North Berrien History

All ages invited to Victorian Valentines Party on February 11

2012-01-17T11:28:00.000-08:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum invites the public to attend a Victorian Valentines Party on Saturday, February 11 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Bring along family and friends to celebrate Valentine’s Day with festive games, crafts and refreshments. All ages will enjoy being creative by making your own special valentine card to give away. Get inspiration from our collection of historic valentines spanning 100 years which will be on display.

There is a suggested donation of $3/person for admission. RSVP is appreciated; please call (269) 468-3330 or e-mail nbhs2@sbcglobal.net. The North Berrien Historical Museum is located on Red Arrow Highway, across the street from Coloma High School, at 300 Coloma Avenue. For more information contact the museum at (269) 468-3330.

Ice Age Imperials exhibit is the focus of January 17 presentation

2012-01-10T13:59:00.000-08:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum invites the public to attend a presentation on the Ice Age Imperials exhibit currently open at the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph. The program will be held at the North Berrien Historical Museum in Coloma. Heritage Museum Director Christina Hirn Arseneau and Frederick S. Upton Fellow Caitlyn Dial will present images and information describing this special exhibition and related programs.
Ice Age Imperials will be on display at The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center through September 1, 2012, recreating the Michigan of 12,000 years ago. The exhibit features life-size, authentic dioramas with prehistoric animals and Paleo-Indians. Visitors can touch real fossils from extinct animals like the sabertooth cat, woolly mammoth, giant beaver, and more. An activity area allows kids to “dig” for fossils and draw cave art. The exhibit also includes Ice Age fossils and artifacts found locally.

This free program at the North Berrien Historical Museum will be followed by refreshments. For more information, contact the museum at (269) 468-3330.

2011 Holiday Open House a Great Success

2011-12-27T11:24:00.000-08:00

Dusky Turner (left) receives his award from Executive Director Alex Gates

The seventh annual North Berrien Holiday Open House was a great success with over 1,000 visitors viewing our Christmas trees throughout the month of December. The popularity of gingerbread house decorating increased dramatically from 70 houses in 2010 to 240 houses in 2011. In addition, school groups from Coloma Elementary, Coloma Middle School, and Watervliet North Elementary toured the museum to view the Christmas trees.

People's Choice Award - Cottage of the Four Seasons, Coloma

Dusky Turner at the Cottage of the Four Seasons won the 2011 People’s Choice Award after our visitors' ballots were counted. Four Seasons Spa and Pool and Randy’s BP received honorable mentions.

Honorable Mention - Four Seasons Spa and Pool, Coloma

The other tree sponsors were Edgewater Bank, Chemical Bank, Lakeland Community Hospital Watervliet, North Berrien Food Pantry, Coloma Lioness Club, Honor Credit Union, The Friendly Tavern, Jollay Orchards, Paw Paw Lake Rotary Club, Michigan Agri Women, Mattson’s House of Décor, Water Street Glassworks, Captain Kirk’s Car Wash, Handmade Treasures, Freshwater Church, Edward Jones (Coloma and Benton Harbor offices), Mrs. Sieber’s 7th Grade Students, Faith Lutheran Church, Midwest Family Broadcasting, Krasl Art Center, Got Gold? Jewelers, and Lakeside Books.

Honorable Mention - Randy's BP, Coloma

Overflowing boxes were picked up by “Toys for Tots” and the North Berrien Food Pantry. Thank you for your generous donations.

Mark your calendar for our eighth annual Holiday Open House, November 30 – December 2, 2012.

Millburg Bank Robbery talk - February 21, 7pm

2011-12-27T08:57:00.000-08:00

It was around 9:20am on Saturday, February 21, 1925 in the rural community of Millburg, Michigan, when a black Cadillac touring car with a group of young, well-dressed men in trench coats, pulled up to the State Bank of Millburg. Elizabeth Krietner and Ben Kral had just opened the bank when two men entered. One, armed with a revolver, jumped the cage and forced the two tellers into a back closet. The other hailed in two more men who looted the safe of $52,000 in bonds and $2900 in cash. While the actual robbery was over in a matter of minutes, the subsequent car chase, man hunt, and trial became one of the most dramatic crimes of the 1920s in Southwest Michigan.

The lock on the bank closet door was little to keep the cashiers restrained and they quickly notified the authorities. The Twin City “Hello Girls” went to work on the switchboards alerting police throughout the region of the fleeing bandits. Within thirty minutes roads across Berrien County were under guard as a posse armed with sawed-off shotguns and high powered rifles was organized. The robbers sped away from the scene at top speed heading first toward Benton Harbor before turning south heading toward the Indiana Stateline on icy rural roads.

A blockade was erected in the village of Galien by Deputy Sheriff Con Allen, and former Deputy Sheriff Floyd Lintner. The car stopped and the five bandits jumped out of the car as Lintner and Allen ordered them surrender. A gun battle ensued leaving Lintner shot in the right heel, severing a tendon. The bandit car then pulled onto a dirt side road and escaped toward Three Oaks and then over the state line into New Carlisle. Then at the farm of Jed Drollinger, seven miles southwest of New Carlisle, the bandits stopped to ask directions when New Carlisle Constable Elias Ackley and farmer Oscar Smith caught up to the bandits. Ackley began to question the men, but Smith did not hesitate to fire several rounds with a sawed off shotgun into the car. Four of the men abandoned their car and ran for the barn where they hid themselves in the barn and outbuildings. At this time the South Bend Police showed up to the scene and the outgunned men were rounded up.

Berrien County Sheriff Franz called them “the most desperate men ever jailed here,” for their willingness to shoot their way to freedom. The men were held under $100k bonds each and charged with Bank Robbery. The five men arrested were John Marshall, 26; Frank King, 31; James Long, 40; James Allison, 30; and Edward Summers, 25. They are all know by several aliases and were suspected in other bank robberies throughout Michigan. Sheriff Franz became so worried about the five gangsters having powerful criminal allies he purchased Berrien County’s first machine gun to guard the inmates.

The trial was moved to Kalamazoo in exchange for trying all five men together. At 5am on May 11 the defendants were shackled together in heavy steel cuffs and transferred to Kalamazoo County Jail. The trial was short with the only defense being that the men were bootleggers caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Convicted on May 16, 1925 as the jury was out but for a half an hour returning at 1:30pm with the verdict. A half hour after their conviction they were sentenced. All five were sent to Marquette prison. The court read this statement from Judge Weimer, “These men are potential murderers. From the time they left Millburg until the hour of their capture they did not hesitate to shoot at any or all persons who attempted to stop him. We do not hesitate in removing any person who has become a source of danger to peaceful citizens.”

While the stolen bonds were recovered from the Drollinger the majority of the cash remained unaccounted for. The mystery of the missing money was solved in 1929 when James Kane was arrested and convicted as being the sixth Millburg bandit who had escaped during the chase. Kane was also sentenced to life in prison.

Join us on Tuesday, February 21 at 7pm as Executive Director Alex Gates presents an in-depth look at this infamous crime.

Free Winter Break kids activity day

2011-12-14T09:58:00.000-08:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum will host a free educational program for children during the final week of 2011. “Winter Time Travelers: Let it Snow!” is an interactive afternoon of games, crafts, and music at the museum. Have fun while exploring historic artifacts from winters of the past. Make your own model sleigh and sleigh bells and see the history behind the songs “Jingle Bells” and “Sleigh Ride”! Win a prize playing Snow Belt Bingo, and pretend to be an ice harvester on Paw Paw Lake a hundred years ago. Designed for ages 6-12; family members are welcome but not required to attend. This event is free but please RSVP to the museum at (269) 468-3330.

‘Winter Time Travelers: Let it Snow!’ will be held on Thursday, December 29, from 1:00 to 2:30pm. Only in case of a weather emergency, the program would be rescheduled for December 30, 1:00 to 2:30pm. Please call the museum to confirm. For more information about this program or to RSVP, contact the museum at (269) 468-3330 or info@northberrienhistory.org.

You're Invited! 7th Annual Holiday Open House, Dec 1-4, 2011

2011-11-30T07:17:00.001-08:00

Oh Deer! The Cottage of the Four Seasons once again impresses us with their wonderful tree in 2011.

The North Berrien Historical Museum will host its seventh annual Holiday Open House December 1-4

The weekend begins with the Holiday Lights & Music Gala on December 1 from 6-8pm. Visitors can enjoy our holiday trees in their full brilliance at night with luminaries lighting the way between buildings. The evening will feature festive treats and musical performances by Becky and Les Burford, and Carl Payne. Tickets are $12 in advance at the museum office and $15 at the door.

The theme of Friday, December 2 is Senor Day. Senior citizens are invited to tour the museum at a leisurely pace while enjoying complimentary warm drinks and live music by Gordon Krell at 1pm, and The Upbeats with Pete and Marge Mannino at 2pm. Gingerbread House decorating will also be available.

A bear and bull adorn the Edward Jones tree.

Activities for children and families are the focus of Saturday and Sunday, December 3 & 4. Santa’s Workshop features free card and ornament making. Gingerbread house making will be available for a cost of $5 per house. Santa & Mrs. Claus will visit with children on Saturday from 1-3pm. Finally on Sunday, the Holiday Cookie Walk will take place from 12-4pm. For $5, visitors can fill a box with their favorite cookies to take home. Musical performances will take place throughout the day with a Violin Duet at noon, the Coloma choirs at 1pm and the St. Joseph Catholic Church Choir at 3pm.

Randy's BP features a theme of Hometown Heroes.

The museum will feature over 25 decorated Christmas trees and fine holiday décor. Visitors will be able to vote for their favorite tree that will win the People’s Choice Award. Many of the trees are decorated by local businesses and civic organizations. This years tree sponsors include: Edgewater Bank, Chemical Bank, Lakeland Community Hospital Watervliet, North Berrien Food Pantry, Coloma Lioness Club, Honor Credit Union, The Friendly Tavern, Four Seasons Spa & Pool, Jollay Orchards, Paw Paw Lake Rotary Club, Michigan Agri Women, Mattson’s House of Décor, the Cottage of the Four Seasons, Water Street Glassworks, Captain Kirk’s Car Wash, Randy’s BP, Handmade Treasures, Freshwater Church, Edward Jones, Coloma Schools, Faith Lutheran Church, Midwest Family Broadcasting, Krasl Art Center, Got Gold? Jewelers, and Lakeside Books.

It's a winter wonderland at the 7th Annual Holiday Open House.

Throughout the holiday season, the museum will collect “Toys for Tots” donations of new, unwrapped toys, and non-perishable food donations for the North Berrien Food Pantry.

Regular winter hours for the museum are Tuesday 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

2012 Youth Internship applications available now

2011-11-10T12:01:00.001-08:00

Students currently in grades 7-12 are invited to apply for a Youth Internship at the North Berrien Historical Museum in Coloma, Michigan. Youth Interns are trained to volunteer for the museum and will contribute to real projects that support our mission to preserve and promote local history. To obtain a schedule and Application for the 2012 Youth Internship program, please stop by the museum or download from Scribd.com.The museum will hold a brief informational meeting on Monday, December 19, 2011, at 6pm for all interested students and family. Applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered to the museum no later than Wednesday, January 11, 2012.

The Youth Internship is a commitment to volunteer time every other week from late January – May 2012, in which students will get to know the museum and practice new skills. Participants will work with the museum’s professional staff to understand more about Coloma-Watervliet area history, preservation of artifacts, and how we serve the public. Youth Interns will also learn more about career possibilities in museums, history and culture.

For more information about this program contact Tracy Gierada, Director of Education for the North Berrien Historical Museum, at (269) 468-3330 or nbhs2@sbcglobal.net.

2011 North Berrien Holiday Open House is December 1-4

2011-10-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

Over 25 trees will adorn the North Berrien Historical Museum at our annual Holiday Open House, decorated by local businesses and organizations. All ages can enjoy voting for their favorite tree, card and ornament making, gingerbread house decorating, and performances by local musicians! This year’s fundraising Holiday Lights & Music Gala is a chance to visit in evening when our trees shine the brightest, plus great refreshments and live music.

Mattson's House of Decor, 2010

Thursday, December 1: Holiday Lights & Music Gala, 6pm to 8pm.

Enjoy seasonal treats while viewing our 25 trees in their full brilliance at night. Becky and Les Burford will perform on mountain dulcimer, guitar, and ukulele at 6pm. At 7pm, Carl Payne will play holiday favorites on guitar and harp. Admission is $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

Jollay Orchards, 2010

Friday, December 2: Open 10am to 4pm, Free Admission
Gingerbread House Decorating: All day, $5 per house.

Senior Day: 1pm to 4pm. Senior citizens are especially invited to tour the museum & enjoy refreshments. Music courtesy of Gordon Krell and The Upbeats with Pete & Marge Mannino.

Four Seasons Pool & Spa, 2010

Saturday, December 3: Open 10am to 4pm, Free Admission

Santa’s Workshop: All day, make an ornament and card as a special gift. Free/Donation.

Gingerbread House Decorating: All day, $5 per house.

Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus: 1pm to 3pm

Music courtesy of Mountain Dulcimer Quartet (10am–Noon).

Gingerbread House Decorating

Sunday, December 4: Open Noon to 4pm, Free Admission

Santa’s Workshop: All day, make an ornament and card as a special gift. Free/Donation.

Gingerbread House Decorating: All day, $5 per house.

