Harbor Springs information

Harbor Springs is a city in Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,567 at the 2000 census.
Harbor Springs is in a sheltered bay on the north shore of the Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. The Little Traverse Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse on the Harbor Point peninsula that forms the natural harbor there. M-119 connects with US 31 seven mile east and south at Bay View, with Petoskey just five miles away on the south side of the harbor.
Founded by the Jesuits, Harbor Springs was once called L'Arbre Croche, which means Crooked Tree. In 1847, L'Arbre Croche had the largest concentration of Indians in the states. French traders renamed the area Petit Traverse, or Little Traverse, when they arrived in the area. The village was eventually incorporated as Harbor Springs in 1880.
One of the cities more prominent members is the late Ephraim Shay, who was most famous for the invention of the Shay locomotive. The hexagonal shaped house he built in downtown Harbor Springs still stands today. The local elementary school is named after him (http://www.harborps.org/School%20Pages/Shay/Shay%20Main/Default.htm Shay Elementary)
The city swells in the summer tourist "season" - which generally ranges from Memorial Day to Labor Day - and has a picturesque, New England feel to it year-round. Popular activities include boating, sailing, strolling on the city pier, playing tennis, and shopping the 4-block downtown area, which boasts an inordinate number of upscale shops for such a small area. The downtown area includes several restaurants, including the historic Mary Ellen's (an authentic '50's-style soda fountain), the local favorite pizza place, Turkey's (named for its owner, who apparently "hobbled like a turkey" when injuring himself during high school football season), and Bar Harbor, famed for its burgers and as a gathering place for yachtsmen. Juilleret's is a popular family-run restaurant that began in 1895 when Joseph and Martha Juilleret opened a boat livery and ice cream parlor on the same location. Juilleret's has remained in the family since, making it Michigan's oldest family-run restrauant. In 1975 the current owner James Juilleret (fourth generation), took over operations of the business. 2007 however, will be the last year that Juilleret's remains opened, saddening many locals. Gurney's Bottle Shop has take-out deli sandwiches complete with homemade bread that are very popular. (...) more....

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