Holiday Sneak Preview!

The 2009 Holiday Open House promises to be the best ever!



(L-R) The Friendly Tavern, Coloma Lioness, Chemical Bank, Edgewater Bank, Whistler Farms, Community Hospital



The Friendly Tavern tree.



Edgewater Bank's tree.

Sponsors Lined up for Christmas Trees

The North Berrien Historical Museum's 2009 Holiday Open House promises to be the biggest and best to date. Numerous tree sponsors have confirmed that they will decorate a tree this year. Confirmed sponsors include Edgewater Bank, Chemical Bank, Berrien Teacher's Credit Union, the Marc Hettig Family, Faith Lutheran Church, North Berrien Fire Rescue Ladies Auxillary, Community Hospital, the Coloma Lioness Club, and the Friendly Tavern.

In addition many trees will be decorated by North Berrien Historical Society members and volunteers. Stop by December 5 & 6 to see these beautiful trees on display!

Visitors enjoy "Spooky" tours on Halloween

The first annual "spooky" walking tours of Coloma and Watervliet were a great success. Despite cold weather the rain stayed away and allowed for two fascinating tours featuring local history stories.


Participants gathered in front of the grave of Stephen R. Gilson, "the founder of Coloma."


Participants gather for a picture with some of the local residents who still reside in the cemetary!


North Berrien Historical Society member Elaine Lavender offers a the ghost of a hobo some money by the train tracks. Newspaper accounts report that local residents used to fear hobos that hitched rides on the trains.

Holiday Open House - December 5 & 6

The North Berrien Historical Museum will host its annual Holiday Open House on December 5-6, 2009.

The museum will feature over 15 decorated Christmas trees and other holiday décor across the museum campus. Many of the trees this year are sponsored and decorated by local businesses and civic organizations.

The museum will be open special hours both days from 10-4. New this year is Santa’s Workshop where children will be able to make a free craft in an “elves only” area for their parents. Santa’s workshop will take place all day on Saturday and Sunday. Santa & Mrs. Claus will be available to visit with children both days from 2-4. Musical performances will take place throughout the weekend by local performers.

Gingerbread house making will be available on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1-4. The cost of making a house is $5. Finally on Sunday, a holiday cookie walk will take place from 1-4pm. For $5 visitors can fill a box with their favorite cookies to take home.

The museum will be collecting unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots during the open house and throughout the holiday season.

Regular winter hours for the museum are Wednesday through Friday, 10am to 4pm. The museum is free and guided tours are available.

For more information contact Alexander Gates, Director/Curator, at 269-468-3330