Holiday Cookie Walk: All day, Choose your holiday cookies for $5 per box.

Music courtesy of Coloma Choirs (1-2:30pm) and St. Joseph Catholic Church Choir (3-3:30pm).

Cookie Walk

Throughout the North Berrien Holiday Open House:

* Non-perishable goods will be collected for North Berrien Food Pantry.

* New, unwrapped toys can be donated in our Toys for Tots collection box.

North Berrien Photography Contest Winners Exhibited

2011-09-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

This summer the North Berrien Historical Museum welcomed submissions to a North Berrien Photography Contest, which sought images that captured the distinctive character and culture of our region in southwest Michigan. Eligible submissions had to depict locations within “North Berrien” as defined by the museum—Hagar, Bainbridge, Coloma, or Watervliet townships, the cities of Coloma and Watervliet, plus all bodies of water. By early September, local photographers had answered the challenge with an array of striking and meaningful images of the area.

An exhibit of Winners and Honorable Mentions from the Photo Contest premiered on September 24, during the Tri-City Heritage Tour. The Winner in the Seniors category (Ages 65+) was Richard C. Lyon with “Angling Road Landmark.” Donna Duffield created the Winner among the Adults age group with her Paw Paw Lake photograph “Fire and Ice.” Honorable Mentions awarded in the 2011 North Berrien Photography Contest included: Joseph Littleton, “St. Joseph Church” and “Bridge in Flaherty Park”; Richard C. Lyon, “Trail by the Pines”; Shannon Closson, “A Ride in the Sky” and “Just Peachy”; Sandy K. Warren, “Summer Evening Meadow”; Scott Isbrecht, “Bi-Plane” and “Harvester”; and Saundra Lynch, “Ending of an Era” and “Paw Paw River Spillway Dam”. The Photo Contest Exhibit will remain on display through October 21, 2011 at the North Berrien Historical Museum.

“Angling Road Landmark”

Photographer Richard C. Lyon, Coloma

“This location depicts the versatility of Agriculture in our area. We have a foreground of grain culture, a background of fruit orchards, and a woodlot at the horizon. This was taken in Bainbridge Township in late Fall. It was near mid-day using a digital Canon A 630 camera.”

“Fire and Ice”

Photographer Donna Duffield, Coloma

“February 17, 2011, I was able to capture this sunrise shot off of Paw Paw Lake Road. I chose to label it “Fire and Ice” because of the way the sun is meeting the ice on the lake. Paw Paw Lake is a vital part of northern Berrien County as its lakes offer our area an opportunity for tourism and revenue all throughout the year. The camera used for this photo is a Fujifilm FinePix s8100.”

“St. Joseph Church”

Photographer Joseph Littleton, Coloma

“Built 1896 and still standing on Crescent Street in Watervliet.”

“A Ride in the Sky”

Photographer Shannon Closson, Bainbridge Township

“Jollay Orchards is valuable to North Berrien County as a well-known tourist attraction for people all over to enjoy. I chose to submit this photo because it’s a great place to visit in the Summer and Fall months. This photo was taken in Coloma Township on an August afternoon with a Nikon D40.”

“Summer Evening Meadow”

Photographer Sandy K. Warren, Watervliet

“I feel this photograph depicts the simple beauty we see daily in North Berrien County. We are often traveling to and from events—often driving by without realizing the true beauty we have! It was a hot summer day. As the sun was setting, a cool-front was coming in from the north causing fog to develop as the cooler air met with warm ground. As the sun is setting, you can still notice the beauty of the day in the sky. This photo was taken on Coloma Road, at the meadow northeast of Pier Road, on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 9:22pm. The camera used is a Hewlett-Packard 6MP Digital, using the zoom feature to capture the fog.”

“Ending of an Era”

Photographer Saundra Lynch, Watervliet

“I chose to submit this photograph because it shares the ending of the last boys varsity football game ever expected to be held between the Coloma Comets and the Watervliet Panthers. With Coloma joining the Wolverine Athletic Conference in the 2012 season, there will no longer be room in their schedule for “The Game”. This rivalry, one of the greatest in the history of the state of Michigan, has ended after 102 games with Coloma leading the series 62-34 with six ties. This image was captured at the Watervliet, Michigan Panther Stadium on August 26, 2011 at 9:43pm with a Canon EOS T2i.”

“Trail by the Pines"

Photographer Richard C. Lyon, Coloma

“The Dunes of Lake Michigan’s eastern shoreline are very unique and a signature of our area. This was taken in Hagar Township’s Roadside Park in early Spring with late afternoon sun highlighting the dune grasses. The image was made on T+Max 100 film with a twin lens Yashica – D camera.”

“Bi-Plane”

Photographer Scott Isbrecht, Coloma

“This photograph was taken at the Watervliet Air Field during the War Birds Fly-in. It was captured in the afternoon with a Canon Rebel DSLR camera.”

North Berrien Historical Society receives State History Award

2011-09-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

On September 23, 2011 the North Berrien Historical Society received a State History Award from the Historical Society of Michigan in the category of Special Event/Program for Women in Baseball. Executive Director Alexander Gates was present at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City to receive the award during the State Awards Banquet.

The award went to the North Berrien Historical Society for its exceptional program, “Women in Baseball.” The project celebrated Maud Nelson, a renowned baseball player in the early 1900s. Nelson was the first female baseball player in the United States to be commemorated by her community, Watervliet. As a player, coach, and team owner, Maud remained active into the 1930s. Building on this background, the society planned a series of summer events, including a tournament for girls’ teams, a civic festival, and a museum exhibit. The tournament drew teams from out-of-state, and fans came from as far away as the eastern United States.

Women in Baseball will remain on view at the North Berrien Historical Museum in Coloma, Michigan through Novemeber 11, 2011. For more information please visit http://www.northberrienhistory.org/.

For more information on the State History Awards and to view other recipients visit the Historical Society of Michigan's website.

Author Barbara Gregorich to Speak at Annual Dinner October 18

2011-09-27T06:54:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Society will hold its Annual Dinner on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at the North Berrien Historical Museum. Dinner will be served at 6pm with a business meeting at 7pm. Following Society business, guest speaker Barbara Gregorich will speak on "The Hunt for Maud Nelson" at 7:30pm.

Barbara Gregorich

Chicago-based author Barbara Gregorich specializes in children’s books, but a lifelong passion for baseball has also influenced her work. In the early 1990s she began to intensively document the lives of early female baseball players, including Maud Nelson. Her research resulted in the 1993 book Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball. Gregorich has said of this work: “...uncovering the story took four full years — years in which my eyes blurred from reading microfilm, my car’s tires grew smooth from hauling me to libraries around the country, and my fingers frayed from dialing strangers… Despite everything, it was the most thrilling research experience I’ve ever had.” As our featured guest, Gregorich will present “The Hunt for Maud Nelson,” a summary of her research and publication efforts. Thanks to Gregorich’s work, the North Berrien Historical Society was able to produce our recent exhibit Women in Baseball, telling the story of Maud Nelson, her barnstorming Western Bloomer Girls, and her life in Watervliet a century ago.

Women at Play (1993)

Tickets for the Annual Dinner are $15 per person and reservations are required. Barbara Gregorich's talk is free and open to the public after dinner. For more information please call the North Berrien Historical Museum at 269-468-3330.

Second Annual Tri-City Heritage Tour September 24

2011-09-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Tri-City Heritage Tour will take place on Saturday, September 24, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The Tri-City Heritage Tour offers you the rare chance to explore places with local architectural and historical importance—all on one day and all for free—in the Coloma, Watervliet, and Hartford areas. On September 24, nine diverse heritage sites will offer tours, demonstrations, activities, and conversations related to local history. The tour is self-directed and sites may be visited in any order.

A former jail cell at the Van Buren County Historical Museum in Hartford

All sites will be open free from 10:00am to 4:00pm on September 24, with the exception of the Watervliet Dams Removal project on the Paw Paw River. From 1:00 to 4:00pm only, visit the North Berrien Historical Society’s tent in Hays Park where historic photos and maps of the paper mill area will be displayed. The tent’s hosts will be former employees of the Watervliet Paper Mill, who have volunteered to answer questions and orient public visitors to the former mill area.

The former Coloma Interurban Station

The North Berrien Historical Museum will offer a free vintage pennant craft for all ages to complement the 2011 exhibit Women in Baseball. The North Berrien Photography Contest Exhibit will also be premiered, displaying wonderful images of the area by local photographers. Guided tours will bring to life exhibits at the Southwestern Michigan Basket Machinery Museum in Riverside/ Hagar Township. At the Van Buren County Historical Museum, east of Hartford, all ages will enjoy tours and, from Noon to 4:00pm, a live blacksmith demonstration. In Watervliet visitors will also be welcomed at the beautiful new home of the Sanctuary Baptist Church, which previously served as the Watervliet Methodist Church for 140 years. Two brief talks on local electric railway history will be held at the Coloma Interurban Station. The Hartford Library, housed in a handsome 1871 mansion, will demonstrate online access to historic issues of the Hartford Day Spring newspaper. In the rolling farm country of Bainbridge Township, tour the Tees Barn and the Nafziger Barn, each featuring original hand-hewn beams and adaptations for different uses through many years.

Hartford Public Library

To see a complete set of details for the 2011 Tri-City Heritage Tour, visit the tour website: http://tricityheritagetour.wordpress.com/. The website allows you to post comments or questions about the tour or any site featured on the tour in 2011 or previously. The first-ever Tri-City Heritage Tour in 2010 featured twenty-two sites and was supported in part by a grant from the Berrien Community Foundation. This year’s tour will offer nine heritage sites to better allow public participants to reach every site if desired. Questions can also be directed to the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330 or info@northberrienhistory.org.

Museum hosts panel of All-American Girls professional baseball players

2011-09-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

Panelist Doris Cook

A 10-minute DVD will be shown featuring historic footage of the AAGPBL, then the league veterans will each present a brief personal account of their experiences and take questions. Two former players for the Grand Rapids Chicks will attend including Rosemary Stevenson and Dolly Niemiec Konwinski, who also played for the Battle Creek Belles. The third panelist Doris Cook played for the Springfield Sallies and the Kalamazoo Lassies before being loaned to the South Bend Blue Sox. There is no charge to attend the panel discussion, and refreshments will follow.

The current exhibit Women in Baseball: Bloomer Girls of Berrien County & Beyond will be on display through November 11. For more information, contact the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330.

Museum hosts panel of All-American Girls professional baseball players

2011-08-30T13:36:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum invites the public to join us in welcoming a group of former players from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). From 1943-54 the All-American Girls League traveled women’s baseball teams throughout the Midwest, and was highlighted in the 1993 movie A League of Their Own. Four former players from Michigan will join us for a panel discussion at the museum on Tuesday, September 20 at 7:00pm.

A 10-minute DVD will be shown featuring historic footage of the AAGPBL, then the league veterans will each present a brief personal account of their experiences. Three former players for the Grand Rapids Chicks will attend including Dolly Niemiec Konwinski, Marilyn Jenkins, and Rosemary Stevenson. The fourth panelist Doris Cook played for the Springfield Sallies and the Kalamazoo Lassies before being loaned to the South Bend Blue Sox. There is no charge to attend the panel discussion, and refreshments will follow.

The current exhibit Women in Baseball: Bloomer Girls of Berrien County & Beyond will be on display through November 11. For more information, contact the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330.

Stroll through history on free Halloween Cemetery Tours

2011-08-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Society invites the public to attend our 2011 Halloween Cemetery Tours on Saturday, October 29. Fascinating personal stories of past residents will captivate you on a fun walk through our beautiful and historic city cemeteries in Coloma and Watervliet.

Discover some of the oldest gravestones, dating back to the 1840s, and see historic people’s photos along with unique tales of their lives. In Coloma Cemetery, learn about a beloved undertaker, a couple who once lived in slavery, an unsolved wedding night shooting, and graves moved from the grounds of the high school. In Watervliet Cemetery, visit the resting places of the town’s last living Civil War soldier, a Michigan Secretary of State, a Big Ten head football coach, and the husband of baseball great Maud Nelson. These are just a few of the interesting stories to be told. The tours will also feature historic pictures to bring in spooky tales of UFOs, mobsters, shipwrecks, and other mysterious events from local history.

On Saturday, October 29 the Coloma Cemetery Tour begins at 11:00am and Watervliet Cemetery Tour begins at 1:00pm. Both tours are free of charge, and parking is available at each cemetery. The tours will go on in rain or shine, so please dress appropriately for the weather.

The Girl in Centerfield to be screened at the Loma Theatre

2011-08-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, August 16 at 7pm the North Berrien Historical Museum will be screening the recent documentary, The Girl in Centerfield, at the Loma Theatre in downtown Coloma. The Girl in Centerfield, a feature-length true story produced by Detroit-based Stunt3 Multimedia, is the story of Carolyn King’s fight to play Little League baseball. Using interviews, stock footage, and re-creation, Stunt3 has weaved together the drama of the summer of 1973 when the nation watched as the city of Ypsilanti went head-to-head with Williamsport, Pennsylvania and the institution of Little League Baseball. Producer Brian Krueger will be on hand after the movie for a question and answer session.

