Historic Fishtown celebrates $3M milestone with light show
Feb 8, 2019 07:27:17 #
DIRTY HARRY
Loc: Hartland, Michigan
LELAND, MICHIGAN
Historic Fishtown celebrates $3M milestone with light show
Tanda Gmiter tgmiter@mlive.com
Leland’s historic Fishtown is treating fans to another week of its popular nighttime light display, and using a rooftop Valentine to celebrate Fishtown Preservation Society making its last mortgage payment on the historic Up North site.
The nonprofit took ownership 12 years ago of the popular tourist destination made up of vintage commercial fish shanties and small shops where the Leland River meets Lake Michigan. It marked its debt-free status Thursday with a small mortgage bonfire.
“We wanted to capture this moment,” said Amanda Holmes, executive director of the nonprofit that owns Fishtown. “I remember the day in February 2007 when Fishtown Preservation acquired the property. It was also my first day working for FPS — and there was a blizzard.”
Thursday also kicked off “Love Fishtown Week” through Feb. 16, reviving the festive white roofline lights that first appeared over the holidays to the delight of many. And this time, a big, red heart-shaped light display has been added in the middle of Fishtown.
The lights will shine from 6-10 p.m. each night. Visitors can pose for photos with “I Love Fishtown” signs. They’re invited to use the hashtags #FishtownHasMy-Heart and #LoveFishtownWeek, and share the photos on social media at Fishtown Leland on Facebook, or email them to info@fishtownmi.com.
The debt-free status comes as the FPS makes its final payment of $789,600, Holmes said.
As part of the $3 million purchase in 2007, the nonprofit became the owner of a quarter- acre tract on the north side of the Leland River, near the small town’s picturesque dam that’s just a short walk from Leland’s harbor and Lake Michigan. The purchase included eight historic shanty buildings, two smokehouses, 200 feet of dock along the river, as well as other buildings. It also included Leland’s iconic working fish tugs, the Janice Sue and the Joy.
The small shops in Fishtown see thousands of tourists each year, largely from spring through late fall. Some favorites include Carlson’s Fishery and the Village Cheese Shanty.
“We can thank our donor base for their vision and steadfast support to have been able to meet this goal,” Holmes said. “We’re grateful that over the years more and more
people have realized that they can be and are a vital part of the work of preserving Fishtown.”
With the mortgage paid off, the group’s focus now has shifted to preservation and repair of the working waterfront’s aging structures, retaining walls and docks.
Holmes said Fishtown’s lakefront spot leaves it vulnerable to exposure from the elements, and the foot traffic of its annual visitor load also takes a toll on the structures.
“In the past, the fishermen cared for Fishtown, looking after its every need, every day,” Holmes said. “That has been the responsibility of Fishtown Preservation — and all who love Fishtown — for the past twelve years. It will continue to be our responsibility into the future because Fishtown is a forever project.”
“We’re grateful that over the years more and more people have realized that they can be and are a vital part of the work of preserving Fishtown.”
Amanda Holmes, executive director of the nonprofit that owns Fishtown.
Lights along the historic buildings’ rooflines are being turned on for a second time this winter to celebrate a mortgage milestone. Submitted by the Fishtown Preservation Society
Historic Fishtown celebrates $3M milestone with light show
Tanda Gmiter tgmiter@mlive.com
Leland’s historic Fishtown is treating fans to another week of its popular nighttime light display, and using a rooftop Valentine to celebrate Fishtown Preservation Society making its last mortgage payment on the historic Up North site.
The nonprofit took ownership 12 years ago of the popular tourist destination made up of vintage commercial fish shanties and small shops where the Leland River meets Lake Michigan. It marked its debt-free status Thursday with a small mortgage bonfire.
“We wanted to capture this moment,” said Amanda Holmes, executive director of the nonprofit that owns Fishtown. “I remember the day in February 2007 when Fishtown Preservation acquired the property. It was also my first day working for FPS — and there was a blizzard.”
Thursday also kicked off “Love Fishtown Week” through Feb. 16, reviving the festive white roofline lights that first appeared over the holidays to the delight of many. And this time, a big, red heart-shaped light display has been added in the middle of Fishtown.
The lights will shine from 6-10 p.m. each night. Visitors can pose for photos with “I Love Fishtown” signs. They’re invited to use the hashtags #FishtownHasMy-Heart and #LoveFishtownWeek, and share the photos on social media at Fishtown Leland on Facebook, or email them to info@fishtownmi.com.
The debt-free status comes as the FPS makes its final payment of $789,600, Holmes said.
As part of the $3 million purchase in 2007, the nonprofit became the owner of a quarter- acre tract on the north side of the Leland River, near the small town’s picturesque dam that’s just a short walk from Leland’s harbor and Lake Michigan. The purchase included eight historic shanty buildings, two smokehouses, 200 feet of dock along the river, as well as other buildings. It also included Leland’s iconic working fish tugs, the Janice Sue and the Joy.
The small shops in Fishtown see thousands of tourists each year, largely from spring through late fall. Some favorites include Carlson’s Fishery and the Village Cheese Shanty.
“We can thank our donor base for their vision and steadfast support to have been able to meet this goal,” Holmes said. “We’re grateful that over the years more and more
people have realized that they can be and are a vital part of the work of preserving Fishtown.”
With the mortgage paid off, the group’s focus now has shifted to preservation and repair of the working waterfront’s aging structures, retaining walls and docks.
Holmes said Fishtown’s lakefront spot leaves it vulnerable to exposure from the elements, and the foot traffic of its annual visitor load also takes a toll on the structures.
“In the past, the fishermen cared for Fishtown, looking after its every need, every day,” Holmes said. “That has been the responsibility of Fishtown Preservation — and all who love Fishtown — for the past twelve years. It will continue to be our responsibility into the future because Fishtown is a forever project.”
“We’re grateful that over the years more and more people have realized that they can be and are a vital part of the work of preserving Fishtown.”
Amanda Holmes, executive director of the nonprofit that owns Fishtown.
Lights along the historic buildings’ rooflines are being turned on for a second time this winter to celebrate a mortgage milestone. Submitted by the Fishtown Preservation Society
Feb 8, 2019 07:39:01 #
Harry - Thanks so much for the photo and the narrative. We have a summer place near Northport and visit Fishtown often. A special place and it was a relief when FPS took it over. It would have been a tragedy if a developer had turned it into condos. Glad to see it's paid off and I'm sure the Enterprise will have a big story on it. Again thanks!
Feb 8, 2019 07:39:10 #
Feb 8, 2019 08:05:20 #
Feb 8, 2019 08:08:11 #
Feb 9, 2019 09:31:37 #
Feb 9, 2019 16:22:49 #
DIRTY HARRY
Loc: Hartland, Michigan
Use to go there frequently as a boy. Had family in Northport and surrounding area. Haven't been back in 20 years.
Feb 9, 2019 20:58:09 #
Leland's historic Fishtown during the day, & in B & W.
Feb 9, 2019 21:41:23 #
Really awesome photos KT. Captures the feeling of the place and B&W works very well.
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