The word "hometown" has a warmth about it for many people. Hometown for a very few people in the world is Spring Arbor, Michigan. I am one of those rare people. The town is not that extraordinary. The most prominent icons of the community are Spring Arbor University and close behind, the Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church. Classic Spring Arbor does not focus on either of those; instead the emphasis is upon first-hand accounts of those who lived in or near the village in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The web page you are viewing is an archive of the discussions that began in 2009 and continue on Facebook.

Many of us have vivid memories of those times, sometimes pleasant and sometimes not so great, nonetheless they are memories that deserve to be shared. It also helps to hear others fill in the details of what we recall. The perspectives of others may help us better understand those experiences, and perhaps correct misconceptions.

If you are interested in reading stories about Sprring Arbor, and especially if you lived in or near Spring Arbor during those three decades, we invite you to join the group on Facebook and contribute your memories as well as enter into the dialogue. Please post your pictures from that era. You can also post newer pictures, if you have visited the town recently. Tell us about your discoveries and rediscoveries. You may also post videos and music here. Already available are songs by the 1968-69 jazz band at Western High, called "The Rats Band." Feel free to add recordings you may have of this time and place, Also check out the satellite view of town at the bottom of the page.

So welcome, take a look around, and join the group (it's free) to enter into the discussion, post pictures, and do all the other things this page permits. You will probably meet some great people you may not have seen for awhile. To join, just click on the tab at the top of this page. Enjoy!

Click here to to page one of the archive

(for other pages, use the tabs at the top of the page)

Click here to see a few enlarged photographs