In May of 1973, 12-year-old Carolyn King was simply looking to play baseball when she tried out for a spot in the Ypsilanti American Little League. She went to the tryouts with her younger brother, and impressed the coaches with her strong throwing arm and her speed. The coach of the Orioles was looking for a center fielder, and he thought that Carolyn might fit the bill, so he drafted her.

One problem: In 1951, the National Little League organization in Williamsport, Pa., had enacted a rule that specifically said girls were not eligible to play. National officials felt the sport of baseball was too dangerous for girls, so they decided to restrict their leagues to boys. That set up a summer of controversy and showdowns in Ypsilanti that made national headlines in 1973, and landed the story on the evening news.

The National Little League threatened to pull the local league’s charter if Carolyn played, but the City of Ypsilanti said that if she didn’t play, the league couldn’t use the city’s fields. When she suited up for the Orioles in their first game – making history in the process – the National Little League followed through on its threat to pull the local league’s charter.

With this small Michigan town strongly divided over Carolyn’s participation, the case headed to federal court. In the middle of it all was a 12-year-old in pigtails who simply wanted to play baseball. Carolyn’s case and the national uproar it caused prompted National Little League officials to drop their boys-only rule. In 1974, thanks to Carolyn King, girls became eligible to play Little League baseball.

The documentary compliments the exhibit “Women in Baseball: Bloomer Girls of Berrien County and Beyond” currently on view at the North Berrien Historical Museum. The exhibit discusses why after more than 150 years as ‘America’s pastime,’ baseball remains a predominately male sport, despite the fact that women have played the game since its invention in the mid-19th century.

Admission to Women in Baseball and all programs is free of charge.

For more information call Executive Director Alexander Gates at 269-468-3330 or visit www.northberrienhistory.org.

Preview the movie at www.TheGirlinCenterfield.com

North Berrien Photography Contest invites submissions for September exhibit

2011-07-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

This summer the North Berrien Photography Contest invites submissions of original photographs that capture the distinctive character of our area. Eligible photographs must depict a location in North Berrien County, which includes Coloma and Watervliet cities and Hagar, Bainbridge, Coloma, and Watervliet townships. Photos should represent an aspect of North Berrien, including, but not limited to, architecture, landscapes, nature, public buildings and events, and historic locations. Submissions will be judged based on technical excellence, composition, and overall impact of the image. Winners will be selected from three age groups: Youth (Age 17 and under), Adults (18-64), and Seniors (Age 65+). Winning photographs and honorable mentions will appear in a public exhibit at the North Berrien Historical Museum, to premiere during the Tri-City Heritage Tour on Saturday, September 24, 2011.

The Photography Contest is sponsored by the North Berrien Historical Society—our goal is to add contest submissions to our collection, advancing our mission to preserve local history and culture for future generations. To obtain an Official Entry Form and Rules, contact or visit the North Berrien Historical Museum, see our Facebook page, or click here. The final deadline to postmark or hand-deliver submissions to the museum is Tuesday, September 6, 2011. Complete submissions will include the Entry Form, a brief photograph description, and the photo entry printed on 8 by 10 inch photo paper. For more information about the North Berrien Photography Contest or to request an Official Entry Form and Rules, contact the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330.

Click here to download an Offical Entry Form and Rules for the North Berrien Photography Contest.

Glad-Peach 2011

2011-07-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Glad-Peach Festival will be held August 4-7. The North Berrien Historical Society will again bring its 'Cone Barn' to Baker Park to sell ice cream cones, hot dogs, and pop to festival attendees. Sherman's Peach Ice Cream will again be offered as a special Peach Festival treat. New this year are North Berrien Historical Museum ornaments for sale and 50/50 raffle tickets. Raffle tickets will be sold throughout the weekend with the drawing taking place on August 7 at 1pm. With 3000 tickets printed the winner is likely to win over $1000! Tickets are also available at the museum before the festival begins. Raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.

Volunteers are once again vital to making this a successful fundraiser for the museum. If you would like to scoop ice cream, sell tickets, or greet visitors at the museum please call 269-468-3330 to be added to our volunteer list.

The historical society will also be sponsoring a float in the Glad-Peach Parade, which takes place on Saturday, August 6 at 1pm. After the parade walk down to the Loma Theatre to watch our historic local documentaries at either 2:30 or 3:30pm. With three movies to choose from you can check out two screenings in a row.

For more information visit the Glad-Peach Festival's website.

“Legends of Paw Paw Lake” July 19

2011-07-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

July 11, 2011 – Coloma, MI – The public is invited to a free slide show presentation called “Legends of Paw Paw Lake,” on Tuesday, July 19 at 7:00pm at the North Berrien Historical Museum. The slide show is an overview of Paw Paw Lake history, focusing on its “legends” passed down by generations of residents and local historians. Hear stories of Native Americans, 200-seat steamships, packed dance halls, and beloved resorts at the lake. Refreshments will follow the program.

In the early 20th century tens of thousands of tourists, especially Chicagoans, made their way to Paw Paw Lake each summer, aided by train service after 1896 and numerous passenger steamers. Farmhouses expanded to accommodate boarders, and large resort hotels, cottages, and other amenities were built. Early dance pavilions extended out over the water, and starting in 1925, the famed dance hall Crystal Palace hosted the most popular big band and swing musicians of the day. Local historians such as Mabel Branch Stark, Bill Beverly, and Rick Rasmussen have helped preserve the lore of Paw Paw Lake’s resort era, as have countless residents who have donated items to the collection of the North Berrien Historical Museum.

“Legends of Paw Paw Lake” will be presented by the museum’s Director of Education Tracy Gierada, and is a repeat of the July 7 program at the North Berrien Senior Center. For more information, contact the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330.

“Old Time Sports” kids activities at historical museum July 13

2011-06-30T12:29:00.000-07:00

July 1, 2011 – Coloma, MI – The North Berrien Historical Museum will hold a free program for kids ages 6-12 on Wednesday, July 13, called “Summer Time Travelers: Old Time Sports.” Time Travelers are a series of free, interactive programs that each bring to life a fascinating theme so we can discover how the past differed from the world today. All programs feature a fun and welcoming atmosphere, crafts, hands-on activities, demonstrations, and real museum artifacts. There is no cost, but registration is required to ensure space. Register by calling the museum at (269) 468-3330 or visit our website (www.northberrienhistory.org).

“Old Time Sports” will introduce participants to the museum’s new exhibit Women in Baseball: Bloomer Girls of Berrien County & Beyond and they’ll meet a re-enactor uniformed as a Western Bloomer Girl, the barnstorming baseball team based in Watervliet a century ago. Our Time Travelers will also try their hand at croquet and other historic games, and make a local sports history pennant to take home.

For more information, contact the North Berrien Historical Museum. Remaining Time Travelers programs in 2011 include Pioneers (July 27), Paw Paw Lake Fun (August 10) and Native Americans (August 24). The museum’s summer hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm.

Maud Nelson Festival June 24-26, 2011

2011-06-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

(Image courtesy of the Tri-City Record)

The first ever Maud Nelson Festival and Girls Baseball Tournamnent will take place on June 24-26. Events will take place at Library Park and Hay's Park in Watervliet and at the North Berrien Historical Museum in Coloma. Women in Baseball: Bloomer Girls of Berrien County & Beyond is now on display at the museum. An opening reception will take place on Friday, June 24 from 5-8pm.

“Women in Baseball” to feature history of Watervliet’s Maud Nelson

2011-06-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

A new exhibit at the North Berrien Historical Museum will highlight the history of women’s baseball from its origins to the present day. “Women in Baseball: Bloomer Girls of Berrien County and Beyond” will be on display at the North Berrien Historical Museum from June 17 through November 11, 2011. An opening reception is planned for Friday, June 24 from 5-8pm.
The exhibit discusses why after more than 150 years as ‘America’s pastime,’ baseball remains a predominately male sport, despite the fact that women have played the game since its invention in the mid-19th century. Although American society in general may have looked at women's involvement in baseball as a curiosity, the exhibit brings to life the images of women who loved the crack of the bat and the thrill of a running one-handed catch with two outs in the ninth, according to guest curator John Kovach of St. Mary’s College.

“Women in Baseball” features nearly 200 objects ranging from picture postcards, game programs, photographs, baseballs, jerseys, and a uniform from the 1993 movie A League of Their Own. Exhibit visitors will get to know Jackie Mitchell, who played for the House of David and struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition game in 1931, and Sophie Kurys, of the South Bend Blue Sox, who still holds the record for the most stolen bases in one season in any league -- 201 steals in 203 attempts in 1946.

The local highlight is the story of renowned pitcher Maud Nelson who lived in Watervliet from 1904 to 1917. Maud was one of the most influential female baseball players in American history with a career spanning over forty years. In 1901 Maud Nelson was playing for the Chicago Star Bloomers when she married her team manager John B. Olson Jr. In 1904 the couple moved into a farm in Watervliet on what is now the Paw Paw Lake Golf Course. At the time John Olson managed the Cherokee Indian Baseball Team, which traveled around the country in a custom Pullman railcar. Newspapers reported that Miss Maud Nelson, the famous lady pitcher, pitched two or three innings for the Indian team starting in 1908. In 1910 Maud Nelson became owner-manager of the Western Bloomer Girls who traveled the country competing against male teams in front of huge crowds.

To compliment the exhibit there will be several speakers and programs during the summer and fall. Guest curator John Kovach will speak at the museum on the history of girls and women in baseball on Tuesday, June 21 at 7pm. The House of David Echoes will play a Vintage Baseball Game behind Coloma Elementary School on July 22 at 6pm. On August 16 at 7pm, the Loma Theatre will screen the documentary The Girl in Centerfield, which tells the story of Carolyn King of Ypsilanti, who in 1973 was the first girl to play in Little League. Finally on September 20 at the museum a panel of former All-American Girls Baseball League players will discuss their experiences playing ball for teams in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Kalamazoo during the 1940s and 1950s. Admission to the exhibit Women in Baseball and all programs is free of charge.

For more information call Executive Director Alexander Gates at 269-468-3330 or visit www.northberrienhistory.org.

You're Invited: Women in Baseball Season Opener

2011-06-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

Summer Time Travelers are free interactive programs for kids

2011-06-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum again looks forward to Summer Time Travelers, a series of free interactive programs especially designed for ages 6-12. With our two main goals of learning and fun, every session features hands-on activities and crafts focused on a fascinating theme, as well as real historic artifacts and exhibits. Summer Time Travelers aims to inspire a lifelong interest in history and historical museums. These programs are free but to ensure space, advance registration is required. To register or for more information, call the museum at (269) 468-3330 or download a registration form and return.

Highlights of Time Travelers this summer include a visit by award-winning Michigan historian and Storyteller Larry Massie on June 29. Time Travelers will be held from 10am – Noon (registration required), followed at 1pm with a free Storytelling show open to all ages called “Adventures in Michigan’s Past” (no registration). Other programs will make use of the museum’s traveling trunks and exhibits throughout our grounds, including the Women in Baseball exhibit this summer. The dates and themes for Summer Time Travelers 2011 include: Lumberjacks (June 29), Old Time Sports (July 13), Pioneers (July 27), Paw Paw Lake Fun (August 10) and Native Americans (August 24).

Volunteers make it possible for us to offer these free programs to the community. If you would like to help with Summer Time Travelers in 2011, please call the museum to sign up.

Popular Michigan historian and Storyteller comes to Coloma June 29

2011-06-01T12:07:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum is honored to host Historian and Storyteller Larry Massie at two free public programs on Wednesday, June 29, 2011. Massie is the author of twenty books and hundreds of articles on Michigan history, and was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Historical Society of Michigan. He has shared his enthusiasm for Michigan’s heritage at hundreds of Storytelling performances, and has proven to be a fun and popular guest who gets citizens excited about the history of their state and community.

The first program on June 29, from 10:00am – 12:00pm, is “Summer Time Travelers: Lumberjacks” and is part of a public program series designed for children ages 6-12. Through hands-on activities and demonstrations, attendees will learn about the history of logging and lumber industries in Michigan in the 1800s. Attendees will receive a historical coloring book by the Michigan Forest Association, create a ‘log marking’ craft, and play a game inspired by our local history of shingle-making on the Paw Paw River. The highlight of this interactive program will be Larry Massie’s dramatic Storytelling as a “rough-hewn lumberjack” from Michigan’s lumber era. Advance registration is required to ensure space; download a form or call the museum at 269-468-3330.

The second program on June 29, from 1:00 – 2:30pm, is “Adventures in Michigan’s Past” and will be a free, all-ages performance held in the Nichols Building at the North Berrien Historical Museum. (No registration is required). In this program, Larry Massie’s dynamic Storytelling will bring to life a range of true historical vignettes featuring Indian chiefs, French voyageurs, black-robed Jesuit priests, intrepid pioneers, salty Great Lakes ship captains, and Underground Railroad conductors who risked their lives guiding slaves to freedom. Visitors are encouraged to tour the museum’s exhibits before or after the program, including the new local history exhibit Women in Baseball: Bloomer Girls of Berrien County & Beyond.

Coming Soon - Women in Baseball: Bloomer Girls of Berrien County & Beyond

2011-05-05T20:12:00.000-07:00

First Annual Museum Ornament Available for Pre-Order

2011-04-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

The first-ever North Berrien Historical Museum ornament was unveiled at Volunteer Appreciation Night on Thursday, April 28. The ornament is a new fundraiser, which will be followed by a new piece annually. As the first in a series the museum choose its logo for the initial design. Future designs may include the Watervliet Paper Mill, Paw Paw Lake, and the dunes of Lake Michigan.

