Wearing a "Crown", This Happy Face Greets Commuters Every Day

There’s a town in Muskegon County that is a nice little place, but probably garners extra attention for one particular reason:

The water tower.

It’s a big yellow smiley face atop long metal legs, with antennas on top that almost look like horns.....or a crown. The happy face greets travelers and residents every day, making even grumpy people get in a better mood.

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Fruitport was founded by Edward Craw in 1868, who immediately named it "Crawville". The name didn’t seem to set very well, making people think to themselves “Crawville? What the heck?” So when the Pere Marquette Railroad built a station through the following year, it was decided to re-name the village “Fruitport” as it happened to sit within a successful fruit-growing area.

Although Craw is mentioned as the town founder, the first person to live in the township was Seth H. Norris in 1836. Then, around the same time, Jacob Chapman became the actual first settler in the village of Fruitport.

In 1857, Fruitport started their fruit growing. Samuel Torrans had peaches already bearing that year as did others later. With the success of peaches, apples soon followed.

In 1866, resident, Capt. E. L. Craw realized he could also make some serious dough if he started growing fruit. He bought several hundred acres, planted thirty acres of peach trees, and his dreams of big dough came true.

In the winter of 1874-5, the harsh temperatures killed nearly all the peach buds. Not giving up, the residents were resilient and continued to succeed.

What Fruits Can You Find Growing in Fruitport?

Around the Fruitport area you can find more fruits growing: blueberries, cherries, grapes, nectarines, pears, plums, and strawberries.....the town really lives up to its name!

No wonder the water tower is smiling.....