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Architecture for the Ages An Up North color tour made for mid-century-modern junkies
By Lynda Wheatley Not that we ever need an excuse to cruise the scenic roads snaking west from Traverse City to Leelanau and Benzie counties, or north to Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Harbor Springs. But this year seems extra special. An especially mild autumn has left loads of gold and orange leaves standing tall throughout these temperate lakeside spots. And while traditional fall color tour activities like apple picking and hayrides might be past prime, a leisurely drive to cool destinations never goes out of style. One we and mid-century modern architect buffs are especially loving this year: Docomomo’s 2021 Northwest Michigan Driving Tour, masterminded by Jacqueline Shinners and Susan Bandes, members and Northwest Michigan chairs of the Michigan chapter of Docomomo, aka the International Committee for Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites, and Neighborhoods of the Modern Movement, founded in the Netherlands in 1988. The tour they’ve crafted highlights
dozens of Up North homes, churches, schools, and other buildings that exemplify mid-century chic — and the many local architects who brought the innovative style to our rural and small-town-dotted region in the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. If you’re looking for a reason to road trip before the gales of November sweep those leaves away, you can choose any or all of three self-guided, pre-planned loops in Traverse City at tcdrivingtourwebsi.wixsite. com/tour — or craft your own from the multi-county assortment of gems suggested at www.docomomo-mi.org/tourday/ traversecity.
Bay (shown here), selling the same delicious fudge, in a small building along the highway recognized from a distance by its “rooftop box of fudge.” Although a September 2018 fire, which started in the basement and blazed up under the floors and into the structure’s walls, threatened the iconic 60s-era roadside stand, only the post-fire smoke-scented fudge was a total loss. The shop is still in operation today, and — hint — Murdick’s seasonal pumpkin fudge is available until the end of November.
2. Round’s Restaurant 1033 East Eighth St., Traverse City Originally called Round’s Circle Inn Here, a sampling of what awaits: Restaurant, this 1948 low, one-story structure located in what was once known as Eastfield District, has retained its original exterior with 1. Doug Murdick’s Fudge minimal change. The door was moved to the 4500 US-31, Acme center, and the stone brick wall was raised to Perhaps it was the Murdick family create a semicircular garden bed. The building that put fudge on the Michigan map. The is distinguished by its semi-circular extension original family of fudge makers sold a fudge and echoes the circular shape of the signage in noted for its unduplicated creaminess. Their reference to the original owners, William and descendent Doug Murdick his Jashinksky. first Mary Round. Today it is most noted for an allOil onopened wood by Judy store in downtown Traverse City in 1964. In day breakfast specializing in homemade velvet 1965 he opened a second location on East corned beef hash.
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3. The Dairy Lodge 405 North Division St., Traverse City While everything else around this small, square 1959 building has changed or been razed, the Dairy Lodge has stayed the same. It serves as a prime example of now-vanishing roadside architecture that once symbolized a growing America when the automobile and new roads on which to explore this vast country reigned. It is easily recognized by its iconic image of a woman with blond hair on one side and brown hair on the other, wearing a Santa cap, in front of an igloo, riding an ice cream cone. 4. St. Michael’s Lutheran Church 912 S. Garfield Ave., Traverse City By Orus O. Eash, Bauer & Eash, 1955 5. Shirley S. Okerstrom Fine Arts Building 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City By Norman Fletcher, The Architects Collaborative When Northwestern Michigan College was founded in 1951, it operated out of the Cherry Capital Terminal Photo on cancasAirport by Marcella Hadden. building until 1955 when it moved to its present location, a 100-acre campus under a grove of magnificent