The ornaments are produced by ChemArt and are solid brass with gold plating. They measure 3.375" long by 2" tall. Each piece is marked on the back with "Made in the USA" and "First in a Series"

Pre-orders will be accepted through Saturday, June 18th with pickup starting on Tuesday, June 21. The pre-order cost is $15 plus tax. Ornaments will then be for sale at the North Berrien Historical Museum and the Cottage of the Four Seasons in Coloma for $18 plus tax throughout the year.

Click here for an order form.

For more information call the North Berrien Historical Museum at 269-468-3330.

Spring Break A Great Success

2011-04-07T11:52:00.001-07:00

Rainy weather couldn't keep away our World War Two soldiers for a day. A record 185 people visited the museum on Wednesday afternoon for Spring Break. New "recruits" took part in free crafts and activities at the North Berrien Historical Museum.

Visitors started by making dog tags to wear throughout the day.

Youth Intern Taylor shows a visitor how to make a hat out of brown paper.

Army caps are a must for any new army recruit. Over 100 were made during the afternoon.

Youth intern Alexis shows a visitor how to make a parachute craft in the Nichols "Flight Training" Building.

Visitors take part in the coloring contest located in the Carter House parlor.

Volunteer Pauline Morris shows off her V for Victory craft in the Carter Gallery.

Women in the Second World War Exhibit Now On View

2011-04-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

A Few Good Women: Women in the Military During the Second World War is on view at the North Berrien Historical Museum through May 27, 2011. The exhibit panels are on loan from the Michigan Women's Historical Center in Lansing and the uniforms come from the North Berrien Historical Museum's collection as well as other local institutions.

Six female uniforms are on display: three Army Nurses, two Women's Marine Reserve Corps, one Navy WAVES. Each uniform is unique in look as well as the story of the former owner. Several programs are scheduled during the exhibition. For more info please visit northberrienhistory.org.

Opening Soon - A Few Good Women: Women in the Military During the Second World War

2011-03-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

An exhibit on women in the military will open at the North Berrien Historical Museum on Friday, April 1 with a reception from 5:30-7:30pm. State Senator John Proos will give opening remarks at 6pm. “A Few Good Women: Women in the Military During the Second World War” is a traveling exhibit from the Michigan Women’s Historical Center in Lansing and will be on view from April 1 – May 27, 2011.

This temporary exhibit highlights the involvement of Michigan women in the military during the Second World War including the Army and Navy Nurses Corps, Coast Guard SPARS, Marine Corps, Navy WAVES, WACs (Women Army Corps) and WASP (Women Air Force Service Pilots). Several Michigan women who have earned a place in the Michigan’s Women’s Hall of Fame for their service in the war are specifically covered.

Michiganders can be proud of female veterans including Nancy Harkness Love (1914-1976), a native of Houghton, Michigan, who helped found and was director of the Women’s Auxiliary Ferry Squadron (WAFS) in 1942. Love hand-selected the country’s top twenty-eight female pilots to serve in the WAFS ferrying planes from factories to bases nationwide. First Lieutenant Aleda Lutz (1915-1994), of Saginaw, Michigan, volunteered with the 802nd Medical Air Evacuation Squadron where she flew 196 missions evacuating over 3500 men, logging the most flight hours of any nurse. Lutz was killed in 1944 when her plane crashed in Italy, making her the first American military woman to die in a combat zone during the war.

Artifacts donated by North Berrien residents are included to tell the story of local women during the war. Among these is Frances Bridgman’s silk wedding dress, which was made from a parachute panel recovered by her future husband from a downed Japanese plane in the Philippines. Lillian Pritchard and Jackie Phillippi Nurses’ uniforms are also on display from the permanent collection. Additional uniforms and images are loaned from Berrien, Van Buren and Elkhart County museums.

Special events at the museum are planned throughout the exhibit. An all-ages World War Two themed Spring Break program is planned for Wednesday, April 6 from 1-3pm. A panel of North Berrien female veterans including Vel Ripsco and Janet Allkins is scheduled for Tuesday, April 19 at 7pm. Documentaries will be screened at the museum on the afternoon of Saturday, April 16 and a book discussion will be held at the Coloma Public Library on Thursday, March 12. Finally a 1940s Show & Tell discussion on Tuesday, May 17 invites all local residents to share objects, photographs, and stories relating to life in North Berrien during the war period.

Admission is free to the exhibit and all programs. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10am to 4pm. For additional information please contact the museum at 269-468-3330 or visit http://www.northberrienhistory.org/.

American Women in a World at War Book Discussion May 12

2011-03-09T08:24:00.000-08:00

A discussion of American Women in a World at War will take place at the Coloma Public Library on Thursday, May 12 from 5:30-7pm. The book discussion is part of programming related to the exhibit A Few Good Women: Women in the Military During the Second World War, which is on display at the North Berrien Historical Museum from April 1 - May 27, 2011.

American Women in a World at War is a selection of contemporary accounts written by women in the 1940s. While many historical accounts are compiled many years after the fact, these stories come directly from the war period. The book is composed of twenty-five writings by women who share rich and varied experiences offering eloquent testimony that World War Two was indeed "everybody's war." Discussion participants will enjoy first-hand accounts including Army nurses in the Phillipines, Navy Nurses at Pearl Harbor, Coast Guard SPARs in New York, female factory workers, and recollections of life on the homefront while husbands and fathers were away at war.

The book is a quick read at 200 pages. Copies of the book are available at Coloma Public Library, Watervliet District Libary or for sale at Lakeside Books in downtown Coloma.

Tour of Russian Icon Exhibit

2011-03-07T09:47:00.000-08:00

The Krasl Art Center will provide a group tour of the exhibit Windows to Heaven: Treasures from the Museum of Russian Icons on Wednesday, March 23 at 7pm. The tour is offered free of charge for North Berrien Historical Society members and friends. No rsvp is required and guests are asked to meet in the Krasl Art Center lobby.

Windows to Heaven brings together a grouping of historically significant Russian Icons dating from 1500 to the present. St. Nicholas and St. George, Old Testament scenes, pictorial themes centered on the life of Jesus, and images of the Mother of God are represented in this collection. This is a rare opportunity to learn about Russian history, art, and religion through beautiful and rare objects. This exhibition is organized by the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, Massachusetts. Windows to Heaven will be on display at the Krasl through April 24.

Museum hosts Civil War speaker March 15

2011-03-07T09:04:00.000-08:00

All are welcome to attend a free public program at the North Berrien Historical Museum to commemorate an historic occasion this spring—the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. Dr. Chris Paine, Professor of History at Lake Michigan College, will join us to present a talk entitled “The Winter of Our Discontent: The Civil War Gets Started”. Dr. Paine will discuss the secessions of southern states from the Union in 1861 and President Lincoln’s response to the problem. What happened during that time changed our nation forever— but was it a coup? A revolution? Neither? Dr. Paine’s teaching skills and expertise in 19th century American history make this a program not to be missed. Refreshments will follow.

This event will be held Tuesday, March 15, at 7:00 pm. The North Berrien Historical Museum is located on Red Arrow Highway across from Coloma High School. For more information, call the museum at (269) 468-3330.

New "Explore North Berrien" Map

2011-02-28T06:46:00.001-08:00

Visitors to the museum are now able to "explore North Berrien" using an interactive historical map of the area. This new permanent exhibit is a color graphic panel that measures 69" x 77" and is located in the main museum gallery. The map provides an overview of roads, waterways, and North Berrien communities. Visitors will find eight images from the museum's collection that lift to reveal a detailed explanation of the photograph.

"Explore North Berrien" will be particularly beneficial to school groups and children who visit the museum. The map will help young people grasp the concept of local geography through the use of recognizable landmarks. Classes will begin their tours in front of the map for a visual overview of our community history. Out-of-town visitors are another group that will benefit from this new exhibit. Those new to North Berrien will be able to see the area they are visiting including Paw Paw Lake, Lake Michigan, and the orchards of Bainbridge Township.

Under the direction of museum staff, graphic design fro the exhibit was completed by Robin Maxon of Maxon Graphix in St. Joseph. The display was printed and installed by Anchor Signs in Benton Harbor. Please stop in during open hours to explore our latest addition to the museum gallery.

Museum welcomes home school students at any time

2011-02-25T11:11:00.000-08:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum offers free educational programs year-round that are perfect for school and home school groups. Museum tours, walking tours, hands-on crafts, traveling trunks, and slide presentations are available for all age groups, and our third and fourth grade museum tours meet Michigan’s Social Studies Grade Level Content Expectations for History. Contact the Director of Education at (269) 468-3330 or nbhs2@sbcglobal.net to learn more or to schedule an engaging and memorable program for your group.

To help share these opportunities with homeschoolers in southwest Michigan, we have recently outreached to several online groups. We are now listed as an approved field trip by the Homeschool Buyers Co-op, a national organization of nearly 64,000 families. We will also appear soon on the Home EDucators Resource Directory, another national network of information for homeschoolers.

If you or anyone you know is a home school family, keep the North Berrien Historical Museum in mind for a quality educational outing. Our monthly E-News is a great way to stay informed about museum events. Annual temporary exhibits and public programs mean that there’s always something new to discover here!

All ages invited to Victorian Valentines Party on February 12

2011-02-08T14:33:00.000-08:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum welcomes the public to attend a Victorian Valentines Party on Saturday, February 12 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Bring along family and friends to celebrate Valentine’s Day with festive games and refreshments. All ages will enjoy being creative with an array of craft materials for making your own special valentine card to give away. Get inspiration from our collection of historic valentines spanning the 20th century which will be on display.

There is a suggested donation of $3/person for the valentine craft. RSVP is appreciated at (269) 468-3330 or nbhs2@sbcglobal.net. The North Berrien Historical Museum is located on Red Arrow Highway, across the street from Coloma High School, at 300 Coloma Avenue. For more information contact the museum at (269) 468-3330.

Museum kicks off 2011 Youth Internship

2011-01-27T10:08:00.000-08:00

On January 26, 2011 the North Berrien Historical Museum began our first-ever Youth Internship program with a group of local students coming from middle and junior high school. The Youth Interns were chosen for expressing their interest in history and their enthusiasm for learning more and working with the museum. The program will meet every other Wednesday through May 2011, and will culminate in a reception for the Youth Interns and families, as well as North Berrien Historical Society members and other supporters.

Youth Interns will gain knowledge and skills that will help them participate in our mission to preserve and promote local history. In addition to various hands-on museum tasks, all are invited to research and write short articles on specific topics or events from North Berrien’s past for submission to the Curator’s Blog or Quarterly Newsletter. Each Youth Intern will make an important contribution to the museum by preparing for and recording an Oral History Interview with a local person. The other major project they will work on during the program is to produce promotional and educational YouTube videos for the museum to compliment our ever-increasing web and social media presence.

The staff and board of the North Berrien Historical Society are thrilled to begin offering this annual opportunity to youth in our community. We are extremely grateful to the Youth Interns and their families, as well as the local teachers whose assistance is crucial to this program. For more information, contact the museum at (269) 468-3330.

A Year in Pictures

2011-01-27T08:52:00.000-08:00

We had an exciting year in 2010. Check out our updated photo gallery on our website. Or click below to view the gallery.

Talk to Feature Local Underground Railroad History

2011-01-25T10:52:00.000-08:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum will host a free public talk about the Underground Railroad in Southwest Michigan on Tuesday, February 15 at 7:00 pm. Carol Bainbridge, a member of the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County, will present. Bainbridge will provide a historical overview of the topic and discuss the exciting recent efforts to preserve this history and share it with the public.

Cass County, Michigan was a “hotbed” of opposition to slavery before the Civil War. Abolitionists including Quakers, free African Americans and others operated “stations” on the Underground Railroad— a secret network of safe places for freedom seekers escaping the clutches of slavery in the South. It is claimed that over 1,500 freedom seekers passed through Cass County on their way to Canada on a route through Schoolcraft, Battle Creek, Jackson, Ann Arbor, Detroit and finally Windsor. The story of the Underground Railroad in Cass County is one of cooperation, respect and mutual trust, as well as personal heroism, to combat the hated institution of slavery.

The North Berrien Historical Museum is located on Red Arrow Highway across the street from Coloma High School, at 300 Coloma Avenue, Coloma. For more information, contact the museum at (269) 468-3330. Click here to learn more about the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County.

Exhibit to feature history of Maud Nelson and the Western Bloomer Girls

2011-01-05T09:14:00.000-08:00

The highlight of the exhibit is the story of renowned pitcher Maud Nelson who lived in Watervliet Township from 1905 to 1917. Nelson was one of the most influential female baseball players in American history with a career spanning forty years. In 1905 Maud Nelson married John Olson and the couple moved to Watervliet where they lived on a farm on what is now the Paw Paw Lake Golf Course. Nelson managed the Cherokee Indian Baseball Team which traveled around the country in a custom Pullman railcar. Newspapers reported that Miss Maud Nelson, the famous lady pitcher, pitched two or three innings for the Indian team. In 1911 Nelson became owner-manager of the Western Bloomer Girls who traveled the country competing against male teams in front of huge crowds.

In addition to the story of Maud Nelson the exhibit will tell the story of women in baseball from the origins of the game through the present day. This includes the All American Girls Baseball League (made famous by the movie a League of Their Own) that existed from 1943-1954.

