By Harold Merton

If you love yesteryear you'll love an attraction that is just about a one
and and a half hour drive from the Sarnia-Port Huron border crossing in
Western Ontario.

Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad is located at Flint, Michigan and was the subject of a Scope feature many years ago.
We went back to the attraction recently and it has improved considerably over the years.

Photos by Harold Merton

The blacksmith is busy at his forge and in the print shop they are busy
printing samples of newspaper pages and other items they needed in the early days of the county.

Over in the doctor's office someone will quickly tell you about remedies
of the day and if you walk a few doors down the street you'll see the
drugstore as it was in days gone by.

At the cider mill they are busy pressing apples for cool, sweet cider and
the grist mill is busy grinding out flour for the community and for visitors
to take home. The facility is owned and operated by the Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission which has been responsible for the preservation of all the historical buildings, attractions and items that go together to create such a wonderful attraction.

The beginning of the village was an effort made by concerned local
citizens who wanted to save two structures that had strong links to Genesee County's past.

Both the Buzzell House and the Wisner Carriage Barn were facing certain demolition due to encroaching freeway construction in the Flint area when the community raised the funds required to move both buildings to the safety of the Genesee Recreation Area. This action planted a seed and in 1973 the development of a historical
village was designated as Genesee County's official Bicentennial project.

Crossroads Village officially open on July 4th in 1976 with red, white and blue bunting, and a lot of hoopla amid the eleven buildings that were then on the site. From that humble beginning Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad has developed into a historic complex with 34 buildings including Michigan's oldest operating gristmill, a working sawmill and cider mill, an operating print ship along with a blacksmith shop that turns out a number of items for visitors as well as serving the village itself.

If you love recreation then you'll find plenty in the village. I particulary like the Charles W. Parker Carousel. Parker was know as "America's Amusement King" and built carousels and ferris wheels just after
the turn of the century. The carousel here was built in Kansas in 1912 and operated in Riverside, California before being moved to Crossroads Village. The unique, colorful carousel features 36 jumping horses, four baby horses and two chariots along with a music machine that will definitely take you back to your childhood days. Countless pictures are taken of kids of all ages enjoying their ride on the hand-sculptured horses that are the envy of thousands of collectors who visit the attraction.

Also in the village is Charles Parker's last existing ferris wheel. It was
built in 1910. There's a lot of fun particularly on special weekends when they demonstrate how things used to be done.

A major highlight of your visit there is the Huckleberry Railroad.
A Baldwin steam locomotive provides enough power to carry more than 400 passengers on a trip over its narrow-gauge track. They now have 15 historic coaches that can be used on the train trip that covers an eight mile long section of old rail line. The trip takes about 45 minutes. Their rail cars comprise one of the largest collections of antique wooden railroad passenger cars in the United States.

Photos by Harold Merton

The Huckleberry name comes from an interesting bit of history. It was
named for the original Pere Marquette Railroad which travelled from Flint to Fostoria, Michigan. Passengers travelled part way, then got off to pick huckleberries. They were then picked up on the return trip. The old name stuck and continues today for the narrow-gauge railway that has just three feet between the rails.

The train trip can be an exciting adventure for the children as sometimes there are mock train robberies and other "demonstrations" that harken back to those old days. It is certainly enjoyable to hear the "clickety-clack" of the train as the engine puffs it way along what was an abandoned railroad line in the area. At one point local street traffic has to stop while the train crosses the road.

There is a lift and wheelchair space on the train itself so everyone can
go along for the ride, being part of history as it is recreated once more.
Your train departure is from the old Davidson Depot, a turn-of-the century depot that originally served the Grand Trunk and Western Railroad. This large, colorful building was definitely one that deserved to be preserved!On display as well is a 1921 Pere Marquette caboose - #A621. This standard-gauge caboose sits on original rails from the Pere Marquette line. It was moved to the village from a backyard in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

When your train ride is completed you climb down from the coach and walk down Main Street into the village itself. A musician may be standing outside a store or you may be welcomed inside to see history first hand. You may also enjoy lively stage shows in the original second-floor Opera House if your visit coincides with their performance schedule. You can call for information. The number will be shown at the conclusion of the story.

Crossroads Village is known for its summer events. When we visited they started their season early in May with a Mother's Day Celebration.
There were events for Homestead Weekend, Memorial Day, a Kid's
Kaleidoscope weekend , Homemade Victorian Fancywork weekend, Father's Day Celebrations, an African-American History and Freedom weekend, a music evening, Toy and Doll Show weekend, Independence Day Celebration, a Civil War Encampment along with an Antique Machine Show, Rail Fans had a weekend, Colonial Days, a Fair and a Quilts at Crossroads event which was a display of new and antique quilts.

They also offer special Ghosts and Goodies events in October and Christmas at Crossroads - a November to December event where people get to drive through the village.

There's something for the whole family there including a Wheelchair Swing for the physically challenged. It is located next to the Parker Carousel and features locking chains on the entry ramp which allows the user to hold the ramp in position for entry, then pull up to lock their chair into position. When used with the available pull chain attachment, users can enter, swing and leave completely on their own.

There is plenty of shopping available in the village too. It includes the
General Store where you will find unique and nostalgic merchandise. Davidson Depot where they have railroad merchandise and souvenirs, and the Attica Hotel where they showcase gifts, collectibles and Christmas items. The Atlas Mill of course offers their stone-ground flour.
If you are interested in food they have that covered too. Master's Cider
Mill offers cider and doughnuts, the Mill Street Warehouse has light meals and snacks, and the Carousel offers snacks as well. Ice cream is available at the Crossroads Cafe.

The Genesee Belle is a modern reproduction of an old-time paddlewheel riverboat. The boat departs from the Village Park and takes visitors on a lengthy ride up and down Mott Lake, which is adjacent to the park property. They offer both open and closed seating for the trip. We especially enjoyed the herons and other birds that we saw during our cruise in the summer.

Lunch cruises are offered every Wednesday at noon from mid-June through October. Evening cruises offer dinner and a show.
Visitors to Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad come to recapture the flavor of the past, to see and learn skills that have been preserved by their artisans and to see firsthand how their ancestors earned a livelihood and to experience the entertainment and fun visitors have enjoyed for over 100 years. We venture back every few years because we find it an enjoyable family adventure that offers entertainment for the best part of a day for a reasonable cost. Adult admission at the time of our visit were $6.25 for the village only, $10 for the village and either the train or the boat and $13.25 for the village, the train and the boat. Children 3-12 were $5, $7 and $8.50. Children under two were free and special rates for those 60 and over saved about a dollar and the three item package.

The attraction opens daily in early May but is closed most Mondays except holidays. Hours run only until 5 or 5:30 p.m. After August 30th it is open for special schedules on weekends only. You will need to call for current information.

For further information you may call 810.736.7100 or 800.648.7375 (the
number works from Ontario).

Other attractions in the area include:
Stepping Stone Falls,
Mott Children's Farm,
Wolverine and Timber Wolf Campgrounds and
For Mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum.

Flint is just a few minutes drive south of the Frankenmuth area with its
unique bavarian village atmosphere. There are several good campgrounds located in that area as well.
Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission,
5045 Stanley Road, Flint,
MI 49506
http://www.GeneseeCountyParks.org

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