Omena, Michigan

Omena, Michigan
Unincorporated community
Looking south at Omena on M-22
Omena, Michigan
Location within Michigan
Coordinates: 45°03′20″N 85°35′20″W / 45.05556°N 85.58889°W / 45.05556; -85.58889Coordinates: 45°03′20″N 85°35′20″W / 45.05556°N 85.58889°W / 45.05556; -85.58889
Country United States
State Michigan
County Leelanau
Township Leelanau
Elevation 604 ft (184 m)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code 49674 (P.O. Box)
Area code(s) 231
FIPS code 26-60640[1]
GNIS feature ID 634055[2]

Omena is a small unincorporated community in Leelanau Township of Leelanau County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Overlooking Omena Bay, on the western side of Grand Traverse Bay, Omena is home to wineries and farms including a thriving organic farming movement that includes cherries and hops. The area has several wineries featuring some of the region's cherry and grape crop, for which the Grand Traverse and Leelanau areas are known. The nearest substantial city is Traverse City, a (25) minute drive.

History

In 1852, the Rev. Peter Daugherty relocated an Indian mission from Old Mission on the Old Mission Peninsula across the western arm of the Grand Traverse Bay to what was at first called "New Mission". He (built) a small Presbyterian church there as the nucleus of the community. The church continues an active schedule of services during the summer months. The word omena comes from 'o-me-nah', an Ojibwe Indian expression meaning "Is that so ?" or "Is that really true?", and was Rev. Daugherty's characteristic response to statements made by Indians. A post office with that name was established in February 1858. Omena also happens to mean "apple" in Finnish, but that is believed to be merely a coincidence.

It was a stop on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad and was regarded as a summer resort area. Among others, Benjamin Grierson, a U.S. Civil War general had a summer home in Omena, as did (General Byron Cutcheon).

Economy

The principal businesses in Omena include the Tamarack (Art) Gallery, the Leelanau Wine Cellars tasting room, Knot Just A Bar restaurant and the Omena Bay Country Store. Other buildings include a US Post Office and the (Putnam-Cloud Tower House) Museum and (home of Omena Historical Society).

The Omena Traverse Yacht Club forms a center of seasonal social life in Omena. Occasional social gatherings and sailing races take place at the club during the summer. The club has operated a summer youth camp, where children learn tennis and sailing.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Omena, Michigan

Further reading

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