Take a walk through history on free Halloween Cemetery Tours

The North Berrien Historical Society invites the public to attend our free Halloween Cemetery Tours on Saturday, October 27.  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, see photos of people from the past and hear interesting tales of their lives.  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 a nationally published author.  In Coloma Cemetery, learn about a beloved undertaker, a couple who once lived in slavery, an unsolved wedding night shooting, and a veteran of the War of 1812.  These are just a few of the fascinating stories that will be told.  The tours will also bring in local tales of UFOs, mobsters, shipwrecks, and other mysterious events from the past.

On Saturday, October 27 the Watervliet Cemetery Tour begins at 11:00am and Coloma Cemetery Tour begins at 1:00pm; each tour will last about one hour.  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.  For more information call the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330.

NBHS Annual Meeting to feature program on German POWs

On Tuesday, October 16, the North Berrien Historical Society will hold its Annual Membership Dinner and Meeting.  The Dinner begins at 6:00pm at the North Berrien Historical Museum.  Members and the general public may attend with a pre-payment of $15 per person for the meal.  To make a reservation for the dinner, contact the museum at 468-3330.  The Annual Meeting at 7:00pm is free and open to the public. It will include a brief review of activities in the past year and the election of Board Directors.

The Annual Meeting will be immediately followed by the program "German Prisoners on Southwest Michigan Farms" presented by Howard Poole, PhD.  During World War Two, thousands of foreign prisoners of war (POWs) were brought to temporary camps in this region to fill labor shortages, especially in seasonal agricultural work.  The POW Camp just northwest of Coloma housed nearly 600 German prisoners and other camps were located in nearby communities.  Dr. Poole, a retired Western Michigan University professor, has researched and spoken on this topic extensively.  He will discuss documents and images he has collected as well as fascinating personal stories recorded in oral histories.

The Annual Meeting and program by Dr. Poole are free and open to the public. The Annual Dinner at 6:00pm will require an RSVP and pre-payment, but visitors may choose to attend only the free Annual Meeting and program at 7:00pm if desired.  For more information, please contact the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330.