life work of Raymond W.
Overholzer, more than 200 pieces are on display. The exhibit
includes a table made from a 700 lb. stump, a rocking chair
of roots so well balanced that one push will set it to
rocking 50+ times, a fireplace made of 70 tons of stone, a
gun rack with 39 wooden ball bearings and much more. The
Shrine of the Pines sits on the Pere Marquette River and the
setting is perfect for this timeless display from another
era.
