Omena is a small community in Leelanau County located between Suttons Bay and Northport. Omena began in 1852 when Reverend Peter Daugherty brought a band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians from Old Mission and settled in what is now Omena. In 1858 the Protestant Church was dedicated, and is the oldest in Leelanau County. As legend has it, services have been held every Sunday since the church was dedicated. That same year a post office was established in the village.
In 1868 Valentine Miller built a dock which was used to fuel passing steamers, and allowed passengers to disembark. By 1884 so many summer tourists came to the area that a group of Cincinnati businessmen purchased what was the mission school and remodeled it. The mission school soon became the Leelanau Hotel, attracting visitors from all over Lake Michigan. In 1903 the Manistee and Northeastern Railroad reached Northport, stopping in Omena which allowed more summer tourists to arrive in the area.
It is said that the name "omena" was an Ojibwe expression that meant "is that so?" or "is that really true." Local tradition says that Rev. Daugherty responded to most statements made by his flock with "omena." Another meaning of Omena is "apple" from the Finnish word, although it is not known if many Finns arrived in the area.
Today Omena is perfectly situated on beautiful Grand Traverse Bay and backed by stunning rolling hills filled with orchards, vineyards, farms, and forests. Many of Leelanau Counties orchards are found near Omena, as are many vineyards. One of The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association wineries is located in Omena, and many others are just minutes away near Suttons Bay. The Tamarack Gallery must be visited. According to Traverse Magazine, it "has one of the best collections of sculpture to be found anywhere in Northern Michigan."
Wikipedia's Omena entry
Omena Historical Society
The Enterprise has a little more about Sugar Loaf in this week's paper, but since they haven't posted it, I thought I'd link to this article about Sugar Loaf suitors and Omena residents Brad & Linda Lutz from last week.
I should also link over to the Traverse City Record-Eagle, whose editors say Brad has a steep hill to climb and though:
It's easy to imagine Brad Lutz as just another Sugar Loaf victim in waiting. He's never done this before and he is treading where others have failed.
But a lot of people also wrote off Ray Minervini, the developer who took over the Grand Traverse Commons and, step by step, has revitalized parts of the former state hospital grounds.
We at Leelanau.com: Jeremy, Fred, Steve, Jen, Andy and our families would like to wish all of you the happiest of holiday seasons and the very best for the year to come.
We very much appreciate the business we have received and also everyone who visits our site and shares our love for this beautiful part of the earth.
If you have a holiday message to share with everyone that you please post it in the comments below!
The photo is Christmas at Tamarack Gallery by tamarackgallery, and you can see more photos from the gallery right here and also visit the web site for Tamarack Gallery in Omena.
Yesterday's Traverse City Record-Eagle reported that Leelanau Wine Cellars of Omena was the Michigan winery #1 for in-state sales in 2006, selling almost 686,000 liters (up 45% from 2005). The previous #1, St. Julian of Paw Paw is likely still the top producer in Michigan due to extensive out-of-state sales.
"We've really been going through a lot of dramatic growth over the past five years," said Bob Jacobsen, owner of Leelanau Wine Cellars, where officials are getting ready to open a new processing facility in an old cherry plant north of Omena. "We're really at the volume we're at much faster than I anticipated."
Other Leelanau wineries in the top 10 of Michigan sales were Black Star Farms, Good Harbor Vineyards and L. Mawby Vineyards. Chateau Grand Traverse and Chateau Chantal on Old Mission also made the top 10.
Read Region boasts six of state's top 10 wineries in the Record-Eagle.
Photo: Wine Harvest II by Andy McFarlane.
The 2007 Leelanau County CROP Walk will be held this Sunday (Sep 23) at 2 PM at the Omena Presbyterian Church.
The CROP Walk (CROP: Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) supports many causes around the world. 25% of all the proceeds raised at the walk come back to help procure food for the Leelanau Christian Neighbors Food Pantry, with the rest supporting both domestic and international poverty-reducing efforts.
