Congratulations, Richmond! You are the WCSX City of The Week! Let’s a take a tour of Richmond: the history, the festivals and the people. How did Richmond get its name? Like many other Michigan communities, Richmond ended up being named after Richmond, New York. However, before the community was known as Richmond, it had several other names.
According to cityofrichmond.net, the settlement was first called Ridgeway after its high ridge on Ridge Road. Then renamed Lenox after its township. Next, the settlement was known by Beebe’s Corners, after Erastus Beebe. By 1878, the voters of Beebe’s Corners and the two nearest neighboring communities, Ridgeway and Cooper Town, decided to meld together into one community. “The following year, by an act of the Michigan Legislature, the Village of Richmond was born.”
Preserving Richmond’s History
Richmond Area Historical and Genealogical Society (RAHGS) is a non-profit organization established in January 1990. These citizens of Richmond had a common goal: the preservation of a 19th Century one-room schoolhouse which was located in the middle of a cornfield. This building and future acquisitions such as a train station from The Grand Trunk Railway, a blacksmith museum and working shop, a carriage house, and The Richmond Historic Barn Project were all moved to Bailey Park. Bailey Park is a great place to include in a tour of Richmond.
The Richmond Good Old Days
The annual Richmond Area Good Old Days Festival has been a Labor Day weekend celebration in Richmond since 1964, making 2024 Richmond’s 60th anniversary! The Good Old Days festival parade is the largest marching musical parade in the state of Michigan. Other events include a Classic Car Parade & Cruise, Miss & Little Miss Richmond Contest, Running with the Devils (Van Halen!) 5K Run, Richmond Antique & Vintage Snowmobile Show, a Carnival Midway, and The Outrageous Outhouse Races: “Come see who has the fastest toilet in town as they run down Main Street!”
Take a Tour of Richmond While Riding a Makeshift Outhouse
Joel’s Notes
I had a blast up taking my tour of Richmond! For starters, I got to meet Kim, the General Manager of Dick Huevaere’s Chrysler Dodge Ram Jeep. She gave me a quick look around the dealership. I didn’t have the courage to ask her to if I could test drive the Hellcat. Like Scotty from Star Trek said: “That’s Too Much Power, Captain!”
I stopped to check out Hamlin Pub, the site of Screamin’ Scott’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Party! It’s going to be a great spot to party- it’s big- open- bright! BTW, the pizza looked & smelled fantastic! I went undercover as “Leprechaun Joel” at Hamlin since being there immediately put me in the St. Patrick’s Day Spirit.
As I pulled out of Hamlin Pub, a lady a few doors down at Farm Bureau Insurance gave me a wave. I stopped in to meet Telia and Rachelle. They both listen to WCSX all day in their office and the way they welcomed me was so cool! Telia’s dad is one of our veterans that was recently honored at Big Jim & Ryan’s Salute to Veterans Luncheon at Andiamo’s! She is so proud of her dad, and told me how much she appreciated what Big Jim and Ryan do for our military veterans! Telia and Rachelle totally rock!
Next, I explored the Richmond Historic Village area by Beebe Park. I love stuff like this and want to come back when all the buildings are open and the blacksmith shop is open! I love to watch blacksmiths clang and bang on red hot iron! Maybe a visit back to Richmond for their famous Good Old Days Labor Day Festival to see the Out House Races event!
City of the Week Takes a Tour of Richmond
