| Spring Newsletter: Some Notes on Your BIHS The Beaver Island Historical Society was founded as a non-profit corporation to locate, acquire, interpret, and display materials to further the understanding of Beaver Island's rich historic heritage. The idea of forming such a group had been discussed for some time, but it took the immanent demolition of the old Mormon Print Shop, and the interest and dedication of founder A. J. Roy., to bring it about.
Through intense, immense effort, A. J. and his wife were able to keep the Museum running for twenty years. Then the Bicentennial Committee provided an infusion of interest and energy. It created Volume I of the Journal of Beaver Island History, which helped fund the Post Office Addition. Shirley Gladish became the modestly paid Curator, and directed the Society's programs for another twenty years. During that time the Heritage Park land was acquired, George and Martha Miller donated the old Martin net shed for a Marine Museum, and the Bob S project was begun.
In the early '90s, the Board began to add standing committees under the guidence of then-President Kitty McNamara in order to handle all of the projects that came along. The first draft of a master plan for its future activities was also created.
Recently the Board has formed a Budget Committee and a Publications Committee. Other committees have been suggested. The Board also hired John McNeil as its bookkeeper, and recently named him as Treasurer as well.
Jeanne Howell has done a wonderful job of organizing the staff of volunteers. But we're always looking for help, either taking charge of one of the museums a half day a week or working on one of the many projects. If any of them interest you and you'd like to help, please let us know. Archaeological investigations on Beaver Island Archaeological speculation about Beaver Island has existed from at least the time of James Strang. A few articles appeared in 1860s newspapers. In 1871 Henry Gillman visited the Island, and published an account of his findings in the 1883 Smithsonian Report. He noted four mounds in the center of the harbor, which yielded several artifacts.
In 1931 W. B. Hinsdale visited Beaver Island, and published his findings. After that, forty years went by before James Fitting conducted another survey.
Ten years ago Terry Bussey's discovery of the Sun Circle initiated fresh interest. A number of archaeologists examined various landscape artifacts on the West Side, issuing conflicting reports. In the last few years, a few old homesteads have been explored, and a search was made for remnants of the trading post at Cable's Bay. The Amik Circle Society was formed to safeguard Native American sites.
Now Dr. Chuck Hastings of CMU has developed an interest. He will be coming to the Island this spring to examine some of the sites (the French cache and the Tabernacle) that have been suggested for future digs, which he will undertake as a field trip with his students.
If you know of an unusual site or feature you think might deserve consideration, let us know. We'll take a look at it, and put it on the list to show Dr. Hastings.
Scanning Pictures We have purchased a Pentium computer, and set it up with our scanner in the Office. You can bring you valuable old photographs to the Print Shop, and we can scan them while you watch. Not only will we have a record, but we can make prints if anything happens to the originals. Improvements to the Museums
During the spring, we have made improvements to both museums. At the Marine Museum, we have cleaned and protected the large (15') Zoltan Sepeshy mural, Hauling In The Nets. And, after much debate about how to proceed, we have patched the lower level floor (rather than cover it.)
We have also added an electric toilet to the Marine Museum, which incinerates wastes. The lower level storage room has been remodelled into a bathroom.
At the Print Shop, we have shored up the foundation, which was so shaky that everything in the room rattled every time someone took a step. This flexing was not good for the building, and we're glad to have finally eliminated it.
New Equipment: both museums now have cash registers. This makes it easier to tally purchases, and helps us keep track of our inventory more acurately. Publications People have been asking when Volume V will be out. The only answer we can give is, "Not this year." So far, we have received two fine articles. One is on Beaver Island's loons, by Jacque LaFreniere. It does a wonderful job of explaining this enchanting bird's behavior. The other, by Vickie Speak, traces the lives of King Strang's five wives, before, during, and after their involvement with him. Other articles are being written, but will not be done in time for publication this year.
Another project people are anxiously awaiting is George Anthony's book on the history of Beaver Island's Indians. George has meticulously followed every lead for over twenty-five years, checking and cross-checking for authenticity. Those who heard him speak on this subject during the 1997 Museum Week agree that this is a book worth waiting for.
Another BIHS project involves the editing and publishing of some of the stories gleaned in the Oral History Project, begun by Shirley Gladish and Robert Cole almost ten years ago. We have a number of audio and video tapes of the elder residents remembering their past. Those that have been transcribed make enjoyable reading -- both for their content, and for the unique language they embody.
We have added several new titles to the offerings at our Museums, and plan to add a few more before the season starts. The New Museum
Although we're probably five years away from replacing the Kitchen Addition on the back of the Print Shop with a new and larger structure, this subject has generated a lot of interest. Here are some questions that have frequently been asked, together with today's best answer:
Why is it necessary? Two reasons. First, the existing Kitchen Addition is in bad shape. Secondly, we have outgrown the space that's currently available. As long ago as 1992, then-President Kitty McNamara thought it was necessary to expand. But until recently, it was felt that this was beyond our means.
Why do we need more space? Right now, everything is cramped. The Native American room could easily use twice as much space. Same with the Strang room. We would like to add placards to tie together the artifacts on display, and turn each room into a story.
The Logging exhibit is in the Marine Museum, occupying the area in which we would like to have a display about the archipelago's many Lighthouses The office, which has taken over the Post Office Addition, is running out of room too -- particularly for the archives. Having so much space upstairs will allow us to create rotating exhibits in the space below.
How large will the new addition be? We don't know yet. Possibly 28' x 42' -- twice the current size; that's our "working estimate." And with the office located upstairs, the Post Office Addition will be available for displays as well.
