HomePhoto Tour: Buchanan, Michigan
24. Sep, 2009 
13 Comments
I’ll bet I know what you’re thinking. Buchanan, Michigan? What’s in Buchanan, Michigan?* That sounds like a made up name. But it’s not. It’s a real town, and it’s awesome. I made the drive last weekend, making my way down back roads cut through vineyards and farms, taking copious notes for this report. Keep reading for details, but I see no sense keeping you in suspense; I’m most definitely (or mos-def, as the kids say) drinking the Buchanan Kool Aid (I don’t know what the kids call this).
What’s so great about Buchanan? The well-preserved architecture for one. Alan Robandt’s spectacular Italian Renaissance Revival style building is just one example of the fine housing stock this little burg boasts, whether they be smallish cottages (I photographed a really swell one last weekend), mid-century modern gems (ditto) or spectacular commercial buildings (also ditto).
Until recently, downtown Buchanan was derelict with few businesses among the many abandoned buildings. But thanks to a Chicago gang who rolled into town pioneer-like with big plans to revitalize the town, three such shops opened in the last year, joining Robandt’s showroom. And there are rumors of more in the planning stages. Yee-haw!
Continued . . .
But in the end, it all boils down to the people, and the Buchananites I met (glossing over the fact I interacted with no actual locals other than the surprisingly large scarecrow population**) are very welcoming, friendly, intelligent and community-minded folks with big dreams for their new home.
After chatting with Alan and a few of the other fellas, I met a couple friends at Wheat Berry, a restaurant located just outside downtown near the gently rolling landscape along the river. The food was good (the blueberry crumble served ala mode was pretty darn great), and the crowd was positively cosmopolitan. That’s three thumbs up in my book. Oops! I need another thumb.
Stay tuned for a more detailed look at the new Buchanan home stores. In the meantime, please enjoy these photos. And while you’re at it, please take this time to leave a comment about your favorite antique store keeping in mind to weave that opinion into a compelling narrative with character progression, a conflict, climax and resolution. Also, I’d like to use this as a way to explore a universal theme such as love, death, freedom, fear, etc. I’ll need this comment by the end-of-the-day. OK, have fun.
* As a joke, I really wanted to write something like, If you liked Twin Peaks, you’ll love Buchanan, but I didn’t know if I could pull it off without conveying my sarcasm. Although it is kind of true. Not really though. It’s worth a trip, so go now, before another year has passed or at least before its cold again. Go now to Buchanan and savor September warmth in a lovely place (although I’m sure October will be nice too).
** Doesn’t the word scarecrow sound like it originated from a particularly inarticulate person? Imagine him or her pointing at a bail of hay that had been inadvertently bunched in the approximate shape of a body. “Scare crow,” they’d shout. “Scare crow, scare crow, scare crow!!!” It’d be like trying to decipher Lassie. But it stuck, which is more than I can say for Decoratus Absurdum. sniff.
Is the donut shop still for sale? Toby and I took a bunch of photos of the sign and I thought the storefront looked absolutely charming. It would be fun to make it into a little cafe.
Every time you post about somewhere in Michigan I always want to head off to there immediately! I really should take an upcoming Saturday and head out to explore.
I haven’t been there in years. I believe my wonderful cousin works at that post office and my dad worked in town for 30+ years at Clark Equipment. Looks like it’s time for a visit.
I so want to get away. This little town looks like a gem. It just seems really inviting and the architecture is very handsome. I like it!!!!
The doughnut shop — rumor has it the price is down to about $60,000. This is actually the oldest building downtown, dating from the 1850′s with a 30′s/40′s brick facade pasted on the front. Originally a Greek Revival shop house, for many years this was Esther Parkinson’s millinery shop. Wonderful photograph of Ms. Parkinson and her young women languidly posed in front, looking completely proto Virginia Woolf. The building needs love, money, and a nurturing hand to bring it to life again. Buchanan has a progressive policy of split use residential/commercial for it’s downtown buildings. Please give Tate a holler if you need to get in touch.
What is behind the chartreuse door in Buchanan? The weekend home of Chicago’s Thomas Jolly Antiques on Kinzie: Thomas Jolly Home & Garden!
I fell in love with this charming town 3 years ago. My jaw dropped when I saw its possibilities. I decided to purchase and renovate a little 1940′s log cabin on the river. Just 3 years later, this town is hopping with a warm community of people, shops going in and much talk of new possibilities. It’s extremely inspiring and exciting!
Come check it out! ~Elizabeth
PS-The cabin is available for weekend and weekly rentals!!
http://www.vrbo.com/245814
Oh, and Buchanan has saints, too! http://www.patriarts.com/ as well as other artist’s studios…
And how about that new Sweet Shop in town!!! Joe V. has worked hard to clean up and remodel this place into a real gem. I hear they have the best Caramel/Cheese Corn this side of Crown Point.
Stop in and say hello to Joe. you won’t be sorry.
Have any of you people actually been in Buchanan? Has anyone mentioned that the police of this “beautifull little town” have done nothing to stop the crack-cocaine epedemic. This town has lost numerouse people to this disease and the town officals have done nothing to stop it. What a joke you people are to fall for the Candy coating that has been spread over this hell hole.
Yes, I’ve been there. Progress and change occurs when business comes in allowing the tax base to expand. All towns have various problems to deal with, so don’t feel like you’re the Lone Ranger out there. You yourself can make a difference. Volunteer your services to a cause that you feel will make Buchanan a better place.
I grew up in Buchanan and go back there often. And I have a lot of friends and family that still live there. I hardly think it was a hell-hole before these folks took an interest, and certainly it isn’t one now. Shane’s assertion the people getting excited about Buchanan are a joke says more about Shane than it does them.
No place is perfect, of course. But despite its imperfections, I think fondly of my years spent in Buchanan and I’m thrilled to see what’s happening there.
I hope Shane does something to help improve his community other than make insulting comments on design blogs.
To whom it may concern,
I was not trying to insult anyone on this blog. I just know that for a small town there is a SERIOUSE drug problem here. The town officals say that they have this “contained” but I do not see it. I too grew up here and still live here, and I would love to see this town as I would like it to be, not the way it is. Sorry if I offended anyone that was not the intention.