Museum welcomes the community for fun and festive holiday events, Dec. 5 - 8, 2013

The North Berrien Historical Museum invites the public to join us for special holiday events, December 5 – 8, 2013.  Visitors can explore our festive forest of 28 Christmas trees decorated by local groups and businesses, and vote for their favorites.  This is a fantastic time to view the exhibits in three buildings at the museum.  Enjoy crafts and live music, take pictures with family and friends, and get in to the cheerful spirit of the season!

Holiday Lights & Delights, an evening Museum Fundraiser, will be held on Thursday, December 5 starting at 5:30pm.  Admission is $5, and proceeds support the year-round programs of the North Berrien Historical Society.  This event is the only opportunity to view the trees in the dark, when the lights glow most brilliantly.  Stroll between our buildings through lovely outdoor luminaries.  Attendees will enjoy delicious treats including appetizers, roasted chestnuts, seasonal beverages, and holiday desserts.  Live holiday music is provided by Les & Becky Burford.  The fundraiser is generously sponsored by donations from Harding’s Friendly Market, D.W. Hammond Chocolates, Mill Creek Charlie’s, Chemical Bank, The wHAIRhouse Salon, Back on the Rack, Handmade Treasures, and Bob’s Barn Bakery & Farm Market.

            Thursday, Dec. 5 – Holiday Lights & Delights Museum Fundraiser

            5:30pm – Doors open, $5 Admission

            5:45-6:45pm - Live music by Les & Becky Burford (guitar,ukulele, mountain dulcimer,                             vocals); Appetizers and beverages served in Museum

            6:30-7:30pm – Outdoor Luminary Walk; Desserts served in the Carter House

The North Berrien Historical Museum’s 9^th annual Holiday Open House, December 6-8, features three

days of fun activities for all ages and free admission.  The complete schedule of live music, crafts, and visiting times with Santa & Mrs. Claus are as follows: 

            Friday, December 6 - Open 10am to 4pm, Free Admission

            Gingerbread House decorating - $5 Donation.

            Senior Day - Seniors are especially invited to tour the décor and enjoy refreshments.

            Live Music: Pianist Gordon Krell (1pm); The Upbeats Band (2-4pm)

            Saturday, December 7 - Open 10am to 4pm, Free Admission

            Santa’s Workshop crafts - Free/ Donation. Make an ornament and holiday card.

            Gingerbread House decorating - $5 Donation

            Scroll sawing demonstrations – Southwest Michigan Scroll Saw Club

            Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus (2-3pm)

            Live Music: Guitar by Rob Winckel

            Sunday, December 8 - Open Noon to 4pm, Free Admission

            Cookie Walk Fundraiser - $5 Donation. Fill a box with your choice of holiday cookies                             to take home.

            Santa’s Workshop crafts - Free/ Donation

            Gingerbread House decorating - $5 Donation

            Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus (2-3pm)

            Live Music: Guitar by Rob Winckel and Coloma Choirs (12:30-2pm)

Guests are welcome to bring along charitable donations: the North Berrien Historical Museum is hosting collection boxes for the North Berrien Food Pantry (non-perishable foods) and Toys for Tots (new, unwrapped gifts).

Most of the museum’s Christmas trees will remain on display throughout December at normal winter open hours: Tuesday through Friday, 10am to 4pm.  Regular admission is free.  The North Berrien Historical Society thanks our 2013 tree sponsors:  Southwest Michigan Scroll Saw Club, Randy’s BP, Edgewater Bank, Chemical Bank, Honor Credit Union, G.W. Jones Exchange Bank, Cottage of the Four Seasons, Coloma Lioness Club, Mill Creek Charlie’s, Back on the Rack, Handmade Treasures, Keith and Marsha Hammond, North Berrien Creative Artists Guild, Faith Lutheran Church, Tall Timbers Tree Farm, The wHAIRhouse Salon, Lakeland Community Hospital Auxiliary, The Friendly Tavern, Coloma Class of 2014, Greg Orchards/ Coloma Frozen Foods, Watervliet District Library, Magg’s Rags, Rite Aid, Ellinee Bait & Tackle.

The North Berrien Historical Museum is located at 300 Coloma Avenue, on Red Arrow Highway across from Coloma High School.  For more information, please contact the museum at (269) 468-3330 or info@northberrienhistory.org.

Smithsonian Exhibit 'Journey Stories' open free August 6 through September 21

The North Berrien Historical Museum proudly presents the Smithsonian traveling exhibit Journey Stories and special public events from August 6 through September 21, 2013.  Journey Stories explores transportation history, showing how travel and movement have shaped our diverse society.  Using engaging images, audio and artifacts, the exhibit tells the stories of our ancestors’ journeys to America, our freedom to move to new beginnings, and our travel for adventure and fun.  Regardless of our ethnic or racial background, we all have journey stories to tell. The exhibit features a place for visitors to record their own 90-second story to be preserved and shared online by the Smithsonian.  

