October 10

It’s a chilly 39 degrees under sunny skies as I walk east on a railroad track from the Gratiot County village of Perrinton (population of 400) toward another encounter with Pine Creek. From 1888 to 1956, the track was used daily to run passenger and freight trains from Muskegon to Ashley and back. Presently, a rare freight train uses this track to haul grain between elevators in Ashley and Middleton. Up ahead beside the tracks, I spot leaves changing into their autumn colors including, Sugar Maple and Sycamore Maple while in the distance, a Whitetail deer looks my way. Arriving at my destination, I descend a steep slope and look up to admire the sturdy trestle that spans the creek. After gazing downstream, I explore the bank where blossoms of Black Mustard and Pennsylvania Smartweed catch my eye. Moving upstream, I pause to take in the sights and sounds of this peaceful landscape. Next, I come upon a drain tile that empties into the creek from nearby cropland and wonder if any pollutants make their way into this watercourse. Moving back toward the tracks, I notice a huge glacial erratic boulder. Unlike the one I saw last week that weighed a 1000+ pounds, this one is at least twice as large. About 10,000 years ago during the last ice age, massive flowing glaciers eroded bedrock from Canada and dragged large fragments, such as this one, south to Michigan where they were deposited when the glacier stalled or melted back. Back on the tracks and proceeding west, I pick up the duet of a Blue Jay and Chipmunk. Further along, I see the tiny white blossoms of Heath Aster and the bright red berries of Maple Leaf Viburnum. Finally, I reach the car, parked on the north side of Perrinton. Founded in 1886, this tiny village owes its existence largely to the fact that a railroad track was built and required a station (stock photo) here. When building a station became a certainty, Ansel Phinney, one of the founders of the village of Ashley, proceeded to purchase land and plat a village. The projected village was named “Perrin” in honor of a prominent firm of lawyers from St Johns. Later the name was changed to “Perrinton” because there was already a post office named “Perrin.” Quoting Gratiot County historical records, “Perrinton is in excellent farming country. As a trading post, Perrinton is up to standards with dealers and stocked to satisfy all demands of a discriminating public. The village is fairly supplied with religious societies. It is a peaceful, law-abiding town where the churches are doing their full duty and are amply sufficient in numbers and influence.”

 

Coat of many colors

Nature can’t defer

Green lost its hold

Others begin to stir

Shades of orange

Find the maple leaf

Yellow starts to show

Joins aspen motif

Red’s wait is over

Responding to its cue

Many yet to cover

Early autumn debut

 

D. DeGraaf