Coldwater:
A nod to the past with a focus on the future
Written by Miriam Downey
Email
to a friend
There are two Coldwaters. There is the commercial district that travelers
see as they exit I-69 to get gas, shop at Wal-Mart and Meijer, or go
to the movie. Then, there is the Victorian Coldwater filled with gracious
homes, delightful shops on an historic main street, and a theater that
harks back to 1882. Coldwater appears to be thriving, much as it has
since it became the county seat in the 1860s. The town is situated on
the corner of US-12 and I-69 
which has made it an industrial and commercial
center as well as home to about 10,000 people.
The stately homes have been restored to their original glory and the Victorian
storefronts are filled with interesting and unique shops. Debra Yee, the Executive
Director of the Branch County Tourism Bureau served as our guide for the day.
She has immense knowledge of the area and delights in pointing out all the treasures
of this remarkable small town.
We ate lunch in a delightfully restored department store, the North
Woods Coffee Co. J.B. Branch and Co. was the premier department store
in the area for over a hundred years. Much of the splendor of the department
store has been retained including the large entryway with glass showcases
facing the street and the huge wrought iron elevator that holds gifts.
Now owned by Ron and Kathi Waligora, the building includes outdoor seating
in the summer and a fireplace for the winter as well as a huge array
of gifts.
Breakfast and lunch are served daily and coffee and baked goods are available
all day long. We had tasty lobster bisque served in a multi-grain bread bowl,
but the restaurant also serves many kinds of salads and sandwiches. It appears
to be a popular gathering spot; the tables in the balcony area and the cozy
lower level were filled with local business people and shoppers.
1 | 2 | 3 | Next>
