Annual Dinner and Meeting

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!

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

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

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