by Rachel Gilmore (Author), Frankfort Area Historical Society (With)
A village known for its 1890s charm, Frankfort is home to people and places that have tightly woven a vintage thread across generations, uniting the community for over 150 years. With strong German roots that inspired the town's name and an appreciation for hard work and good moral character, the citizens of Frankfort solidified the village's place on the Midwestern prairie as a center for commerce and transportation as well as cultural, social, and spiritual development. It continued, after World War II and on through the 20th century, to hang on to its small-town identity and values, underpinning everyday life with down-home community spirit. From the ongoing rebirth of the historic downtown business district to the evolution of Sauerkraut Days into the nationally recognized Frankfort Fall Festival to the rails-to-trails conversion of the Michigan Central Railroad tracks to the preservation of Frankfort's iconic landmarks (the Grainery sic] and the water tower), Frankfort is a community that values its heritage while clearly envisioning its future.