Anyone who's heard of the BryonySeries (and if you're on this blog, you have), may also heard of Munsonville, Michigan, and wondered where it's located and why it was even included in the series (especially the novels) in the first place.
So here is an encyclopedia-style explanation along with a reminder of the BryonySeries graduation special at The Book Market in Crest Hill.
What is Munsonville, Michigan?
Munsonville is an imaginary fishing village in the equally imaginary
Beulah County in the northern part of U.S. state of Michigan, almost to Canada.
When was it founded?
Owen Munson, a wealthy Scottish/Italian mustang runner and
mill owner, founded Munsonville in 1835 when he bought a large parcel of land (actual size undetermined) and established a Utopian community
History
Nearly two hundred years before Owen Munson visited the
area, French fur trapper and fisherman Pierre Sicard established a small
community that never thrived.
By 1875 and under Owen Munson’s leadership, Munsonville
population swelled to 150. By then Munsonville had a general store, a church, a
row of fishing cabins, and housing development on its hill.
A sickness spread through the village in late 1876 and killed 50 residents. But Munsonville continued to grow and thrive. Major industries by the end of the nineteenth century included fishing, lumbering, construction, and furniture-building.
On Christmas Day 1893, renowned pianist and composer John
Simons married Bryony Marseilles, daughter of Munsonville’s church pastor,
built a mansion in the woods for their home, and planted specially bred bryony –
a noxious weed – around and through the estate.
John Simons left the area two years later after the death of
his wife and daughter and economic progress froze, except for a surge in
tourism during the Great Depression. Only fishing remained a primary industry, until Beulah County started clamping down on quotes in the 1960s.
The village of Munsonville bought the old Simons Mansion in July
of 1975 to remodel into a museum and transform the village into a tourist spot. But
the mansion burned to the ground in December 1975, and progress stalled once more.
The Simons estate became a public park in the early 1980s and
a robust community garden by 1990.
Munsonville became renowned in 2020 when its residents were
the last to contract COVID-19.
Geography
Munsonville is bordered by the village town of Jenson, the
tourist village of Shelby, and the city of Thorton on its west, Simons Woods
and the town of Evansville on its east, a steep hill with three home-lined
streets and vast woods to its north, and Lake Munson to the south.
Climate
Munsonville, like many locales in Northern Michigan, experiences
four distinct seasons.
Spring and fall are typically mild.
Summers range from hot and humid to cool and breezy.
Winters are bitterly cold and filled with heavy snowfall, sometimes
starting as early as October.
Census
Munsonville’s population has held at 386 since the 1950s.
Religion
Munsonville has one nondenominational church and pastors that
come and go due to its ghost legend.
Current pastor is Jason Frye.
Economy
Munsonville has few businesses, and they are all located on
Main Street. Its most famous business is Sue’s Diner, which attracts diners
from all over Michigan and beyond the state’s borders.
Sue’s Diner is owned and operated by Chef Brian Marchellis, a
graduate of Joliet Junior College’s culinary artist program. Joliet Junior
College is located in Joliet, Illinois.
Employers
Most businesses are family-owned. Munsonville has few to no opportunities for employment.
Government
The village of Munsonville is led by a mayor and a village
board.
It’s governance is often irregular. Elections occasionally occur. At other times, officials volunteer for their roles and remain in them for decades. See "Mayors of Munsonville." (entry yet to be written).
Police protection is provided by the Beulah County Sheriff’s
Department.
Arts and Culture
None
Sports
None - except one fishing tournament during Munsonville's centennial celebration in October 1975.
Parks and Recreation
Simons Woods has a bike path and a nature center.
Simons Woods is ideal for berry picking.
Fishing is enjoyed year-round, by boat and from the docks.
Education
All twelve grades attend Munsonville School. Class sizes are small.
Infrastructure
Munsonville has only one paved road: Main Street.
Munsonville has no airports, bridges, major highways, public
transit systems, or railways.
The source of its water supply is unknown. Each home has a crude septic
system that was most likely installed in the 1950s, when running water became
available.
Munsonville also received access to electricity in the early
1950s.
Internet connectivity and broadband access is poor to none. Most
homes didn’t have telephones or televisions until the late 1970s to early 1980s.
Hospitals
The closest hospital is Jenson Memorial Hospital.
Munsonville has not had a doctor onsite since 2020.
Notable People
John Simons. See "History."
In popular culture
Munsonville became part of popular culture through the
phantastic book series called the BryonySeries.
Illustration of Munsonville, Michigan's aerial view by Jennifer Wainright
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