Friday, July 3 from 1-3pm

Mike Barton will be in the store signing his photography book, "Mushroom Houses of Charlevoix," with special guest, Jeannine Wallace

“Earl Young never met a stone he didn’t like,” says photographer Mike Barton who just finished his new book called The Mushroom Houses of Charlevoix. Readers will enjoy this photographic tour of the stone creations of legendary architect Earl Young built between 1918 and 1973. The over 130 full-color photos capture these fairytale homes with chapters labled Boulder Park, Doors and Windows, Chimneys and Fireplaces, A Look Inside and many more. The foreword was written by Charlevoix history buff David L. Miles.  Longtime Charlevoix resident Jeannine Wallace tells readers what it is like to have lived in a Mushroom House for over forty years.

Mike has been visiting his parents (who live a block from the Mushroom Houses on Park Avenue ) every summer since 1991. He first photographed them in 2004, but it wasn’t until 2008 when he met with homeowners that the book finally took shape. That is when Mike learned about the fascinating history of these stone houses. Mike wants to thank all the homeowners for their patience while he knocked on doors and trampled lawns seeking information and taking photographs for this book. Whether you are a Charlevoix resident, seeing Charlevoix for than first time or revisiting this wonderful little city, a journey through this book will be unforgettable.  Mike’s other book on Charlevoix is called Charlevoix the Beautiful published in 2008.  This book is Charlevoix in a nutshell, with over 120 full-color photographs. From colorful Bridge Street to picturesque Round Lake to the spectacular sunsets over Lake Michigan , everyone will find this little book a joy to read.