Historic Charlton Park facts for kids
Historic Charlton Park is a special place in Barry County, Michigan. It's a museum and park that covers about 310 acres (1.25 square kilometers) right along the Thornapple River. It's like stepping back in time to a Michigan village from the early 1900s!
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What is Historic Charlton Park?
Historic Charlton Park is more than just a park. It's a living history museum. Many old buildings from around Barry County were moved here. They were carefully put back together to create a village. This village shows what life was like over 100 years ago.
Exploring the Historic Village
When you visit the village, you can see many different buildings. Each one tells a story about the past. Imagine what it was like to live and work in these places!
- Homes and Shops: You can explore a lawyer's home and a busy blacksmith shop. There's also a barber shop where people got their hair cut.
- Community Buildings: The village has an old church and a school. There's even the Hastings Town Hall, which was used until 1988.
- Businesses: See a bank and insurance office, a general store, and a hardware store. These were important places for people to buy what they needed.
- Specialty Crafts: Discover a carpenter/cooper shop where things were made from wood. There's also a printshop where newspapers and books were printed.
- Travel and Lodging: An old inn and stagecoach stop shows where travelers rested. A carriage house stored horse-drawn carriages.
- Farm Life: You can also see a simple cabin and a sawmill. These remind us of how people lived and worked on farms.
Fun Things to Do
Besides exploring the historic village, there are other fun activities at Charlton Park. You can enjoy the outdoors and the beautiful scenery.
- Swimming Beach: The park has a swimming beach on the Thornapple River. It's a great spot to cool off on a warm day.
- Nature Trails: The large park area is perfect for walking and exploring nature. You can see different plants and animals.
- Special Events: Charlton Park often hosts special events. These might include historical reenactments or craft fairs. They help bring the past to life even more!
Images for kids
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Built in 1848, this inn was a stagecoach stop.
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Children attended this school from 1869 until 1923.
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This Barber Shop was built between 1889 and 1907.
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Constructed in 1852, this was the home of William E. Upjohn, who started a pharmaceutical company.
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The Carlton Center Church was built in 1885.
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Built in the late 1880s, this house was home to the village seamstress.
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The Hastings Township Hall was in use until 1988.
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This Blacksmith Shop was donated to the park in 1968.
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The Carpenter Shop.
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Built by John and Rachel Dillon in Maple Grove in 1858.
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Built by Irving Charlton in 1950.
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Hastings Mutual Insurance Co. operated in this building from 1908 to 1924.
