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April - The Historic Villages of Van Buren County
2007-11-04
In the mid-1800s, Van Buren County thrived as water-powered industries grew along millstreams. But after those first heady decades, population levels dwindled and the small villages deteriorated.
In the 1980s a few people envisioned that Bentonsport’s unique architecture could come alive again with tourism. As buildings were purchased and restored artisans moved in, and the area became a tourist draw. Three miles downriver, Bonaparte took notice of its neighbor’s modest success. A group of citizens created a downtown development corporation and within a month raised $100,000 and began refurbishing downtown buildings. Steadily, new businesses have blossomed and the town is prospering.
Village-by-village, Van Buren County has made a come back. Resident and blacksmith Bill Printy comments, “Many small towns have a uniqueness about them, but you can just hear a lot of them gasping their last breaths. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of our small towns could be thriving little places?”
Adapted from story written by Nate Hoogeveen Photo by Jerry DeWitt
