Evidence of Autumn

Jay Cook passes along word that dummies.com, through their daily travel e-Tips, began running a number of Halloween-themed tips October 11, including the following:

Located in south-central Michigan, Marshall is home to one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts (more than 800 structures) in the country, with an outstanding collection of 19th- and early-20th-century architecture, including Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial, Beaux-arts, and Art Deco. Children's mystery writer John Bellairs grew up here, and many of the streets and buildings from Marshall appear in his stories. Bellairs describes the town in The House With a Clock in Its Walls as follows: "To begin with, the town was marvelous...it was full of tall, elaborately decorated old houses. Even the ordinary white-frame houses had things that made them seem different - a stained-glass window or a bouquet of iron flowers on top of a cupola. And so many of the houses seemed to be hiding secrets."

Today, fans of Bellairs can take a John Bellairs walk. Antique and gift shoppers will love the unique downtown shops, or they may find themselves enjoying an ice cream cone at Fountain Circle. Be sure to stop by Schuler's Restaurant & Pub, where you'll find great service and generous portions of classic American cuisine. Autumn is the perfect time to visit Marshall. The Harvest Festival is on October 13, with events, crafts, and foods reminiscent of days gone by. The 13th also marks the start of the Scarecrow Festival, which runs through Halloween, with prominent scarecrows showcased throughout town.