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Page last updated: 05/03/2008 01:39 PM
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2008 CALENDAR OF
PROGRAMS & SPECIAL EVENTS
| Thursday |
05/15/2008
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7:00 p.m. |
Monthly Meeting:
| Program: |
Mackinac
Memories |
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| Speaker: |
Dale Gensman |
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In 1887, DALE GENSMAN'S grandfather, a
blacksmith, went to the island early in the twentieth century to work on construction of
the Grand Hotel. Dale's father, Frank Rounds, who never lived anywhere but on the island,
was the island carpenter and helped build the Round Island Lighthouse, the Little Stone
Church, the Wawashkamo Golf Course, and the first boardwalk. Dale was raised on Mackinac
Island. When he was growing up, Cubby the bear, a local legend, was one of Dale's first
playmates.
Gensman spent his career working on historic restoration projects at the Henry Ford home,
several other automotive family homes, and retired as a carpenter in 1994 from Greenfield
Village. In 1996, Dale helped with restoration work on the Round Island Lighthouse.
Dale has a strong interest in Mackinac history and volunteers at the island’s Stuart
House Museum. An artist and craftsman, his miniature re-creations of the buildings of
Mackinac will be on exhibit there. Models of the “Mighty Mac” Bridge, Round
Island Lighthouse, Trinity Church, a blacksmith shop, and the Biddle House are a delight
to see. Some of these models will be on display during Dale’s presentation. He has
many stories to tell; especially what it was like to have a playmate, Cubby the bear! |
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| Admission Fee: |
A $5.00 donation for adults, $2.00 donation for students is
requested at the door for these programs. Children are free.
All proceeds benefit the Elk Rapids Area Historical Society. |
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| Thursday |
06/19/2008
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7:00 p.m. |
Monthly Meeting:
| Program: |
Stone Circle
25th Anniversary |
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| Speaker: |
Terry Wooten
- Michigan’s Poet-Bard |
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Michigan’s poet-bard Terry Wooten will present from his most recent books Child of
War and Lifelines. Both books are based on oral history interviews with local
residents. He will also talk about his now in progress Elk Rapids Elders Project sponsored
by Elk Rapids Area Historical Society in partnership with Elk Rapids Public Schools. In
addition, the bard will perform a selection of old favorites from his nine-hour
repertoire, a preview to Stone Circle’s 25th Anniversary Celebration on
June 21st.
Terry Wooten is the builder and host poet of Stone Circle, located ten
miles north of Elk Rapids. He performs nationwide at schools, colleges, libraries and
conferences, and is a two-time recipient of Michigan Creative Artist Awards. |
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| Admission Fee: |
A $5.00 donation for adults, $2.00 donation for students is
requested at the door for these programs. Children are free.
All proceeds benefit the Elk Rapids Area Historical Society. |
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| Thursday |
07/17/2008
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7:00 p.m. |
Monthly Meeting:
| Program: |
The Wonders and
Mysteries of Historic Wandawood Resort |
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| Speaker: |
Carolyn Shah |
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| Prepare yourselves for a real treat when the
extensive written and photo history of Wandawood Resort will be presented to the
community. Enjoy the passage through time, starting in the mid-1800s when Carolyn
Shah’s great grandparents, Moses Fish Gates and Eunice Gore Gates, settled on a
section of property north of the Village of Elk Rapids in Elk Rapids Township and farmed
that land until their respective deaths in November, 1895 and May, 1904. |
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Moses and Eunice’s youngest daughter,
Mina, married Delos Wilcox from Raisinville, Michigan and in 1899 settled on a portion of
the Gate’s property on Elk Lake. They built a house and barn and proceeded to have a
family, including four children who survived into adulthood. In the 1920s they started
converting some of the farm buildings into cottages. By the 1930s Emily, the youngest
daughter, was married to Carlos Palmer, from Imlay City, Michigan. Together they built new
cottages on the south end of the property and had two children, David and Carolyn.
