Big World, Small Town

Nine years ago, my family and I said our final goodbyes to our home on East Street in Three Rivers and moved into the big world beyond the triple ripples. Well actually, we moved up to Portage, which I suppose isn’t really that big or that far away, but the move was the closing of one chapter of our lives and the beginning of another. We lived in TR for over 12 years, years that were undoubtedly some of the happiest of my life.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve come to love our new life in Portage. I can’t imagine having better neighbors, and I love being able to get to work in 10 minutes instead of 40. It’s also pretty nice to be within easy driving distance of “big city” shopping and restaurants, including a pub that has 100 beers on tap.

But as a decade of living out in the bigger world draws closer, I’ve come to realize there are many things I miss about life in small town Three Rivers.

1. The Downtown: As the saying goes, you don’t know what you’ve got until its gone. When we lived in Three Rivers, I used to take for granted the beautiful downtown that’s the crown jewel of the city. With its mix of retail and residential spaces, downtown Three Rivers has what big city Kalamazoo is just now developing in their downtown. And since I left, downtown TR has just gotten better. With the addition of businesses like Kelsey Block Brewing and Venue 45, vibrancy is reaching new heights. Downtowns are so important for community vitality that my new home in Portage, which doesn’t currently have a downtown, has talked seriously about developing one.

2. The Architecture: Our house in Three Rivers was the most beautiful home I’ve ever lived in. I remember moving in and being astounded to live in such an exquisite piece of architecture. Built in 1929, our Tudor Revival home had steep soaring roofs, cedar shake siding and a bay window in our second-floor bedroom. The house across the street was a Spanish Revival built using massive stones and featured a red tile roof. Three Rivers is filled with amazing homes like the one I was privileged to live in, and I miss being able to go for a walk and see that kind of beauty.

3. The Walkability: When I lived in Three Rivers, I could walk almost anywhere. If I wanted a book, I could walk down to Lowry’s. When Sunday morning came, I could walk a few blocks to church. When it was summer and I wanted to get some ice cream with my family, I could walk over to the now closed Goldie’s. Crossing busy streets was never a problem in Three Rivers and that lack of traffic made running a joy. When I lived in TR, I could run anywhere in the city without ever having to stop for cars or traffic lights. In Portage, I can’t even leave my subdivision without stopping at a major intersection.

4. The Local Retailers: While Portage is home to many major chain retailers, the local business scene is close to non-existent. When I lived in Three Rivers, there were countless small businesses that were uniquely TR. R. Stanley’s served delicious food that people came from miles around to eat. Lowry’s was, and still is, the best bookstore in southwest Michigan, and today, Watershed Voice provides a diverse mix of local content that’s usually only found in major metropolitan areas.

5. The People: Above all else, I miss the people of Three Rivers more than anything. I have fond memories of drinking beers with my friend Rick Bush in his downtown apartment and at the now-closed Pub 21. I probably never would have finished my first half marathon were it not for the cheery motivation of my TR friend Scott Soule, and Colleen Yonge’s Musikgarten class lit the spark of my daughter’s love of music that still burns bright to this day. TR is home to some truly awesome folks.
Although I moved away years ago, I still maintain many ties to Three Rivers. I still attend church in TR; I still write for TR publications, and my daughter is still a student of Mrs. Yonge even after all these years.

So if someone ever tells you that Three Rivers is not a unique and special place, please do not believe them. Three Rivers has had a profound effect on my life, and I will remain ever grateful for it.

Charles D. Thomas is a writer and psychotherapist who made Three Rivers his home for over a decade. Feedback is welcome at [email protected].