Omena, Michigan
Encyclopedia
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 boasts several wineries featuring the best of the region's cherry and grape crop, for which the Grand Traverse and Leelanau areas are especially known. The nearest substantial city is Traverse City, a (25) minute drive.
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" derived 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.
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).
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.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Leelanau Township
Leelanau Township, Michigan
Leelanau Township is a civil township of Leelanau County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,139 at the 2000 census.- Communities and landmarks :...
of Leelanau County
Leelanau County, Michigan
-History:The county's name is said to be a Native American word meaning "delight of life", but it is a neologism made up by Indian agent and ethnographer Henry Schoolcraft, who sometimes gave the name "Leelinau" to Native American women in his tales. He created many faux Indian place names in...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Overlooking Omena Bay, on the western side of Grand Traverse Bay
Grand Traverse Bay
Grand Traverse Bay is a bay of Lake Michigan formed by part of Northern Michigan. The bay is long, 10 miles wide, and up to deep in spots. It is divided into two arms by the Old Mission Peninsula...
, Omena is home to wineries and farms including a thriving organic farming movement that includes cherries and hops. The area boasts several wineries featuring the best of the region's cherry and grape crop, for which the Grand Traverse and Leelanau areas are especially known. The nearest substantial city is Traverse City, a (25) minute drive.
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" derived from 'O-me-nah', an Ojibwe
Ojibwe language
Ojibwe , also called Anishinaabemowin, is an indigenous language of the Algonquian language family. Ojibwe is characterized by a series of dialects that have local names and frequently local writing systems...
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.
It was a stop on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad
Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad
The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad at its height provided passenger and freight railroad services between Cincinnati, Ohio and the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan, USA...
and was regarded as a summer resort area. Among others, Benjamin Grierson
Benjamin Grierson
Benjamin Henry Grierson was a music teacher and then a career officer in the United States Army. He was a cavalry general in the volunteer Union Army during the American Civil War and later led troops in the American Old West...
, a U.S. Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
general had a summer home in Omena, as did (General Byron Cutcheon).
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.
Further reading
- Powers, Perry F. A history of northern Michigan and its people. Assisted by Harry Gardner Cutler. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1912. p. 351
- Romig, Walter. Michigan Place Names. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1986.
- Wait, Steven Edwin and Anderson, William S. Old settlers; : a historical and chronological record, together with personal experiences and reminiscences of members of the Old settlers of the Grand Traverse region. Traverse City, Mich.: [Ebner brothers], 1918. p. 18
- Wakefield, Lawrence, Ed. "A History of Leelanau Township". Friends of the Leelanau Township Library, 1982. p. 188