Yes, the Cheboygan River runs through Cheboygan. We think of our community in terms of the East side and the West side; and those boundaries, which we take for granted, are defined by the Cheboygan River. However, just like the novella and the movie "A River Runs Through It," river life and town life are complex. Life looks and feels very different on the river. So many people use the river for recreation — whether to swim, power boat, kayak, canoe, fish, or sit and watch wildlife and other people, who are also enjoying the river. It's relaxing, centering, and calming.

Just a few steps away, Cheboygan's Main Street is bustling. Restaurants and shops are active, the streets are busy with traffic, offices conduct business, visitors look for a place to eat or a place to buy a souvenir or a gift. Anyone can patronize our superb public library on Cheboygan’s west side. The State Street Bridge/the Bastille Bridge goes up and down allowing people to get to the places they want to go via the river.

The river changes dramatically at the north end near the entrance to Lake Huron. Work sites, building materials and marine equipment dominate the riverside. The county marina, a boat storage business, the USCG Cutter Mackinaw, and two lighthouses are also located at the northern end of the Cheboygan River.

As the west side of town becomes more active, the east side of town attracts people with several very solid and well-established businesses. Plus, on many nights in spring and summer, the ballfields by the Cheboygan Recreation Center are hopping. In the fall and winter the hockey arena is busy; and the Children's trail attracts year-round visitors. But the river remains steady. It remains a place to just sit and watch the water flow.

When I think of the river, and I think of Cheboygan, I think of two very different places because they evoke two very different feelings. I think sometimes we forget how the river makes Cheboygan unique. We forget all the history that has taken place on and along the Cheboygan River. For the most part we forget to wonder about all the human stories that are a part of the river's history.

I googled for the answer to my question: "How many towns in Michigan are built on a river?" but apparently the answer isn't easy, at least not the way I googled. Then I stopped searching because I decided it doesn't matter how many other towns or cities have a river running through them.

Cheboygan is unique in many ways, and in many ways, we share so much with every other community — whether good, bad, or beautiful. What does matter, is that we learn to appreciate what is good, we work to change what we think is bad, and aspire toward beauty. I assume the Cheboygan River will always run through Cheboygan. Our task is to appreciate it and take care of it in the best way we can so the following generations can enjoy and appreciate the river, too.

— Connie Rieger is a community volunteer and advocate.

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan Main Street: A River Runs Through It