For more information call Director/Curator Alexander Gates at 269-468-3330 or visit www.northberrienhistory.org.

Watervliet Ice Festival January 7-9, 2011

2011-01-04T13:38:00.000-08:00

The Watervliet Ice Festival will take place January 7-9, 2011 in downtown Watervliet. Make sure to stop by and check out the North Berrien Historical Museum's sculpture, which features a great local history story! For more information call the Coloma-Watervliet Area Chamber of Commerce at 269-468-4430.

Free Hagar Township History program is January 18

2010-12-30T12:04:00.000-08:00

The public is invited to attend “History of Hagar Township,” a narrated slide show at the North Berrien Historical Museum on Tuesday, January 18 at 7:00pm. Discover surprising and fascinating stories from the past in Hagar Township at this encore of our “Hagar History Day” slide show from July 2010. The presentation will feature images and artifacts from the museum’s collection with discussion by Tracy Gierada, Director of Education at the North Berrien Historical Museum.

The slide show will cover some of the most notable tales from the past in Hagar Township, beginning with European explorers, early American settlers, and the lumber industry. The rise of resorts will also be covered, including the large estate known as “Jacobia” with its wooden water tower on the lakeshore and the community at Lake Michigan Beach. Learn the origins of place names and hear about many strange but true stories from the area, such as the eccentric pioneers Kate and Ebenezer Standish and a deadly visit by Chicago gangsters in 1928.

This event is free of charge. For more information please contact the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330.

New Exhibit Highlights Michigan Women's Military Service During World War Two

2010-12-30T11:07:00.000-08:00

A traveling World War Two exhibit is schedule for the spring at the North Berrien Historical Museum. “A Few Good Women: Women in the Military During the Second World War” is a traveling exhibit from the Michigan Women’s Historical Center in Lansing and will be on view at the North Berrien Historical Museum from April 1 – May 27, 2011.

The traveling exhibit highlights the involvement of Michigan women in the military during the Second World War including the Army and Navy Nurses Corps, Coast Guard SPARS, Marine Corps, Navy WAVES, WACs (Women Army Corps) and WASP (Women Air Force Service Pilots). Several Michigan women who have earned a place in the Michigan’s Women’s Hall of Fame for their service in the war are specifically covered.

Michiganders can be proud of female veterans including Nancy Harkness Love (1914-1976), a native of Houghton, Michigan, who helped found and was director of the Women’s Auxiliary Ferry Squadron (WAFS) in 1942. Love hand-selected the country’s top twenty-eight female pilots to serve in the WAFS ferrying planes from factories to bases across the country.

First Lieutenant Aleda Lutz (1915-1944), of Saginaw, Michigan, is one of the most celebrated women war heroes in American history. Lutz volunteered with the 802nd Medical Air Evacuation Squadron where she flew 196 missions evacuating over 3500 men, logging the most flight hours of any nurse. Lutz was killed in 1944 when her plane crashed in Italy, making her the first American military women to die in a combat zone during the war. With the exception of Civil War Era Doctor Mary Walker, Lutz is the highest decorated woman in the history of the United States of America.

The exhibit will also feature Second World War artifacts from the collection of the North Berrien Historical Museum and other local collections. For additional information please contact the museum at 269-468-3330.

11 exciting things at the museum in 2011

2010-12-28T12:55:00.001-08:00

1 Annual Dinner this fall –yum!
2 Exciting Cemetery Tours in October
3 Traveling exhibition kiosks on the Western Bloomer Girls
4 Days of Holiday Open House (December 1-4, 2011)
5 Time Travelers programs this summer
6 types of ice cream to choose from at our Cone Barn during Coloma Glad Peach Festival (August 4-7)
7 Applications received so far for our youth intern program, which begins in January
8 Weeks of A Few Good Women: Women in the Military During World War II (April 1 – May 27, 2011)
9 players on every baseball team playing in the Maud Nelson Invitational Baseball Tournament (June 25 & 26, 2010).
10 more convenient parking spots in front of the museum this year.
11 monthly speakers (every third Tuesday at 7pm from January through November)

Free Winter Break 'New Years Fun' kids program

2010-12-20T07:57:00.000-08:00

A free educational program for children and families will be held at the North Berrien Historical Museum during the final week of 2010. ‘Winter Break Time Travelers: New Years Fun,’ will be an interactive afternoon at the museum. Have a ball with games and crafts as we learn about New Years traditions from the past! Designed for ages 6-12 and families, all Time Travelers programs feature hands-on activities, a craft to take home, and a welcoming atmosphere. ‘New Years Fun’ will be held on Wednesday, December 29, from 1 – 2:30pm. This event is free but RSVP is requested. To register your child or for more information, call the museum at 269-468-3330. Only in case of severe snow or ice, this program will be rescheduled for December 30, 1 – 2:30pm. Please call the museum to confirm.

Youth Internship now offered at North Berrien Historical Museum

2010-12-14T11:11:00.000-08:00

Students currently in grades 7-12 are now invited to apply for a Youth Internship at the North Berrien Historical Museum in Coloma, MI. Youth Interns get the exciting opportunity to work on real projects that support our mission to preserve and promote local history. To obtain a schedule and Application for the 2011 Youth Internship program, please stop by the museum or e-mail nbhs2@sbcglobal.net. Applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered to the museum no later than Friday, January 7, 2011.

The Youth Internship is a commitment to volunteer time every other week from late January – May 2011, in which students will get to know the museum and practice new skills. Participants will be trained by the museum’s professional staff to do activities such as caring for artifacts, doing oral history interviews, and sharing local history with the public. Youth Interns will also learn more about career possibilities related to museums, history and culture, all while gaining an impressive internship experience to list on their resumes and college applications!

For more information about this new program, contact the North Berrien Historical Museum’s Director of Education Tracy Gierada at (269) 468-3330 or nbhs2@sbcglobal.net.

Holiday Open House a Great Success

2010-12-08T08:20:00.000-08:00

The 6th Annual North Berrien Holiday Open House was once again a great success with nearly 500 visitors touring the museum. The Christmas trees will remain on view throughout December.

The Upbeats with Pete and Marge Mannino perform during Senior Day at the museum.

The Serenata Strings played for a full house during the Friday evening Holiday Tasting Gala.

Gingerbread House making was once again a hit with nearly 60 houses being built over the weekend.

Santa and Mrs. Claus visited with children (and board presidents) on Saturday afternoon.

Children of all ages made holiday cards in the Carter Gallery.

Ruthie Coburn shows us how to walk the walk during our annual cookie walk.

Even the bomb shelter is decked out for the holidays.

Director's Invitation to the 6th Annual North Berrien Holiday Open House

2010-11-30T15:00:00.000-08:00

It is my pleasure to invite you to the North Berrien Historical Museum's 6th Annual Holiday Open House on December 2-5, 2010. Our volunteers have truly outdone themselves this year with 25 trees decorated by 20 different local business and organizations.

A special thank you to all of our tree sponsors: Chemical Bank, Edgewater Bank, Mag’s Raggs and Rag Bags, Cottage of the Four Seasons, Coloma Lioness Club, Whistler Farm, Four Seasons Pool & Spa, Jollay Orchards, Community Hospital Watervliet, Captain Kirk’s Car Wash, Honor Credit Union, Eco-Logical Cleaners, Family Farm and Home, Mattson’s House of Décor, Paw Paw Lake Rotary Club, Michigan Agri Women, Reflections Salon, Friendly Tavern, North Berrien Food Pantry, and Faith Lutheran Church. An additional thank you to our donors for our Holiday Tasting Gala on Friday, December 3: Jollay Orchard, Bob’s Barn, Papa Scott’s Market, and Vineyards Gourmet.

Below are a few preview images of the museum decked out for the holiday season. Please visit our website at http://www.northberrienhistory.org/Christmas_2010.html for a full list of holiday events at the museum.

Sincerely,
Alexander Gates, Director and Curator

The 2010 Cottage of the Four Seasons tree in the main gallery.

Carter House living room display featuring trees by Community Hospital Watervliet, Edgewater Bank, Jollay Orchards, Whistler Farm, Four Season's Pool & Spa, and Mag's Raggs and Rag Bags.

The Carter House dining room with a view of trees decorated by Family Farm and Home, Mattson's House of Decor, Reflection's Salon, Coloma Lioness Club, Honor Credit Union, Friendly Tavern, and the North Berrien Food Pantry.

Santa and his sleigh full of presents in the main gallery.

The Wigwam Hotel: Paw Paw Lake's Most "Luxurious"

2010-11-30T08:38:00.000-08:00

Built in 1898 by Captain Lyman and Sarah Feltus, the Wigwam Hotel was two stories high, boasted a double-decker veranda and the most “luxurious” accommodations on Paw Paw Lake. Each of the 35 rooms opened directly onto the veranda so that guests could stroll or sit and visit in view of the lake. The dramatic vistas of Paw Paw Lake gave the effect that the porches virtually hung in the tree tops. A dining room known as the Knotty Pine was also built across the street.

The property was two of 124 parcels, known as Edgewater Glen, which Mr. Feltus developed and sold in 1905 to Ella Reed and Freeman Gross, who incorporated it into the Wigwam Hotel Co. Inc., and built an annex next door to increase their guest capacity to over 120 guests. The property remained in the Gross family for 25 years before a series of owners operated it as a resort in the summer months up until 1962. During its heyday in the 1930s the Wigwam dining room had a seating capacity of 100 and was open to the public. Hotel employees included a chef from Alabama that specialized in southern cooking and an African American porter who greeted guests upon their arrival. A private beach, large pier, and hot and cold running water in every room were just some of the guest amenities. The hotel was a well known special event location for Coloma and Watervliet over the years hosting meetings, receptions, and parties.

In 1963 the property was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. George Erlich, who over the years renovated the hotel into a home. Although Knotty Pine burned down in the 1970s, the Wigwam remained well maintained as a private residence. According to Mr. Erlich the Wigwam was “just a shell” when they purchased it in 1963, but was restored, including using the hotel post office box for tool storage. Under the Erlich ownership the Wigwam became the lake children’s “headquarters.” Mrs. Erlich once recalled 35 children sleeping on the floor in front of the fireplace, which boasted a rock from every state in the union. The Erlichs also built a stage and life-size teepee in their attic for the children to use. Austin and Jean Stanton purchased the home in 1986 keeping its historic character intact. The former Wigwam Hotel and Annex were both destroyed by fire on November 26, 2010.

Christmas Trees!

2010-11-19T09:20:00.001-08:00

Join us December 2-5, 2011 for the North Berrien Historical Museum's 6th annual Holiday Open House. Over 20 sponsored Christmas trees will provide the backdrop for a weekend of great events. Below are a few previews of trees you will see.

President and Mrs. Obama on Mag's Raggs' tree

Community Hospital Watervliet tree

Edgewater Banks'money tree

Eco-Logical Cleaners' fashion tree

Coloma Lioness Club tree

Ornaments donated by 105-year-old Grace Kibler

Parking Lot Work Complete

2010-11-16T10:32:00.001-08:00

The new museum parking lot is complete! 27 regular spaces and 1 handicap space are marked - double our former capacity in a much more accessible layout. Under the new lot city sewer hookups have been completed to the museum and Carter House. The flag pole was moved between the museum and Carter Barn. New landscaping and signage are planned for 2010 to compliment the new work and make the site more cohesive.

Parking Lot September 2010

Parking Lot November 2010

Front Sidewalk September 2010 - The decorative paver bricks, although attractive, were difficult to keep free of weeds during the summer and ice during the winter.

Front Sidewalk November 2010 - A new cement sidewalk and ramp make the entrace safer and cleaner year-round.

Gates receives Promising Leadership Award

2010-11-05T13:18:00.000-07:00

(photo) Gates with Lin Nelson-Mayson, President of AMM

Alexander Gates, Director and Curator of the North Berrien Historical Museum received the Association of Midwest Museum’s Promising Leadership Award in Cleveland on October 7, 2010. The AMM Promising Leadership Award is given annually to individuals who have worked or volunteered for a museum or museum association for 10 years or less and provided exceptional service or shown outstanding commitment to the museum field.

Gates was given the award for his outstanding work at the North Berrien Historical Museum in Coloma, Michigan. Since he began in 2007 the organization has grown from a volunteer run organziation to a professional history museum with a staff of three. Gates has overseen new exhibits and programs as well as an active public relations and marketing campgain. Community support of the museum is most evident by the recent renewal of its operating millage in August 2010 despite the recent economic downturn.

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

Holiday Open House 2010 - Coming Soon!

2010-11-05T12:35:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum will host its annual Holiday Open House December 2-5, 2010. The museum will be open free for special hours from 10-4, Thursday through Saturday and 12-4 on Sunday.

The weekend begins with Senior Day on Thursday, December 2. Senior citizens are invited to tour the museum at a leisurely pace while enjoying complimentary drinks and live music by The Upbeats with Pete and Marge Mannino and Gordon Krell.

The evening of Friday, December 3 from 5-7pm will be the first ever Holiday Tasting Fundraiser. Admission is $5 at the door. A wide variety of traditional festive food and drink will be sampled throughout the museum complex while visitors enjoy our holiday trees in their full brilliance at night. Live music will be provided by Nocturne String Quartet and Serenata Strings.

