Dowagiac- “The Grand Old City”
By Melissa Brumer
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It was a glacier that helped shape the destiny of Dowagiac. The Dowagiac River and Twin Lakes are remains of a glacial lake that once spread from Grand Rapids to Niles a long time ago. This unique geological past set the stage for the fertile lands the Potawatomi referred to as: Ndowagayuk, “foraging ground”; and later gave the city its start with William Renesten’s carding mill on the Dowagiac Creek in 1831.
Today, the picture-perfect town of Dowagiac is the home to many long-standing family-owned businesses such as Judd Lumber Company founded in 1859, and the Round Oak Company which helped shape the business district of downtown. Dowagiac has also been a popular vacation destination for generations of peace seekers. The pace is different here; there’s more space, time moves a little slower, the people are friendly, and it seems there are more opportunities to exhale. We arrived at the historic train depot and current Chamber of Commerce to begin our adventure. I was pleased to learn that Amtrak’s Blue Water Service stops here daily, which means hopping on a train from just about anywhere in Southwest Michigan to visit Dowagiac can be a fun and different alternative. The train depot is only blocks from Front Street, where the Beckwith Theater, many restaurants and quaint little shops are located. The downtown is fabulous. In the 1980s, the streetscapes were restored to reveal their glorious Victorian roots, and today there is nearly zero vacancy along Front Street. The specialty stores like Suite Dreams, The Painted Lady, and The Marshall Shoppe are open year round and are huge attractions for summer visitors and local shoppers alike. I enjoyed perusing the nooks and crannies of Suite Dreams, and I imagined filling a home I will someday own with their simple and elegant furnishings and home accents.
We were looking forward to eating at the well-known Wood Fire Italian Tratorria after hearing such great reviews about their wood-fired pizzas, and their fresh ingredients. When we walked in, the first thing I noticed was the warmth and beauty of the building. Local artist Carol Ego painted the murals which cover all the walls in the “Pompeii” Room, the ceilings are extremely high, and every detail has been taken into account in the creation of this romantic restaurant. More than half of their menu items are roasted in the wood oven, including steaks, seafood, pork chops, and basil chicken. Some of their pizza ingredients include an onion puree sauce, a mushroom duxelle sauce; wild mushroom and Italian sausage as toppings; mozzarella, feta, provolone, or fresh pecorino romano cheese. I chose the lunch buffet for $7.00 and was extremely satisfied with a choice of several different pastas, salads, soups and delicious fresh fruit. I finished with a fresh cup of coffee, which was itself noteworthy. Upon leaving, I learned that the Wood Fire also offers live jazz and blues entertainment throughout the week on a regular basis.( See contact info below for more details.)
Dowagiac is a fun, unique, and interesting venture worth a day trip for anyone, any time of year. However, perhaps one of the most popular festivals in Southwest Michigan occurs here in Dowagiac every May, drawing roughly 300,000 people over the course of nine days- The Dogwood Fine Arts Festival.
Bobbie Jo Hartline, the Executive Director of the festival, enthusiastically explained to us over lunch,

“Fifteen years ago, the festival began with volunteers and one event with the motto: “If not us, then who?!”

The festival is named after the plentiful Dogwood trees in the area, and is held during the season in which they blossom, symbolizing new birth/ beginnings. Venues across the city will feature visual arts, music, literature, theater, story telling, dancing and classes. Headlining the festival this year is author Michael Cunningham, who wrote The Hours and Specimen Days, author Michael Collins, artist Dale Threlkeld, storyteller Antonio Rocha, The Kalamazoo Ballet Company, and Bering Strait.
When you plan your visit to Dowagiac, make sure to venture into the beautiful countryside surrounding the downtown area. Here are a few places worth the venture…
The Old Rugged Cross- is a historic site just off of highway M-51 in between Niles and Dowagiac. This building was originally a hops barn, constructed in 1862, and in 1876 the Methodist Episcopal congregation purchased it to use as a place of worship for 39 years. A multi-denominational non-profit organization is now in charge of the upkeep and restoration, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places at the national level of historic significance. The memorial garden is a beautiful place for tours, picnics and weddings
Butler Tree Farm and Campground- Sam and Brenda Butler are committed to “provide a warm, country atmosphere for the whole family to enjoy all year round.” There is a craft and gift shop and a bake shop open on the weekends, an “animal family” welcomes visitors all year round, and the camping is primitive but they also offer a log cabin which sleeps 5. Seasonal highlights are the U-pick pumpkin patch and wagon rides, and of course the 8 varieties of high quality Christmas trees and Christmas wagon rides.
Indian Lake Hills Golf Course- is the “Landmark on the Lake”. There are three different courses rolling through majestic trees, ponds, and beautiful apple orchards. They offer full service golf outings, golf packages with area hotels, lessons, a restaurant, bar and pavilion all overlooking Indian Lake.
How ever you decide to plan your trip, it is sure to be delightful. Make your next day off a commitment to enjoying the treasures Southwest Michigan has to offer, step back in time, to a slower paced day and enjoy the “Grand Old City” of Dowagiac.