Eaton Rapids profile highlights island downtown and long-running businesses

Eaton Rapids carries the nickname Michigan’s Island City because its downtown sits on land surrounded by the Grand River. The mid-Michigan city has just over 5,000 residents and is described as the only city with its name.

Local landmarks include a city park that houses what is thought to be the last remaining Parrott Rifle, an experimental Union Army cannon made in 1864. A corner phone booth also bears a sign calling it possibly the only phone booth.

Pettit Hardware has operated for 140 years, making it Eaton Rapids’ oldest local business. The store is inside a building constructed in 1866 with original wood flooring and ornate ceiling tiles.

The Gold Thimble, a quilting shop opened by Eaton Rapids resident Wendy Stahl, has been open for four months. Former Mayor Paul Malewski, who served from 2018 through 2021, now teaches kayaking with Team River Runner.

Read the full story at WKAR.