Activities for children and families are the focus of Saturday and Sunday, December 4 & 5. Santa’s Workshop features free card and ornament making. Gingerbread house making will be available for a cost of $5 per house. Santa & Mrs. Claus will visit with children on Saturday from 2-4pm. Musical performances will take place throughout the day by members of the Coloma choirs and bands as well as the Bridgman choirs. Finally on Sunday, the Holiday Cookie Walk will take place from 12-4pm. For $5, visitors can fill a box with their favorite cookies to take home.

The museum will feature over 25 decorated Christmas trees and fine holiday décor. Visitors will be able to vote for their favorite tree that will win the People’s Choice Award. Many of the trees are decorated by local businesses and civic organizations. This years tree sponsors include: Edgewater Bank, Chemical Bank, the Marc Hettig Family, Mag’s Raggs, Community Hospital, North Berrien Food Pantry, Coloma Lioness Club, Honor Credit Union, The Friendly Tavern, Eco-Logical Cleaners, Four Seasons Pool & Spa, Jollay Orchards, 5/3 Bank, Reflections Salon, Paw Paw Lake Rotary, Michigan Agri Women, Mattson’s House of Décor and the Cottage of the Four Seasons.

Throughout the holiday season, the museum will collect “Toys for Tots” donations of new, unwrapped toys, and non-perishable food donations for the North Berrien Food Shelf.

Regular winter hours for the museum are Tuesday 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

Museum featured on new website showcasing cultural heritage survival stories

2010-11-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum is featured in a new online resource intended to help communities across the nation promote their unique historic and cultural attractions. Produced by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the online toolkit includes profiles of more than 80 communities achieving success despite the challenges posed by today’s economy.

“We’ve found that real-life stories like North Berrien Historical Museum are meaningful role models” says Amy Webb, director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Heritage Tourism Program. “Cultural heritage tourism attractions want to hear from others in the trenches, facing similar challenges. These survival stories showcase how many communities are succeeding in the face of an economic downturn.”

This user-friendly web site allows visitors to search for stories by region of the country, type of attraction or organization, and/or the survival strategy or strategies that the story illustrates. The toolkit www.preservationnation.org/survival-toolkit was developed after hundreds of hours of outreach to national and state leaders in cultural and heritage tourism over the past year.

The North Berrien Historical was selected as a case study because of their successful local millage campaign in 2006 and subsequent renewal in 2010. “The National Trust for Historic Preservation has done a great job with their toolkit and we are glad to share our success story nationally,” say North Berrien Historical Museum Director Alexander Gates. “Local support is vital to cultural attractions and I hope others can learn from our example.”

New Museum Brochure

2010-10-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum has published a new museum brochure. Copies are being delivered to Michigan Rest Areas, the Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council, local businesses, and other area attractions. The brochure was designed by Robin Maxon at Maxon Graphixs in St. Joseph.

Halloween Cemetery Tours will feature fascinating history and fun trivia

2010-10-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Society invites the public to attend our Halloween Cemetery Tours on Saturday, October 23. On a stroll of beautiful, historic Coloma or Watervliet Cemetery, hear captivating stories about people from the past and answer fun Halloween trivia questions.

Who was the founder of Coloma? Who used to own the farm where Watervliet High School now sits? Who were our most well-known residents a century ago? These are just a few of the stories that will be told at the graves in the Coloma and Watervliet Cemeteries. The tours will also feature historic pictures to tell spooky tales of ghosts, criminals, UFOs, and other mysterious happenings from North Berrien history.

Coloma Cemetery Tour begins at 1:00pm and Watervliet Cemetery Tour begins at 3:00pm. Both tours are free of charge. The programs will go on in rain or shine, so guests should dress appropriately for the weather.

For more information contact Tracy Gierada, Director of Education, at (269) 468-3330.

Parking Lot Expansion Planned

2010-10-01T09:01:00.001-07:00

Beginning October 2010 the North Berrien Historical Museum will be undergoing an extensive parking lot renovation project.

The project will consist of several stages. First trees will be removed from the corner of Coloma Ave. and Red Arrow Highway. This space will allow for additional parking spots for the museum and for spaces nearer to the Carter House. The old parking lot will be removed including the flag pole, front ramp on the museum, and the signage. The entire site will then be graded evenly to remove drop offs and drainage problems.

After the old parking lot is removed the museum and Carter House septic tanks will be removed and pipes will be laid to connect the buildings to the Coloma City sewer. Electric conduit will also be run under the parking lot for future additions of a lighted sign and parking lot lighting.

After the ground work is completed the new parking lot will be paved with an entrance on Coloma Ave. and another on Red Arrow Highway. Visitors will enjoy expanded parking, additional handicapped parking spots, and a more accessible museum entry.

The final stage of the project will include new landscaping in front of the museum and new signage for the site complex.

Speaker to discuss shipwreck of the Lady Elgin, October 17

2010-10-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

Valerie van Heest will discuss the shipwreck of the Lady Elgin at the North Berrien Historical Museum on Tuesday, October 19 at 7pm.

On September 8, 1860 the Lady Elgin went down in Lake Michigan resulting in the deaths of more than 300 people. Now 150 years after the worst disaster on the open waters of Lake Michigan, Valerie Van Heest will revisit the dark stormy night when 400 excursionists on board the Lady Elgin were awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of a terrible crash.

Award winning author, shipwreck explorer and member of the Women Divers Hall of fame, Valerie has documented Great Lakes shipwrecks for over twenty years and her efforts led to an award from the Historical Society of Michigan for excellence in preserving and promoting State and local history.

This event is free and open to the public. The museum is open winters hours Tuesday through Friday 10-4. For more information contact Alexander Gates, Director/Curator, at 269-468-3330

Annual Dinner and Meeting

2010-09-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Society held its 2010 Annual Dinner at the North Berrien Historical Museum on Tuesday, September 21. Following a dinner catered by County Kitchen Catering the annual business meeting was called to order by President Scott Young at 7pm.

The short business meeting included reading the minutes of the board of directors, electing board members, and approving the revised bylaws. Afterward Young gave an overview of the parking lot renovations and new sewer lines being connected to the museum. Hopefully before winter most of the work will be completed.

Young then turned the floor over the Director and Curator Alexander Gates. Gates reviewed attendance and donations for the year. Overall the museum remains in a strong position with a millage secured through 2014.

Director of Education, Tracy Gierada reviewed the various educational programs of the previous year including school tours, summer Time Travelers Programs, and off-site slide presentations.

After the meeting the speaker was introduced. Robert Myers, Curator at The History Center at Courthouse Square, gave a presentations on the history of trains in Berrien County. The program was enjoyed by the 70 members and guests present.

Locomotives Along the Lakeshore now available!

2010-09-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Locomotives Along the Lakeshore: Railroads of Berrien County, Michigan is now available for sale in the museum gift shop. These soft cover books are $23.95 plus tax. Author Robert Myers, curator at the History Center at Courthouse Square in Berrien Springs has put together a wonderful history of the local railroads.

North Berrien had a number of stations over the years including Riverside, Coloma, and Watervliet on the Pere Marquette line from Chicago to Detroit. Myers also includes the electric interurban trains that ran from St. Joseph to Coloma, Paw Paw Lake, and Watervliet via Millburg and Bainbridge Township. A great selection of photographs from collections including the North Berrien Historical Society's make the book a great gift for local historians and train enthusiasts.

Oxen Reunited

2010-09-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

Often in the museum collection local residents appear multiple times, but it is rather unusual for a team of oxen. This team of oxen belonged to the Peirce Family who sawed rough lumber north of Methodist Church next to railroad tracks in Watervliet. These late 19th century photographs are reunited in the museum after the second photograph, which formerly hung in the 5/3 bank lobby, was donated to the museum.

Irish School Photographs

2010-09-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum recently received copies of photographs from Irish School dating from the 1931-1932 school year. Ms. Elsie Kietzer was the teacher, but class lists and school records from this period are missing from our records. If you can help us identify any of these students please contact the museum at 269-468-3330.

The Irish School was located on Carmody Road and County Line Road being technically located in Hartford but taking in mostly North Berrien Students.

Younger students.

7th and 8th Grade

Basket Weaving Workshop is Saturday, September 18

2010-08-31T08:24:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum will hold a Basket Weaving Workshop on Saturday, September 18 from 2:00 to 3:00pm. The history of southwest Michigan is full of baskets both handmade and machine-made, as they were important tools in the homes and industries of the past. This program will begin with a brief introduction to local basketry over 200 years, featuring pieces from the museum’s collection. Then, all materials and step-by-step instruction will be provided to create your own hand-made paper basket. There will be a $3 charge for each basket made. This is a great occasion for parents or grandparents with kids and anyone who enjoys crafting to visit the museum and learn a historic and fun new skill. Please RSVP to ensure your space. To RSVP or for more information, contact the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330.

Photo caption: This Potawatomi black ash basket is exhibited at the North Berrien Historical Museum, and is one of the baskets to be discussed on September 18.

Annual Dinner to Highlight Trains of Berrien County

2010-08-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

The 2010 North Berrien Historical Society Annual Dinner will be held at the North Berrien Historical Museum on Tuesday, September 21 at 6pm. Tickets for the annual dinner may be purchased for $15 from the museum office, 269-468-3330. Following dinner, at 7pm, Bob Myers, Curator of The History Center at Courthouse Square, will give a presentation on the history of trains in Berrien County. Myers recently published a new book, Locomotives Along the Lakeshore: Railroads of Berrien County, which will be for sale following the talk for $23.95.

Photo Caption: Dr. Baker's train arriving at Paw Paw Lake, ca. 1900, NBHS 9998.03.75

Liberty Hyde Bailey Blog: The Peach is Sunshine

2010-08-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

Liberty Hyde Bailey Blog: The Peach is Sunshine: "This peach is sunshine. It is night, the twilight, and the dawn. It is dew and rain. It is noon, and wind, and weather. It is heat and cold...."

Talk on Old Rugged Cross Church - August 17

2010-08-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

Barb Cook of the Old Rugged Cross Foundation will give a talk on “Preserving the Old Rugged Cross Church” at the North Berrien Historical Museum on Tuesday, August 17 at 7pm.

The Old Rugged Cross Church, located in Pokagon, Michigan was the site of the debut of the Old Rugged Cross hymn composed by Rev. George Bennard in 1913. A $1.9 million restoration effort began in 1998 and today the site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a museum and multi-denominational worship space.

This event is free and open to the public.
Photos courtesy of www.the-oldruggedcross.org

Glad-Peach Fun!

2010-08-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Society was well represented at the 2010 Coloma Glad-Peach Festival. From August 5-8 the Historical Society Cone Barn served Sherman's ice cream, hot dogs, cotton candy, and peach sundaes. New this year were fresh peaches and gladiolas.

Our 1924 Dodge Truck represented the Society in the parade.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped with the Cone Barn and the Glad-Peach Festival.

Millage Passes! Thank you!

2010-08-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Society operating millage renwal passed in all six North Berrien municipalities - Hagar Township, Coloma Township, City of Coloma, Watervliet Township, Watervliet City, and Bainbridge Township. A special thank you to all of the museum supporters across the region. Friends of North Berrien History did a wonderful job producing yard signs and getting out the word on the importance of local history and the museum's activities.

Since the operating millage first passed in 2006 two full-time and one part-time staff members have been hired and museum attendance has risen to nearly 5,000 people annually. The next millage renewal will be in 2014.

Coming Soon - Glad-Peach Festival 2010

2010-07-29T08:23:00.001-07:00

The Coloma Glad-Peach Festival will take place on August 6, 7 & 8, 2010. The North Berrien Historical Society will once again be serving ice cream and hot dogs from our Cone Barn located Baker Park in the center of historic downtown Coloma. The Cone Barn is open throughout the festival. Don't miss our Saturday morning bake sale at the Cone Barn - purchasing fresh baked goods is a delicious way to support the museum.

The Historical Society also sponsors a historic movie afternoon at the Loma Theatre. Our Coloma, Watervliet, and Paw Paw Lake videos are shown in the three theatres at both 2:30 and 3:30pm showtimes. The movies are free and open to the public.

Volunteers for all activities are needed. If you are able to help please call the museum at 269-468-3330.

Thank you to our supporters!

2010-07-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all of our museum supporters throughout the community. Please remember to vote on August 3, 2010! A special thanks to the Friends of North Berrien History for purchasing and distributing these yard signs.

Free Hagar Township History Program is July 24

2010-07-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

The general public is invited to attend “Hagar History Day” on Saturday, July 24 from 10:00 – 11:30 am. Discover surprising and fascinating stories from the past in Hagar Township. The program will begin at Hagar Township Hall, 3900 Riverside Road in Riverside, with a 40 minute narrated slide show on the history of Hagar Township. Guests are then invited to drive 2.6 miles south for a 30 minute guided walking tour of Lake Shore Cemetery. The presentation will be made by Tracy Gierada, Director of Education at the North Berrien Historical Museum, and will feature images and artifacts from the museum’s collection.

“Hagar History Day” will cover some of the most notable tales from the past in Hagar Township, beginning with European explorers, early American settlers, and the lumber industry. The rise of resorts by the late 1800s will also be discussed, including the famous estate known as “Jacobia” and its wooden water tower on the Lake Michigan shore. Learn the origins of place names and hear about many strange but true stories from the area, such as the eccentric pioneers Kate and Ebenezer Standish and a deadly visit by Chicago gangsters in 1928. The tour of Lake Shore Cemetery, which dates back to 1836, will reveal interesting information about families and individuals buried in its stately, tree-filled grounds.