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| After the deaths of Emily and Carlos in 1979
and 1980, respectively, Carolyn became the steward of Wandawood Resort and maintains its
legacy to this day. She continues to be the owner and caretaker of this unique resort and
has been the keeper of stories, letters and photos for decades. The resorters have been a
wonderful “Fan Club” as many of them have been repeaters at Wandawood for many
years. |
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| Admission Fee: |
A $5.00 donation for adults, $2.00 donation for students is
requested at the door for these programs. Children are free.
All proceeds benefit the Elk Rapids Area Historical Society. |
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| Thursday |
08/21/2008
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7:00 p.m. |
Monthly Meeting:
| Program: |
The Soper Fraud
and Other Frauds and Mysteries
of Elk Rapids |
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| Speaker: |
Glenn
Ruggles |
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| Admission Fee: |
A $5.00 donation for adults, $2.00 donation for students is
requested at the door for these programs. Children are free.
All proceeds benefit the Elk Rapids Area Historical Society. |
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| Thursday |
09/18/2008
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7:00 p.m. |
Monthly Meeting:
| Program: |
The Work of
Keewaydinoquay |
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| Speaker: |
Lee Boisvert
(Granddaughter of Keewaydinoquay) |
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Keewaydinoquay grew up a child of mixed
cultures and religions. She became a gifted scientist, teacher and storyteller, travelling
around the world sharing teachings about the interconnectedness and interdependency of all
Life.
Lee Boisvert studied with her for the last 12 years of Keewaydinoquay's life and is the
editor of "Keewaydinoquay, Stories From My Youth." It was published in 2006 by
the University of Michigan Press and was given a 2007 Notable Book of Michigan Award. It
will be available for sale at this presentation.
Lee has lived in the Elk Rapids area since the late 1960s, and loves the earth and the
water and the people of this place. |
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| Admission Fee: |
A $5.00 donation for adults, $2.00 donation for students is
requested at the door for these programs. Children are free.
All proceeds benefit the Elk Rapids Area Historical Society. |
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| Thursday |
10/23/2008
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6:00 p.m.
Annual Meeting & Potluck Supper 7:00 p.m.
Program |
Annual
Meeting With Monthly Program:
| Program: |
Elk Rapids Area
Historical Society's
Annual Meeting followed by a presentation:
Lumbering in Antrim County
During the 1880s to the 1930s
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| Speaker: |
Glenn
Neumann |
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| Once the railroads had built their way
to Northern Michigan, they opened the door for commerce. Michigan timber was building the
mid-west. The demand was ever increasing, and with that demand came the lumberjacks,
lumbermen, lumber companies and lumber mills to Antrim county. |
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| Glenn Neumann is well known to most
Antrim County history devotees in the Chain of Lakes region. He has written about and
lectured extensively on several topics and always brings the subject to life with a
delightful style and a remarkable grasp of the story at hand. |
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| Admission Fee: |
6:00 p.m. - Annual Meeting (potluck supper): bring a dish to pass!
7:00 p.m. - Program |
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| Thursday |
11/13/2008
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7:00 p.m. |
Monthly Meeting:
| Program: |
Challenges and
Progress:
Preservation Of The South Fox Light Station |
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| Speakers: |
Phil von Voigtlander and
John Nelson |
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The South Fox Light Station
is one the largest intact historic lighthouse complexes in the Great Lakes.
It is public property but sees few visitors because of its remoteness and lack of harbor.
Because of these factors the property had been deteriorating over the years to the dismay
of those that wished to see this historic site preserved for future generations. The Fox Island Lighthouse Association has been
active over the last several years at the station. Using a number of volunteer workers and
donated boats we have started to reverse deterioration of the buildings and have made the Station accessible to a greater number of visitors.
Phil and John will present an update on this work
and an historic prospective of the Lighthouse and those that served there. Phil has been a
regular visitor to the island for over 30 years and has used his knowledge and passion for
navigating in the area to assure access to the Station. John has family ties to the Island
and a historic interest in the lives of the light keepers. He is also the Grand Traverse
Baykeeper. Both are associated with the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay and are
members of the Fox Island Lighthouse Association. |
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| Admission Fee: |
A $5.00 donation for adults, $2.00 donation for students is
requested at the door for these programs. Children are free.
All proceeds benefit the Elk Rapids Area Historical Society. |
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