That's a lot of space. Will you be able to fill it? Easily -- you should see how much material is being stored in the attic and barn.
Besides displaying more of the artifacts currently in storage, we would like to start three new areas: cultural history; natural history; and current history.
Is 'current history' really history? Yes. Important changes are taking place today, which no doubt will affect the future of the Island. We can either record them now, or wait until they become dim memories.
During last summer's Museum Week, Bill McDonough talked about the process that led to obtaining the Emerald Isle. Even though many in the audience had been here during these events, almost everyone found that some of the things they had assumed were based on misinformation. It was interesting, and more informative than it would be if we waited fifty years before researching the matter.
What about natural history? Are you qualified to address this? We feel that the physical characteristics of Beaver Island have been important factors in shaping its character, more so than in other places. We're not experts, but we have always received help from the professors at CMU, and we will continue to. Other universities have also offered their help.
How much will it cost? Before we can answer that, we have to go through the design process. We may start the process this fall, but it can't proceed quickly. We have to be sure that the plans encompass our potential needs for an extended period. Hopefully we can include a preliminary drawing of a potential floor plan in the Fall Newsletter.
The new addition will include a new bathroom, and possibly a pressurized septic system. At the time of construction, many artifacts will have to be carefully moved and stored. It's hard to figure, but at today's prices, it's likely to cost $250,000.
How will you raise that much money? Through a combination of grants and donations.
We believe there is a lot of interest in our program. The attention that this project has generated so far indicates that support will be at hand.
What about your other projects? Will they be dropped? We can't drop everything and concentrate on the new addition. We have a duty and obligation to keep moving forward at the Marine Museum, the Memorial, the Protar House, Heritage Park, the Bob S, the Oral History project, the Whiskey Point Light, and with ongoing acquisitions and publications.
Aren't you in over your head? We don't think so. When a committee was first formed to preserve the Dockside Market, we were asked to take it on. That might have been beyond our means.
But it seems that more and more people are becoming interested in helping preserve, interpret, and display material relating to Beaver Island's history.
With Museum Week, our "open when you want" policy, our genealogical help, and our willingness to listen to requests and act on them, we feel the Historical Society is an important part of this community. The Bob S We were given this fish tug in 1985 by Earl Maudrie, who had been leasing it to John Kenwabikisee. Built in Sturgeon Bay in 1935, the 48' wooden boat spent the last few years of its life at Beaver Island. Even when it operated out of Manistique, it had an Island connection, being captained at different times by Fond Sendenburg and Jacob Anthony.
Representative of the Island's commercial fishing industry, the Bob S had a storied history before arriving here. In her prime she was one of the most productive fish tugs in northern Lake Michigan. In January of 1937 she was disabled, and was coated with a foot of ice when she finally made port. Two years later she became stuck in thick ice, and it was four days before the Ann Arbor car ferry broke her free and rescued her crew. In a 1949 fog she was hit by an ore boat on the port quarter, but survived. Thirty years later she sank in the Manistique harbor, but was raised and made operational again.
In 1990 the BIHS began her restoration. She was placed on stone cradles, and work on her interior began. The handicap ramps were installed. Efforts continued for three years, but funds were limited.
We still need to make her weatherproof, restore the trim, rebuild the interior, and set the original engine in place. Our goal is to have it set up the way it was when she was in use, and to allow the public to enter and see what it was like for those who earned their living fishing. The Gertrude K Next to the Bob S sits Paul Ken's fish boat, the Gertrude K, which was given to us in 1992. John Gillespie and Jim Wojan carefully carried it to its current place with their loaders and set her next to the Bob S. Once work on the Bob S is complete, we intend to set this boat on a matching crib, to show the variety of boats used here for fishing.. Heritage Park Twenty years ago we obtained a 99-year lease on this property, to have a place for exhibits that are too large for the Print Shop Museum -- such as agricultural implements. A large storage barn was built here a few years later. The barn has proved invaluable for storing artifacts that can't be stored elsewhere; this is where the Bob S's engine sits.
Fifteen years ago a master plan for the use of this property was created. It was quite ambitious, calling for the eventual demonstration of some of the crafts that had flourished here in the past, such as blacksmithing. But the logistics were overwhelming, and the plan was put aside.
Last summer, when the thick brush was cleared away, it was discovered that the Beaver Island Lumber Company's railroad had run through the property. A portion of the raised bed could be seen. That led to the idea of a railroad display, with new ties but sections of the original track (a few remain) and a weatherproof sign showing the complete route and describing its operation.
We are looking for ideas on what else to do with this property. We don't want to have to supply an attendant, so anything put here should be self-explanatory, with the aid of signs. If you have any suggestions, please let us know. The Memorial to Islanders lost at Sea The Civic Association created a memorial to 57 Islanders who drowned at sea, an impressive stone niche with a bronze plaque giving their names. In 1985 it turned the Memorial over to the Historical Society, and we promised to take care of it. Since then we've been placing flowers there every summer, but we have not added any new names. At least two will be put on: Norm Cash and Stevie Kenwabikisee.
It was recently suggested that a second memorial be established, for Island loved ones who perished in airplanes. This might be located at Whiskey Point as well, or at the Township Airport. Over a dozen names have been nominated for inclusion, and we suspect there may be many others.
Comments or suggested names would be appreciated. The History Map Over twenty years ago a map of Beaver Island's historic sites was created and printed on a parchment paper. This was part of the Bicentennial effort. Over the years it has been reprinted three times without any changes being made.
Now that we are about to reprint it again, we'd like to hear from anyone who feels that something should be added, or corrected. |