This event is free of charge. Guests at “Hagar History Day” are welcome to attend only one or both parts of the program: the slide show at Hagar Township Hall and the tour of Lake Shore Cemetery. For more information please contact the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330.

Millage up for renewal August 3rd

2010-07-15T07:20:00.001-07:00

Four years ago the historical society turned to the community seeking a millage to support the on-going maintenance and operation of the museum. Now, four years later we are seeking a renewal of this .25 millage in Hagar, Coloma, Watervliet and Bainbridge Townships, as well as the Cities of Coloma and Watervliet.

In 2009 the millage collected was nearly $140,000. The museum is open year-round, employs 2.5 full time employees, and serves over 4,600 visitors annually. New furnaces, roof, lighting, and case renovations are just a few of the improvements that have been made possible by the millage. New exhibits have been well received including two very successful traveling exhibits; Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made in America and The Life Atomic: Growing Up in the Shadow of the A-Bomb. Families and children are an important target audience we have reached through events including Spring Break, Summer Time Travelers, and Holiday Open House.

Much is planned for the next four years in addition to maintaining high quality exhibits and programs. Upkeep of the site continues to be a major priority. The board is busy planning a new parking lot that will greatly increase the number of spaces and increase accessibility of the museum.

Time Travelers - Resorts

2010-07-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

On July 14, 2010 over 60 children and parents participated in our resort themed Summer Time Travelers Program.

Director of Education, Tracy Gierada, gave an introduction on the history of the Paw Paw Lake resort period. Boats, trains, and automobiles were all important modes of transportation for vacationers coming from Chicago. Examples of historic bathing suits were on display from the collection.

Artifacts and photographs from the collection were displayed and passed around.

Taking advantage of the sunny weather, participants played a round of 'musical squares' to Duke Ellington music. Ellington was one of many famous musicians who played at Paw Paw Lake's many dance halls.

All set to go fishing! A craft activity taught these kids about the importance of local fishing - and having your picture taken while at the lake.

Works by Evelyn Krieger now on display

2010-07-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

A new exhibit at the North Berrien Historical Museum features paintings by local artist Evelyn Krieger.

Lifelong Coloma resident Evelyn Krieger (1905-1994) produced hundreds of artistic works throughout her lifetime in various mediums including watercolors, pastels, and oil paint. Twenty-five works are on loan to the museum from her grandson, Jerry Jollay. Of particular historical interest is a series of Coloma buildings painted in 1971. Krieger painted local structures such as the Dairy Queen and the State Bank of Coloma as they appeared nearly forty years ago.

A number of other works were painted at her farm located on the corner of Hill and Friday Roads in Bainbridge Township.

This temporary exhibit will be on display through September. The North Berrien Historical Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 to 4. For more information call 269-468-3330 or visit www.northberrienhistory.org.

Watervliet Fourth of July Parade

2010-07-06T07:14:00.000-07:00

The North Berrien Historical Society won "Best Antique Vehicle" in the Watervliet Fouth of July Parade. Riding in the 1924 Dodge Truck were Scott Young, Alex Gates, Cindy Young, Tracy Gierada and James Young.

A plane flying over the parade route left trails of smoke in the sky as participants lined up on M-140.

A large crowd gathered to watch the parade in downtown Watervliet. A special thank you to the Coloma-Watervliet Area Chamber of Commerce for organizing the parade and celebration.

Time Travelers Take Flight

2010-06-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

The second Time Travelers Program was a success with 53 children taking part in fun activities on June 30.

Tracy covered a history of hot air balloon travel complete with a demonstration on how hot air rises.

The museum grounds were a perfect location to compare the distances between how far early planes flew.

Lee Scherwitz, Director of the SW Michigan Airport answered questions from participants on how airports operate.

Paper airplanes and other flying contraptions were tested out in the museum yard to see how far they can fly.

Tri-City Heritage Tour - Preview 3

2010-06-19T11:07:00.001-07:00

The first ever Tri-City Heritage Tour is only one week away. Below are even more sneak peaks at some of the 22 featured heritage sites!

Check out the last surviving Interurban electric train station in Southwest Michigan - located in downtown Coloma.

The former Curtis School building is now a community center in Hagar Township. Check out historic photos of the site, class lists, and other information about the site.

St. Paul's United Church of Christ has served the Bainbridge community since pioneer days. Check out the numerous cemeteries nearby that represent the early religion diversity of the region.

Watervliet has published a local newspaper for 128 years! Stop by the Tri-City Record office to view artifacts, early newspapers, and hear stories about the rich publishing history of the area.

30-year-old time capsule contents on display

2010-06-19T10:50:00.000-07:00

On April 28, 2010 the local Cub Scout Pack #610 opened a 30-year-old time capsule that was put together by the 1980 Coloma Cub Scout Pack #664. The cardboard box was wrapped tightly and stored at the Coloma First Congregational United Church of Christ, which had sponsored the Cub Scout Pack in 1980, for the past 30 years.

The original plan was the for the capsule to be opened in 2005 - after 25 years. The capsule was originally created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of scouting - with many artifacts inside relating to the celebration. Newspapers, TV Guides, and local advertisements related to the world in 1980. Picutres, notes, and small momentos from the scouts were also in the capsule.

The time capsule contents are currently on display at the North Berrien Historical Museum throughout the summer. For more information please call the museum at 269-468-3330. More information on Pack #610 can be found on thier blog: http://www.colomapack610.blogspot.com/

Tri-City Heritage Tour - Preview 2

2010-06-10T09:43:00.001-07:00

The first ever Tri-City Heritage Tour is quickly approaching. Tour dates are Saturday and Sunday, June 26 & 27, 2010. For more information and a complete list of sites visit tricityheritagetour.wordpress.com.

Below are some more sneak previews of sites on the tour.

Van Buren County Historical Museum/Former Van Buren County Poor House - Hartford Township

Bainbridge Township Hall/Former Bainbridge Center School - Bainbridge Township

Coloma First Congregational United Church of Christ - City of Coloma

Red and White Feedstore - Millburg (Bainbridge Township)

Thank you Entergy!

2010-06-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Entergy for their $1000 grant underwriting the cost of The Life Atomic: Growing Up in the Shadow of the A-Bomb. The grant money will be used to off-set the cost of exhibit rental, transportation, bomb shelter construction, and speaker fees. Entergy operates the Palisades Power Plant in Covert, Michigan. This is the first grant the North Berrien Historical Museum has received from Entergy.

Time Travelers offers historical summer fun for kids and families

2010-06-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

For the second year in a row, Time Travelers kids programs will be offered in June, July and August 2010 at the North Berrien Historical Museum. Summer Time Travelers are free, interactive educational programs with two main goals: Learning and Fun!

Designed for ages 6-12 and families, Time Travelers is meant to inspire an interest in history and in historical museums. Each day brings to life a unique and exciting theme, where we will explore first-hand how the past differed from our lives today. All Time Travelers programs feature real museum artifacts, hands-on activities and demonstrations, a craft to take home, and a fun and welcoming atmosphere.

Time Travelers programs are free, but advance registration is required. To register a child for one or more programs, please call the museum at (269) 468-3330 or e-mail nbhs2@sbcglobal.net.

Summer 2010 Schedule - Every other Wednesday, 10am-12pm
Wednesday, June 16 – GOLD RUSH
• Learn about early settlers
• Travel to the 1848 gold strike in Coloma, California
• Pan for gold!

Wednesday, June 30 – FLIGHT
• Learn about flying and airports in Southwest Michigan
• See cool flight experiments
• Design your own airplane

Wednesday, July 14 – RESORTS
• Experience the famous resorts and dance halls in North Berrien history
• Pretend to ride steamships and trains like people did 100 years ago
• Create Paw Paw Lake Art

Wednesday, July 28 – MACHINES
• Learn how machines big and small have made life easier for people
• Do laundry the old-fashioned way
• Make prints like a newspaper did

Wednesday, August 11 – FRUIT
• Learn what makes the “Fruit Belt” a special place to live
• Discover the early days of the Glad-Peach Festival
• Play a fun Fruit Market game!

Remember, space is limited and registration is required. Call the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330 or e-mail nbhs2@sbcglobal.net to sign up today!

Sneak Preview! Tri-City Heritage Tour

2010-05-22T09:31:00.001-07:00

22 sites are scheduled for the innagural Tri-City Heritage Tour on June 26 & 27, 2010. Below are a few sites that will be included. For more information visit http://tricityheritagetour.wordpress.com

Southwestern Michigan Crate, Basket, & Veneer Machinery Museum, Riverside (Hagar Township)

Hartford Public Library/Olds-Merriman House, City of Hartford

Davidson Chapel, City of Coloma

Millburg Christian Church, Millburg (Bainbridge Township)

Historical Society Tour of Mary’s City of David

2010-05-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

Historic Aerial of Mary's City of David, NBHS 9998.15.62

North Berrien Historical Society members and friends are invited for a guided walking tour of Mary’s City of David on Tuesday, July 27 at 7pm. Tickets are available pre-sale at the North Berrien Historical Museum at a cost of $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Tickets will be available at the door for $15 per person. Mary’s City of David was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places as an “historic district” and the tour will include Bethany House, which has never before been open for public tour. Also included will be the greenhouses, print shop, museum, and gift shop. Visitors will also be able to walk down to the famous Eastman Springs and enjoy refreshments served from the historic ice cream stand on the property. For more information about Mary’s City of David visit their website at http://www.maryscityofdavid.org. For more information on the tour call the museum at 468-3330.

Sping Events Bring Children to Museum

2010-05-18T08:52:00.000-07:00

The museum has been filled with children this spring. On April 28th the local boy scouts opened their 1980 time capsule. Over 100 people were in attendance including boy scouts young and old for the opening ceremony. Artifacts from the time capsule will be on view this summer at the North Berrien Historical Museum. More information will be available soon.

School tours also filled the museum with Coloma 4th, 7th, and 10th grades all touring The Life Atomic exhibit in April and May.

Students not only viewed The Life Atomic, but also learned about local history including Native Americans, the lumber industry, and local agriculture.

Sadly, The Life Atomic closed on May 15. Yet, two elements will remain on view throughout 2010 - the bomb shelter and civil defense movies. Stop by and check them out this summer if you haven't already!

Speaker to discuss infamous LaPorte serial killer

2010-05-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

Bruce Johnson of the LaPorte County Historical Society will give a talk on “The Infamous Belle Gunness” at the North Berrien Historical Museum on Tuesday, May 18 at 7pm. Gunness is one of America’s most prolific known female serial killers. She is believed to have killed over 40 victims before her disappearance in 1908. Johnson is an expert in the Gunness murders and will tell the tale through historic reports as well as modern DNA tests performed on the victims.

This event is free and open to the public.

The museum is open extended summer hours through September; Tuesday through Saturday 10-4.

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

Inaugural Tri-City Heritage Tour June 26 & 27, 2010

2010-05-05T08:08:00.001-07:00

The first ever Tri-City Heritage Tour will take place on June 26 and 27, 2010. The tour provides residents and visitors with a rare opportunity to explore and enjoy sometimes hidden and always interesting places and spaces in our cities and townships – all free of charge! More than 20 historic properties in Hagar, Coloma, Watervliet, Bainbridge and Hartford will be open to the public and interpreted by volunteers throughout the weekend. Sites will be open on Saturday, June 26 from 10am to 4pm and Sunday, June 27 varying by location.

The official Tour Guide with site information will be published as a four page insert in the Tri-City Record on June 17. Additional information, maps, and a full list of participating sites are also online at www.tricityheritagetour.wordpress.com. Free guides will also be available at tour sites including the North Berrien Historical Museum the week before the tour.

The Tri-City Heritage Tour is designed to create access, awareness and excitement about local heritage. The tour is self-directed and participants may visit as many or as few sites as they wish. Bring a friends and family and spend the day in the area visiting not only heritage sites, but also local shops and restaurants – many of which have long histories in the community. Several sites will offer free family activities.

Tour highlights include the Davidson Chapel in Coloma, the region’s earliest funeral home; the Tri-City Record office in Watervliet, which has published the local newspaper for 128 years; the Van Buren County Historical Museum in Hartford; the Southwestern Michigan Crate, Basket & Veneer Machinery Museum in Riverside; and Bainbridge Township Hall, housed in the former Bainbridge Center School building complete with school bell.

The Tri-City Heritage Tour is sponsored in part by a grant from the Berrien Community Foundation and is coordinated by the North Berrien Historical Society and the Van Buren County Historical Society.

For more information please contact the North Berrien Historical Museum at 269-468-3330.

Traces of the Interurban Talk on May 27

2010-04-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

The general public is invited to attend an encore presentation of “Traces of the Interurban,” by Tracy Gierada, Director of Education at the North Berrien Historical Museum. She will discuss the interurban railway service through North Berrien from the 1890s – 1920s, using images and stories to guide you through an imaginary journey on the line. The talk will be held at the North Berrien Senior Center on Thursday, May 27 at 12:30pm. Admission is free of charge.

