Preserving Alpena’s Historic Downtown

Alpena has a rich, historic downtown culture. From the buildings above its storefronts to its community that has long stood in the town, there is an abundance of things the National Register can evaluate.

Cheri Szcodronski of Firefly Preservation Consulting was in Alpena on Thursday on an invitation from Thunder Bay Theater, so they can have their historic district in the National Register.

“I drove around for a long time, and I loved it,” said Szcodronski. “We’re doing a commercial historic district, so we’re focused just on the commercial core downtown and I think the buildings are really great. They’re really intact, they really convey the historic character of the town, and I think we have a really good story to tell.”

Getting Alpena’s historic downtown on the map is a way to get people to visit the town, so more people who aren’t familiar with the area can visit and appreciate its history.

“Being able to share that history and architecture, I think it gives people sort of a sense of nostalgia, and I think all of us in Michigan like a good road trip, and so it gives people a reason to come and visit and to check it out and it tells them a little about what they’re going to find here,” said Szcodronski.

Alpena’s history is important to those who have long lived in the town, and preserving it is of the utmost importance to its citizens.

“I think the National Register is a great tool for giving people an opportunity to share their community and their story with people outside of their community,” said Szcodronski. “I think it’s really important for people, both here and outside of Alpena to have this designation.”

Szcodronski will continue to visit Alpena over the next couple months to evaluate its historical downtown district.