If you are planning a little drive to Charlevoix and feel like taking the scenic route, you will probably think of Barnard Road. It intersects US 31 a couple of miles north of M-88. To your left, Norwood Road plunges down to the Bay. To your right, Barnard Road heads east and then northeast, rising into rolling farmland where the hamlet of Barnard once stood. Eventually it meanders its way into Charlevoix. Photographer Babs Young went that way the other day, and brought us a souvenir.
Barnard Road in Winter, by Babs Young
The moment I saw the photo I wanted to know who owned that house, and when the barns were built, and whether that interesting red outbuilding is a repurposed one-room schoolhouse. I remembered exploring Barnard on a summer evening. There was an old cemetery, a church, a Grange Hall. There was a mystery . . . what was it? Something to do with a memorial, something buried . . . I had to go back.
Monday morning Bruce the Weatherman and Andi his Beloved picked me up and whisked me off to Friske’s for breakfast. It was a fine day, and I concocted a plan. How would you like to go on a little adventure? I asked, all innocence. So off we went to Barnard Road.
I ended up with more questions than answers and I’ve spent the better part of the last two days trying to construct a post. Today you get Part 1. One day soon you will get Part 2. The Cowboy and I are exhausted. We are going to have a nap.
Torch Lake Views 
tootlepedal
February 9, 2016
I eagerly await part two. Enjoy your nap.
Gerry
February 9, 2016
zzzzz . . .
billbennett37
February 9, 2016
Jerry, I was going to do a little comment on your site having to do with the Barnard Road article but have lost track of my user and password from some years ago.Thought I had it in my Rolodex ? Thanks, Bill Bennett
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Gerry
February 9, 2016
Hi Bill! Nice to hear from you. It looks like you succeeded after all, but only on the second try. I’ll send you an email and we’ll get it all straight.
Gerry
February 9, 2016
Bill sent me this by email (commenting can be a pesky business, but I will do ANYTHING for excellent stories):
This is what I want to post Gerry …thanks…
Barnard Road sparks a memory of a Bennett/Smith reunion that me and my family attended there at the grange hall in the early 1970’s.Clayton Smith of (Smith’s Little Acre… Charlevoix) took charge of making announcements and of course there was a great feast of the many dishes everyone had brought along. Barnard is the center of many descendents of mine and my great aunt Mary Jane Bennett had married John Smith in 1884. I recall my dad having made the list of all that were there that day.Very peaceful place that I never will forget.
Gerry
February 9, 2016
And just so you know – yes, I will be pestering Bill for more information about Barnard Road.
WOL
February 9, 2016
Gorgeous picture — how do you pronounce “Charlevoix?”
Gerry
February 9, 2016
I think the picture is gorgeous too. Most of us pronounce it shar-leh-voy. Although I have heard certain people say it closer to shah-leh-voy. I am positive no one from France ever says it that way. (Of course they probably don’t pronounce Detroit and Gratiot the way we do, either!)
Karma
February 9, 2016
Looking forward to seeing what you found out!
Gerry
February 9, 2016
Yay! Karen’s here, bring out the excellent treats. I am still finding out things and getting distracted too. Be patient with an old lady.
shoreacres
February 10, 2016
I’ll be especially patient with you. I’m desperately trying to stick to my once-a-week schedule with part two about my stay at the fort, but these things take time — especially when research and photos are involved.
I was tickled to see the phrase “grange hall” up there. I have wonderful memories of picnics/community dinners at an Iowa grange hall near to our home. Those went the way of dinner and singing on the grounds. It makes me feel all warm and peaceful, just thinking about it.
Re: pronunciation — I laughed at certain discussions that took place during the Iowa caucus about exactly how to pronounce Des Moines. I didn’t realize so many possibilities existed. Some truly believe “Dez Moin-EZ” was it.
Gerry
February 10, 2016
Thank you. The best part of the delay is that Bill Bennett knows some things and is going to tell them to me!
I hope you will write about your Iowa grange hall memories-now that I think of it, maybe you have. I’ll go search. Anyway, Around Here it’s always Grange because is isn’t a phrase, it’s still an organization. So we have Grange halls and Masonic halls and who knows what-all. Of course, a lot of old Grange halls have been repurposed. I see that I have another post to write. Besides Barnard Part 2 I mean.
In Michigan we say Deh MOIN or Dah MOIN (that would be the Finn coming out in us). How do you pronounce Des Moines? (Surely you listen to A Way with Words . . . don’t you just love this stuff? I love this stuff.)
OK, back to work. I have lots of snow to clear and it’s still coming down.
dawnkinster
February 10, 2016
Some people think Ted Cruz can’t pronounce Nevada. Anyway…..love this photo…love farms in general. I didn’t know about Barnard Road or I would have explored it last summer when Katie and I were camping at Fisherman’s Island. Maybe next time.
Gerry
February 10, 2016
I did not know that about Nevada. Once you know even more about Barnard Road you will want to make a special trip just to drive out there.
dawnkinster
February 10, 2016
Oh. Forgot. It’s still snowing here too. Day 2 of snow for pretty much the whole winter so far. And I’m already over it. Came out of rehearsal into wind and snow and decided I don’t like winter so much after all.
The Cowboy is so tired he didn’t even get himself entirely on the sofa. Poor little guy.
Gerry
February 10, 2016
The Cowboy had been all curled up in the corner of the sofa until he relaxed . . . and relaxed more . . .