View a detailed list of events and public programs

View a printable flyer

Admission to Journey Stories is free and open hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00am to 4:00pm, August 6 through September 21.  In addition to a Grand Opening Reception the evening of August 9, the exhibit will also be open extra hours during public programs at the museum.  Free group and student tours can be scheduled by calling 269-468-3330.  The North Berrien Historical Museum is located at 300 Coloma Avenue on Red Arrow Highway, across from Coloma High School.  For more information and directions, visit www.NorthBerrienHistory.org or call 269-468-3330.  

The public is cordially invited to a Grand Opening on Friday, August 9, with two free events—a historical marker dedication and a reception at the museum.  At 5:30pm, a brief ceremony will dedicate a new state historical marker at the former Coloma Interurban Station.  Built in 1910 to serve passengers and freight on an adjacent electric railway, the site is a gem of local history for its unique role in regional travel, tourism, agriculture.  It was a station until the railway closed in 1928, then was used for 65 years as an electrical substation.  It was added to the State Register of Historic Places in 2013 through the efforts of the North Berrien Historical Society.  Remarks will be presented by U.S. Congressman Fred Upton and the historical marker will be presented to the City of Coloma by Tom Truscott from the Michigan Historical Commission.  The station is a small brick structure painted pale green, located on South Paw Paw Street just north of the Dairy Queen on St. Joseph Street (Red Arrow Highway) in Coloma.  Very limited seating will be provided for the 20 minute ceremony, but the public may bring lawn chairs if desired.  The North Berrien Historical Museum is just a half mile southwest of the Interurban Station on Red Arrow Highway.  From 6:00-7:30pm, the public is invited to celebrate Journey Stories at the museum with refreshments, appetizers, and special guests.  At 6:15pm, a ribbon cutting by the Coloma-Watervliet Area Chamber of Commerce is planned.  Brief remarks will be presented by Erik Nordberg, Executive Director of the Michigan Humanities Council.

Journey Stories has been made possible in Berrien County by the Michigan Humanities Council.  Journey Stories is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils nationwide.  Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.  For more information about the Journey Stories exhibit and events in Coloma, please contact the North Berrien Historical Museum at (269) 468-3330 or info@NorthBerrienHistory.org.

 

Southwest Michigan Super Books now for sale, purchase benefits North Berrien Historical Museum

Visit the North Berrien Historical Museum soon to participate in a great fundraiser.  We are selling Southwest Michigan Super Books for $38.95, and a percentage of your purchase goes to NBHS. The 2013 Super Book contains a Dining Card and coupons with over $12,000 in total value.  Businesses include hotels, golf courses, retail, entertainment, auto service, 156 restaurants, and much more.  The deals are usually 50% off coupons or “two for the price of one” not offered anywhere else, and most are valid through April 30, 2014.  The museum also has North County Supplements for an additional $2, with Coloma, Watervliet, Hartford, and South Haven area coupons.           

Super Book has been in business here in Berrien County since 1974 and donates thousands of dollars each year to local charity organizations.  You will find the cost of the book is more than covered by all the special savings it contains.  Please call (269-468-3330) or stop in the museum to get yours today!

Public invited for an evening at historic Benton Harbor resorts, June 4

On Tuesday, June 4, a unique opportunity will be offered to experience summer joys of the past on historic resort grounds in Benton Harbor: Mary’s City of David and its cousin Eden Springs Park.  Participants will enjoy a brief historical program, a Gardens tour, old-fashioned summer treats, and rides on the century-old railroad at Eden Springs.  The cost is a $25/person donation for this “Summer Evening”; proceeds benefit Mary’s City of David, Eden Springs Park, and the North Berrien Historical Museum.  Reservations can be secured upon payment to the North Berrien Historical Museum in person or by mail to P.O. Box 207, Coloma, MI 49038.

The itinerary for this June 4 “Summer Evening" fundraiser is as follows:

· Begins at 6:30pm in the original 1932 vegetarian restaurant building at Mary’s City of David; History Talk by museum curator, Ron Taylor, on Sister Mary Purnell’s summer resort season public meetings.

· Intimate tour of the historic Gardens surrounding Mary’s Shiloh Administration Building.         

· Stop for an ice cream social!  At the original 1932 concession stand, we’ll be served ice cream, cookies, and homemade lemonade.

· Move to nearby Eden Springs Park. Ride on original 1908-09 Baushke built rail carriages, departing from the original south depot. The short train route will encompass the properties that were the zoo, aviary, green house, hotel, restaurant and base ball field.  Two rides are included. 

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