"It still surprises some Americans that there are people here in the richest nation in the world who go to bed hungry because they cannot afford to buy food," says Rev. John L. McCullough, executive director and CEO of Church World Service. "These local CROP Hunger Walks, organized by individuals and faith communities in cities and towns all across the U.S., raise awareness about hunger and give people a way to help both in their own communities and around the world."
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture report "Household Food Security in the United States, 2005," 11 percent of U.S. homes did not have access "to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members" at least some time during the year.
In what has become an annual tradition in the thousands of communities that participate, an interfaith, multi-cultural collection of CROP walkers encourage friends, neighbors, colleagues, merchants and places of worship to donate dollars to support their participation in walks of up to 10 km. Participants, many with readily identifiable red and white signs, range in age from babies in strollers to seniors--and even the occasional jogger.
The annual Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association Harvest Stompede Vineyard Run & Walk will be held next Saturday morning (Sep 22). The race is considered one of the most scenic running events in the Midwest and it's returning to the Leelanau Peninsula for the seventh year. There are options for everyone from serious runners to more recreational runners and walkers and its about the only time you'll be able to run through vineyards without being chased by winemakers!
On both Saturday and Sunday there is also a wine trail tour and you can get tickets and much more information from the Harvest Stompede page at the LPVA web site!
Friday night from 5-9 PM there is a gallery walk in downtown Traverse City galleries that features many of the Leelanau vintners.
Omena is a small community in Leelanau County located between Suttons Bay and Northport.
Omena began in 1852 when Reverend Peter Daugherty brought a band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians from Old Mission and settled in what is now Omena. In 1858 the Protestant Church was dedicated, and today is the oldest in Leelanau County. As legend has it, services have been held every Sunday since the church was dedicated. The same year the Church was dedicated, a post office was established in the village.
In 1868 Valentine Miller built a dock which was used to fuel passing steamers, and allowed passengers to disembark. By 1884 so many summer tourists came to the area that a group of Cincinnati businessmen purchased what was the mission school and remodeled it. The mission school soon became the Leelanau Hotel, attracting visitors from all over Lake Michigan. In 1903 the Manistee and Northeastern Railroad reached Northport, stopping in Omena which allowed more summer tourists access to the area.
It is said that the name "omena" was an Ojibwe expression that meant "is that so?" or "is that really true." Local tradition says that Rev. Daugherty responded to most statements made by his flock of Native Americans with the expression "omena." Another meaning of Omena is "apple" from the Finnish word, although it is not known if many Finns arrived in the area.
Today Omena is perfectly situated on beautiful Grand Traverse Bay and backed by stunning rolling hills filled with orchards, vineyards, farms, and forests. Many of Leelanau Counties orchards are found near Omena, as are many vineyards. One of The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association wineries is located in Omena, and many others are just minutes away near Suttons Bay. The Tamarack Gallery is a gallery that must be visited. According to Traverse Magazine, it "has one of the best collections of sculpture to be found anywhere in Northern Michigan."
Local area links:
Wikipedia's Omena entry
Omena Historical Society
Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce's Omena page
The other day Cher Fettes drove from Empire to Northport for the Gallery Walk. Along the way, she stuck her camera out of the sunroof and clicked away. To view the results, click for her Off the top slideshow and then change the speed in the bottom left to fast. It's just like a summer drive ... only faster. Astute viewers may notice a little extra back-and-forth - we're guessing she'll remember the concert tickets next time!
Cher and her husband Tom own Cheyenne Glass in Empire.
The Leelanau Enterprise reports that the homes for the annual Northport Womens Club Home Tour (Wed, July 18 from 9:30 - 4:30) have been set. The five homes include Dan and Sue Brondyk’s chameleon home on M-22 between Leland & Northport (pictured right) and the Putnam Cloud Tower House in Omena, home of the Omena Historical Society & Museum.
Tickets are available at locations around Northport & Omena - click over to the Enterprise for additional contacts!
Photo credit: ? by jonwilli.
Here's a photo for you taken last week on Omena Bay - have a great weekend!
