Crystal, Michigan is an unincorporated community in northern Crystal Township, east Montcalm County, in the central Lower Peninsula.
Unincorporated, Crystal has no defined boundaries, but it is the only named community in the township. Concentrated along the east shores of Crystal Lake and southern Mud Lake, a small residential area along Duck Lake, to the east, is considered part of Crystal, as well. The Crystal post office serves the northern portion of Crystal Township and parts of southern Ferris Township. For the purposes of categorization, online resources bearing a Crystal post office address would be appropriate for this guide.
The main roads going to or through the community are Shore Drive and Crystal Road, the latter of which turns into Main Street within the village. Other routes include East Colby Road, East Sidney Road, Sloan Road, and South Waldron Road. The center of Carson City is 9.0 miles south-southeast, while Stanton is 10.8 miles west-northwest, Sheridan is 11.8 miles southwest, McBride is 13.1 miles northwest, and Ithaca is 17.9 miles east of Crystal.
As Crystal is the only concentrated settlement area in Crystal Township, the village and the township have a shared history. Originally, the township was covered by beech and maple forests, and this is what brought the first European-American settlers to the region. Two brothers, John and Humphrey Smith, came to the area in 1853, in the employ of A. Rust & Company, a lumber company. The following year, John W. Smith returned to build the first permanent home in the township. Soon after, George and Edwin Robinson erected a cabin which, it is said, had neither a door nor a window, entering and exiting via ladder through an opening in the roof, as they were afraid of wolves.
In the spring, Smith's wife and three sons joined him, and they set about preparing the land for a potato farm. Other early settlers included Chancey, William, and James Case, as well as John Bancroft and his family.
The first to settle in the area of the village proper was Enos P. Drake, who came in 1857. He built a small home and a sawmill, the latter on the outlet of Mud Lake. The Eagle Hotel was the first framed building. As others came, a business and residential district was formed, and a village was laid out by Asa Ward on land owned by Samuel Burtch and Enos Drake, although it was never incorporated. Crystal was named for Crystal Lake, the larger of three lakes in the township. A post office was established in Crystal on March 2, 1857, with Alfred A. Proctor as its first postmaster.
Much of the community's economy is aided by its proximity to three lakes and several streams, as it serves as a destination for summer visitors and outdoor recreationists. Crystal supports several commercial businesses and restaurants, as well as resorts and campgrounds along the lake.
The focus of this guide is on the community known as Crystal, Michigan. Local businesses, churches, schools, organizations, attractions, and events are appropriate topics for this category.
Recommended Resources
With offices in Mount Pleasant and Crystal, Michigan, CMS Internet provides residential Internet, telephone, cable television, and computer services, as well as commercial Internet, telephone, IT, server colocation, fiber, voice, data cabling, and other services, which are featured here, along with office addresses and a map showing their locations, telephone numbers, and a contact form. A private login, webmail portal, and online payment options are available for clients.
https://www.cmsinter.net/
Constructed in 1947 by Marshall Strait, the theater is located on South Main Street in Crystal, Michigan. A brief history of the building is presented, and schedules for currently playing and upcoming movies are posted, with seating prices and notices. Food and drink menus for its concession stand are listed, with prices, and a gallery of photographs includes historic and contemporary pictures of the building, projector, and sound system. Contacts are included.
http://crystalboxoffice.com/
Situated on East Sidney Road in southeast Crystal, Michigan, the dirt track hosts a number of motor competitions throughout the year. Racing schedules and a calendar of upcoming events are posted, along with results, rules, forms, and points. Galleries of photos and videos are presented, participating drivers are introduced, including their hometowns and cars. News pertaining to the Speedway is published to the site, and its phone and fax numbers are displayed.
http://www.crystalmotorspeedway.com/
Located on Stanton Road in Crystal, Michigan, the auto tire, battery, and service shop carries Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Bridgestone, and Firestone tires, and offers oil change services, brake repairs, wheel alignments, tire installations, and auto air conditioning servicing, with free pick-up and drop-off within a fifteen-mile radius of its shop. Its services and products are featured, along with discount coupons, finance options, and its membership rewards program.
https://discounttireandbattery.com/
The family-owned campground and recreational vehicle park are situated on the southern shores of Crystal Lake in Crystal, Michigan, where fishing, swimming, boating, and skiing are available. Featuring 165 grassy level RV sites, full hook-ups, a recreation hall, service building with laundry facilities, flush toilets, hot showers, a propane fill station, seasonal monthly and weekly rates, as well as other amenities, which are listed here, along with nearby attractions.
http://southshore-campground.com/
