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 Downtown Development Authority
Village of Port Sanilac
PO Box 107
56 N. Ridge St.
Port Sanilac, MI 48469
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| September 2009 |
Vol 1, Issue 5 |
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Port Sanilac Portal
All the Good News about Port Sanilac |
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| Greetings! |
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September is here and with its arrival the tourist season in Port Sanilac is coming to an end. The summer has been successful for Port Sanilac. New events and activities, new businesses, and new construction have all added to the excitement felt throughout our town. But just because the tourist season has slowed doesn't mean the progress of Port Sanilac has. Keep reading the Port Sanilac Portal for all of the good news about what's happening in Port Sanilac. |
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Port Sanilac Coin Laundry Now Open |
The owners of the oldest hardware in Michigan are now the owners of Port Sanilac's newest business - the Port Sanilac Coin Laundry! For many years Port Sanilac had been without the convenience of a coin laundry, forcing people to places as far away as Croswell and Sandusky to do their laundry. Thanks to David and Judy Blaine that is no longer the case.
 "As owners of the hardware we often had people asking us about where they could do their laundry, now there is a place for us to direct them to," said David. "We're very pleased to be able to fill this need in our community."
The laundromat is located at the former location of the Dry Dock Cafe. In April 2009 the Cafe was torn down and construction of the laundromat began. The Blaines worked with local contractors to complete the building, which was finished in late July. The machines were installed in early August and the laundromat opened for business on August 20, 2009.
The coin laundry provides a number of options for its patrons. Featuring both front loading and top loading washing machines it is possible to wash everything from daily laundry to over-sized blankets and quilts. The largest of the washers are able to handle loads of up to 60 pounds, making them ideal for heavy items such as sleeping bags. All of the washers use softened water, which reduces the wear and tear on both clothing and machine.
There are 8 standard dryers and one extra-large dryer  capable of handling up to five loads of laundry or over-sized items. The extra-large dryer, with a three foot door, can dry up to 75 pounds of clothing or blankets.
Other amenities include vending machines for laundry products, snacks, and cold drinks, air conditioning, a fully functioning coin machine, and a handicapped equipped bathroom. Free WiFi, provided by the DDA, is also accessible from the laundromat. For the safety of its patrons the laundromat uses a video surveillance system.
The Port Sanilac Coin Laundry is located at 32 South Ridge Street, directly across from Raymond Hardware. It is open daily from 7 am to 9 pm. |
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Farmers' Market Keeps Growing |
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The Port Sanilac Farmers' Market has enjoyed great success this summer! Starting in late May with eight vendors, the market has grown to host more than 15 vendors. These farmers and artisans sell everything from fresh vegetables and baked goods to honey and hand-made crafts.
The market will remain open through October 30, every Friday from 3 to 7 pm.
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Antique
Boat Show a Success |
The 1st Annual Antique Boat Show, held the third weekend in August, was a wonderful success.
The weather for the weekend was perfect and brought crowds of people out to see the boats. And there were boats to see! More than 34 boats were docked in the harbor on Saturday, ranging from a lovely, little dinghy to a 57 foot yacht. The antique tractors and model boats also attracted admirers and compliments.
Most importantly to the success of future shows, the boaters had a wonderful time. In fact, the ACBS commodore, Jack Warren, was heard to say, "This is the best show this year!"
Congratulations to the boat show committee and volunteers for a job well done!
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Deckerville Depot Finds New Home At Museum |
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The Deckerville train depot has found a new home at the Sanilac County Historical Museum. The Museum is home to a variety of historical buildings, including the Loop-Harrison Mansion, the Huckins school house, the Banner log cabin, and now the Deckerville train depot.
 "After years of hard work and fundraising I am thrilled to finally see the depot on the museum grounds!" stated Gaylord Gill, a member of the Port Sanilac Historical Society.
The depot was built in 1883 by the Pere Marquette Railroad to serve the village of Deckerville. When the railway stopped passenger travel the depot was abandoned. Joyce and Harold Reid purchased the building from the Village of Deckerville 22 years ago and moved it to their property where it served as a private historical museum. Two years ago the Reids graciously donated the depot to the Sanilac County Historical Museum.
A fundraising campaign, spearheaded by Gaylord Gill, was put into action to raise the necessary funds to move and renovate the depot. A variety of fundraisers were employed, including Victorian and Taste-of-the-World dinners, and a King-of-the-Road hobo event. After two years the money to move the depot had been raised. The museum employed Brad Cummings to coordinate and complete the move.
On Tuesday, August 25, the depot was set on its 16 mile journey from Deckerville to Port Sanilac. Following mostly back roads, chosen for their ease of passage, and accompanied by crews from various electric companies, tree trimmers, and at one point a police escort, the depot slowly made its way across the county.
 The Deckerville Depot is now resting in its new foundation behind the church on the museum grounds. There are a number of renovations to be completed before the depot will be opened for display. Project manager, Gaylord Gill, hopes to have the depot renovations completed within the next three years. Once completed the depot will serve as the location for historical information regarding the trains that once ran throughout Sanilac County. There will be a variety of locomotive tools and paraphernalia on display.
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Construction Continues
The Changing Face of Port Sanilac |
| A lot of changes are happening in Port Sanilac's downtown. There is construction on two of the main corners and new sidewalks being installed on M-46.
 The Northwest corner, formerly the Ride-On Cafe, was purchased by the DDA in 2004. It was, in turn, sold to Lavdas Properties, a developer from the Detroit area. Now under construction, the completed building will house a variety of street-front, retail spaces, with parking in the rear.
The Northeast corner, formerly the Blue Water Inn, is being redeveloped by Harper Construction in cooperation with the Village. The Village received a historical renovation grant  from the State of Michigan to restore this beautiful building to its original facade. In order to meet the grant requirements the village chose to partner with a developer, Harper Construction, and redevelop the building into retail space. Currently, the building houses the Birds and Bees Nursery. It is expected to house a sports bar and a variety of other retail storefronts.  The sidewalk from Martin St. east to Waun's Barber Shop has been in disrepair for a number of years. The village, partnering with the DDA, is replacing this sidewalk. The sidewalk will extend to the curb in front of the barber shop and then narrow to a standard residential sidewalk the remaining length of the block. Not only will this improve the safety from tripping hazards for those walking along M-46, it will also improve the beauty of our village. | |
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NEEDED:
Port Sanilac Village Council Member |
Due to the unfortunate resignation of Ruth Ann Pries from the Port Sanilac village council, a council seat has opened.
Anyone interested in serving on the council should send a letter of interest to the village office - 56 N. Ridge St., Port Sanilac, MI 48469. Call the office at 810-622-9963 with questions.
Requirements:
Council members must be a village elector who is not in default to the village. |
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WANTED
Your Pictures of Port Sanilac |
We are always seeking out new pictures of our beautiful town. Please e-mail your photos to info@portsanilac.net
Please only send pictures that you would like to share with the world. Your pictures may be used on websites and in publications related to Port Sanilac. |
We are always looking to improve our town and our services, your input is weclome. Please forward any comments or questions to info@portsanilac.net. Sincerely,
The Port Sanilac Downtown Development Authority
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