The interurban tracks in North Berrien once ran from the twin cities through Millburg and Coloma, where the line split, with one branch terminating on the north shore of Paw Paw Lake and the other just north of the Paper Mill in Watervliet. Gierada’s presentation will retrace the paths of the interurban trains in North Berrien and consider them from the perspective of the people who lived through the era. Although little still remains in our landscape from this system, the green building in Coloma’s Lions Park is a rare exception as the only surviving interurban station in Berrien County.

For more information contact Tracy Gierada at the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330.

Ray Bradbury Book Discussion May 13 at Coloma Public Library

2010-04-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

The Coloma Public Library will host a book discussion of the science fiction classic The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury on Thursday, May 13 from 5:30 pm – 7 pm. Extra copies of the book are available for loan from the Coloma and Watervliet Libraries. Led by Tracy Gierada, Director of Education at the North Berrien Historical Museum, this book discussion is open to anyone interested.

The Martian Chronicles is a collection of short stories that describe the human colonization of Mars from the years 1999-2057. Conflict erupts between the Martians and the human colonists as Earth moves toward eventual nuclear devastation. Published in 1950, The Martian Chronicles reflects popular concerns about atomic weapons in the postwar era and is recognized as one of the best sci-fi novels ever published.

This book discussion is held in conjunction with the traveling exhibit The Life Atomic: Growing Up in the Shadow of the A-Bomb on view at the North Berrien Historical Museum through May 15. Questions may be directed to the museum at 269-468-3330.

Sock Hop fun

2010-04-22T10:45:00.001-07:00

As part of The Life Atomic programming, the Coloma-Watervliet Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored a Sock Hop at the Coloma Middle School on April 16. Visitors of all ages dressed up in period costumes and enjoyed 1950s music. The hula hoop contest was a big hit - with four contestants taking home gift ceritificates to Safarai Joe's in Watervliet.

A special thank you to all of our sponsors: AEP, Chemical Bank, John's Glass, Easy Street, T's Tap, Lane Automotive, Ron Postelli, Brookfield Dodge, Duffield's Cottages, Michigan Mold, Safari Joe's, Innovative Salon, Pizza Hut, Friendly Tavern, Lake Michigan Hills, Board of Trade, Hardings, Papa Scotts, Phillipi Grocery, Vitale's Market, Burger King, Loma Theatre, McDonalds, True Value, Big C Lumber, Wil-o-Paw Animal Hospital, Community Hospital, Coloma Motor Sports, Rick Rasmussen.

(below) Contestants take part in the hula hoop contest.

(below) Volunteers at the front table during the Sock Hop

(below) The Miss Coloma Court judges the costume contest.

Atomic Fun at the Museum

2010-04-12T08:58:00.001-07:00

The Life Atomic: Growing Up in the Shadow of the A-Bomb is now on view at the North Berrien Historical Museum. Check out the fun visitors are having with this unique and engaging topic.

(Below) Visitors watch a series of civil defense public service annoucements.

(below) Staff and volunteers dressed as their favorite 1950s celebrities for the opening. (l-r) Alex Gates, Tracy Gierada, George Richter, Maggie Richter, Elizabeth Meyer

(below) Miss Atomic Bomb and General Eisenhower demonstrate life in a fallout shelter.

(below) Pauline Morris made our own verison of the infamous Atomic Bomb Cake for the opening reception. Is it offensive or just something to eat?

(below) Visitors hula-hoop during 1950s Spring Break.

ATOMIC AGE: Angel Food

2010-03-31T10:37:00.000-07:00

Check out this article from Time Magazine, November 18, 1946

ATOMIC AGE: Angel Food

Atomic Preview

2010-03-27T13:49:00.001-07:00

The Life Atomic: Growing Up in the Shadow of the A-Bomb opens April 1 with a reception from 5:30-7:30pm. Check out a sneak preview of the exhibit!

A life-size fallout shelter for visitors to explore. Thank you to Scott Young for all of his work on this project!

Objects related to civil defense, atomic toys, and even nuclear home decor!

The Life Atomic: Opening April 1

2010-03-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

Duck and Cover Drill
In the schools, “duck and cover” drills trained students to react to an atomic attack by crawling under their desks and covering their heads with their arms.
Credit: Courtesy of The Detroit News.

The Life Atomic: Growing Up in the Shadow of the A-Bomb will run from April 1 – May 15, 2010. Join your favorite 1950s celebrities for refreshments and music at the opening reception on Thursday, April 1 from 5:30-7:30pm.

Today American citizens find themselves threatened by foreign terrorists. But fifty years ago, during the height of the Cold War, Americans lived under another kind of threat – global thermo-nuclear war. Anxious citizens built fallout shelters in their homes. “Duck and cover” drills trained school children to react to an atomic attack by crawling under their desks and covering their heads with their arms. But the new technology of “radiation bombs” inspired more than fear. The bomb also influenced virtually every aspect of American popular culture from movies and literature to toys and home fashion.

The Life Atomic: Growing Up in the Shadow of the A-Bomb explores the history of the Atomic Age in postwar America. The exhibit features text and image panels, authentic artifacts, displays about Coloma-Watervliet in the 1950s, Civil Defense videos, and a life-size family fallout shelter replica.

Be an Atomic Volunteer

2010-03-03T10:18:00.000-08:00

The Life Atomic Exhibit and Programs: April 1 – May 15, 2010

Opening Reception: Thursday, April 1, 5:30-7:30pm – Help out for an hour at our Opening Reception for The Life Atomic and still enjoy the music, refreshments, and 1950s celebrity appearances. ‘50s-style dress is encouraged and appreciated!

1950s Spring Break: Wednesday, April 7, 1-3pm – Work with local kids and families on one of a variety of fun, 50s-inspired activities throughout the museum. ‘50s-style dress is encouraged and appreciated!

Community Sock Hop: Friday, April 16, 6-9pm – Help out for an hour or more at this free family event to be held in the Alwood Gymnasium at Coloma Middle School. Jobs include decorations, set-up and clean-up, refreshments, ticket sales, costume and hula contest judges, and manning the NBHS info table. ‘50s-style dress is encouraged and appreciated!

Gallery Greeters: Every Saturday, April 1 – May 15 – Greet visitors and track attendance for a portion of our Saturday Exhibit Hours, 10am-5pm.

Gallery Greeters: Every Friday, April 1 – May 15 – Greet visitors and track attendance for a portion of our Friday Exhibit Hours, 10am-5pm.

Exhibit Docent: Scheduling TBD, April 1 – May 15 – Help guide school and community groups through The Life Atomic exhibit. Training and study guide provided.

Please call the museum at 269-468-3330 or email nbhs2@sbcglobal.net to sign up to volunteer.

North Berrien Letter to Jackie

2010-03-03T07:32:00.000-08:00

When the President was assassinated in 1963, Mrs. Mildred Hesch was one of thousands of Americans to send a note of sympathy to the Kennedys. She is a lifelong resident of Chicago and Lake Michigan Beach and today at the age of 93 still makes her home in Hagar Township.

Mrs. Hesch was recently notified that her letter will be featured in a new book that draws upon such sympathy correspondence to illustrate what Kennedy meant to the nation. In Letters to Jackie: Condolences from a Grieving Nation, author Ellen Fitzpatrick includes 250 of the most “intimate, heartfelt, eye-opening responses” to the President’s death, arguably one of the most traumatic events of the twentieth century.

As the mother of a one, three, and five year old, Mildred Hesch directed her letter to the Kennedy children John and Caroline, ages two and five. She explained that the President’s fatherhood was one of the qualities that she had trusted most about his leadership. Mrs. Hesch wrote in her conclusion:

“Your mother may well wonder how to explain us, the citizens of the sixties, to you, when you grow to a knowledgeable age. This is how I will try to tell such a bitter page in history to our children. We needed your dad to lift us from the tired, trite, sophist era of politics and politicians. We needed him to remind us all that it could be fashionable to be good and aspiring, strong and witty, determined and unbending, hopeful and charitable – in varying degrees as the need demanded. We needed to be reminded. He did this. I hope that time will prove that enough of us have continued to remember his high hopes for humanity, and individually we have considered the effect our actions have on those about us. We shall certainly be grateful, with history, for having known such a president.
Most Sincerely,
Signed Mildred F. Hesch
(Mrs) Robert L. Hesch”

Letters to Jackie is currently available in the North Berrien Historical Museum Gift Shop.

Atomic Excitement at the Museum

2010-03-02T08:22:00.000-08:00

Photo by Don English, courtesy of the Las Vegas News Bureau.

With only a month to go, preparation for our latest traveling exhibition The Life Atomic: Growing Up in the Shadow of the A-Bomb are taking place at the North Berrien Historical Museum. Two cases have been emptied of artifacts, a family-size bomb shelter is being built for the gallery, and museum members have been busy looking through their closets for forgotten 1950s clothing to wear opening night.

The opening reception will take place on Thursday, April 1 from 5:30-7:30pm. Join us for refreshments, Cold War music, and 1950s celebrity appearances. Remarks will take place at 6pm.

Mark you calendar! Great programs will compliment the exhibit.

Wednesday, April 7, 1-3pm, Free
1950s Spring Break - Imagine life as a 1950s kid through activities and demonstrations. All ages welcome.

Friday, April 16, 6-9pm, Free
Community Sock Hop - Alwood Gymnasium, Coloma Middle School. Sponsored by the Coloma- Watervliet Area Chamber of Commerce

Tuesday, April 20, 7pm, Free
Nuclear Power in Southwest Michigan - presentation by Bill Schalk. Mr. Schalk is director of communications at the Cook Nuclear Power Plant. He will discuss the history of nuclear power in our region.

Tuesday, May 4, 7pm, Free
Atomic Anxiety: Post-World War Two American Culture - presentation by Dr. Erika Doss. Dr. Doss is chair of the Department of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame. She will discuss American anxiety over nuclear weapons and the impact it had on 1950s culture.

Thursday, May 13, 5:30 - 7pm, Free
The Martian Chronicles Book Discussion - Coloma Public Library. All are welcome to join us for a discussion of the famous science fiction book The Martian Chronicles (1950) by Ray Bradbury.

Images from Case 16

2010-02-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

Since the museum opened to the public in 1992 our sports collection has remained very popular with visitors. In order to preserve these delicate objects the case is being refinished to remove old cork and adhesives, which give off harmful gases. While the images have been removed the cases they are being scanned and catalogued so that we can better share our local sports history. Below are a few images that have been on display for many years, yet deserve a closer look.

Little is known about the "Apollos" which appear to be a 1902 Coloma Football team - pre-dating Coloma High School having enough male students to have large team sports. Note the unusual nose guards the players are wearing around their necks. These strapped around your head and the player would bite down to keep it in place. The only player identified is Felix Sawatski, who is in the second row, second from the left.

Here we have Richard Greenberg, a member of the 1928 US Olympic Water Polo team who was a summer resident of Paw Paw Lake.

In the center of this image we have H.O. "Pat" Page, a life time resident of Paw Paw Lake. Pat Page was elected to the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1963 for his skill playing for the University of Chicago. He went on to be head coach of the Indiana University Football Team, and pitched batting practice for the Chicago Cubs and White Sox during the summer. Quite the accomplished athelete!

Victorian Valentines Party - February 13, 1-3pm

2010-02-10T07:32:00.000-08:00

The North Berrien Historical Museum will host its third annual Victorian Valentines Party on Saturday, February 13 from 1-3pm. Enjoy games and refreshments. Be inspired by our collection of historic valentines and then make your own to take home! Please rsvp to 468-3330 or nbhs2@sbcglobal.net.

For more information and directions visit our website at www.northberrienhistory.org

Tri-City Heritage Tour - Coming June 2010

2010-01-29T08:48:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars! The first ever Tri-City Heritage Tour will take place on June 26-27. The Tri-City Heritage Tour is designed to create access, awareness and excitement about our heritage. The tour provides residents and visitors with a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy sometimes hidden and always interesting places and spaces in our cities and townships – all free of charge! The event will be sponsored in part by a grant from the Berrien Community Foundation and will allow public access for one weekend only to historic sites in Hagar, Coloma, Watervliet, Bainbridge, and Hartford.

The tour map and site information will be published as a four page insert in the Tri-City Record newspaper the week before the event takes place.

More information will posted as it becomes available.

March 16 – Winemakers of North Berrien

2010-01-27T12:24:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of karmavista.com

On Tuesday, March 16 at 7pm, the North Berrien Historical Museum will host “Winemakers of North Berrien,” a free presentation connecting local stories of agriculture from the past and present. Coloma winemakers Joe Herman (Karma Vista Vineyards and Winery) and Tony Peterson (Contessa Wine Cellars) will each discuss their family roots and their current work as pioneer winemakers in the area. The Herman family were among the earliest German settlers to begin farming in Bainbridge Township more than 150 years ago. Peterson is a third generation wine maker who apprenticed for years at his father’s Kalamazoo winery before founding his own in the hills of North Berrien.

These Coloma businesses are contributing to a recent statewide boom in the wine industry. In the last decade the number of wineries in Michigan has more than doubled, encouraged by dramatically increased sales as well as a slew of regional and international awards earned by Michigan wines. More than 800,000 people visit Michigan’s vineyards and wineries annually. In 2009 Governor Granholm proclaimed April as “Michigan Wine Month” to recognize and celebrate the industry’s importance in the state economy.

For more information about the wineries of North Berrien, visit www.karmavista.com and www.contessawinecellars.com. For more information about this program, call the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330.