[History Hounds] A Lawyer Behind Bars: Walter Morrow Nelson and His Legacy with Carrie Sharlow, Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society

In 1923, Walter M. Nelson, attorney in the Berrien County House of David cases, was held in contempt of court and sentencing to 30 days in jail. The cases were just the beginning of Nelson's legendary fifty year career with the State Bar of Michigan.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

[History Hounds] “The Worst Colonel I Ever Saw”: Francis Quinn and The 12th Michigan Infantry with Robert Myers, Historical Society of Michigan

Colonel Francis Quinn of Niles led the 12th Michigan Infantry into action in the Battle of Shiloh, but his incompetence and quarrelsome personality led to disaster. Michigan Governor Austin Blair dubbed him “The worst colonel I ever saw.”

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

[History Hounds] King Strang of Beaver Island: The Mormon Monarch of Michigan with Jane Garver, Little Traverse History Museum

After the death of Mormon leader Joseph Smith, James Jesse Strang claimed to be the next leader, dividing the Mormon people. He took his followers to Beaver Island, where he proclaimed himself King, instigated the Battle of Pine River, and was elected to the Michigan legislature.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

Monthly Board Meeting will be held at the St. Ignace Public Library.

[History Hounds] A Complicated Legacy: Civil Rights Cases and the Michigan Supreme Court with Joseph J. Gavin, Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society

The Michigan Supreme Court’s history of civil rights cases is a complicated legacy. Join this presentation to unpack some of its earliest decisions and impacts, like the 1869 case of Workman v. Detroit Board of Education, and many more.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

[History Hounds] Con-Con Eleven: Women at the 1961-1962 Michigan Constitutional Convention with Lynn Liberato, Author

The 1963 Michigan Constitution marks the first and only time women have participated in the writing of a Michigan constitution. Learn the story of those eleven women and the greater influence they had in encouraging women to run for statewide public office.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

[History Hounds] The Ballad of Casey Jones: Railroad Engineer and Folk Hero with Grant Thompson, Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum

Learn the story of Casey Jones, whose legacy as a railroad engineer lives on in the iconic folk song bearing his name. Noted for his exceptional punctuality, Jones met his tragic demise at the risk of saving others while on the track.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

[History Hounds] REWIND - Lake Superior Losses: Marquette Shipwrecks

After iron ore was discovered near Marquette, Michigan, in 1844, the city soon developed into Lake Superior’s first great port. From 1855 to the 1880s, Marquette received more vessels in a single week than Duluth, Minnesota, did in an entire season. With that increased traffic, however, came increased accidents. Learn all about those Marquette-area wrecks—from the Siskowit to the Maryland.

Note: It's a rewind! Join us to watch a previously recorded program, stored in our member library.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

[History Hounds] Hilma! A WWII Survivor’s Story with Bruce Geffen, Educator

Hilma Geffen was 16 years old when she went into hiding during WWII, separated from her parents and living underground to evade the Nazis. Join her son as he shares the discovery of Hilma's story and all she survived.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

Have you ever been curious about how snowshoes were laced in the past? Learn about the tools and methods as instructor Hillary Pine guides you through the process of lacing your own pair of Green Mountain snowshoes.

Seating is limited and registration is required. The $200 registration fee includes all supplies and may be paid online or in person. Please note this workshop is 7 hours. Please bring a sack lunch. Click here to register.

This workshop is in cooperation with the St. Ignace Public Library and the St. Ignace Area Creative Arts Council, and funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council.

Hillary Pine lives in St. Ignace and is a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She has a B.A. in Art History from the University of Michigan and an M.A. in Cultural Heritage & Museum Studies from the University of East Anglia. She is the Northern Lower Peninsula Historian for the DNR and Michigan History Center. Hillary works out of Hartwick Pines State Park and is responsible for the Hartwick Pines Logging Museum, the Higgins Lake Nursery, and the Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps Museum. Hillary especially enjoys giving tours and public programs to share Michigan’s diverse history with the public.

[History Hounds] Building “a Better Car”: The Road to Saving Chrysler with Barry Levine, Author

When Lee Iacocca stepped into Chrysler management, he inherited a company on the brink of collapse. He may have gone the extra mile to bring the company back, but the contributions of union workers, cooperation of the government, success of the K-car, and other factors helped ensure the effort to save Chrysler succeeded.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

[History Hounds] A Handshake and a Hitch: The Ford “N” Tractor with Ed Gooding, “N” Tractor Club

In 1938, Henry Ford and Harry Ferguson struck a deal where Ford would manufacture tractors with Ferguson's innovative three-point hitch system. This agreement resulted in the creation of the 9N model, which was also produced with a rear power take-off (PTO). The "Ford-Ferguson" soon became an industry standard, albeit short-lived.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

Learn the traditional art of black ash basketry. Using the knowledge passed down through the generations, Joshua and Sarah Homminga of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, harvest and process all the materials used in their basketry. They will share their knowledge while guiding attendees as they make their own baskets to take home. 

Seating is limited and registration is required. The $75 registration fee includes all supplies and may be paid online or at the workshop. Please note this workshop is 7 hours. Please bring a sack lunch. Click here to register.

This workshop is in cooperation with the St. Ignace Public Library and the St. Ignace Area Creative Arts Council, and funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council.

Josh Homminga is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, located in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. He was born on August 2, 1978. He grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, MI and lived there until 2012, then moved to Bay Mills Indian Community with his wife, Sarah. Josh worked for Sault Tribe, within their Cultural Division, for most of his adult life and in 2015, he decided to pursue basketry full-time. Black ash basketry has always been part of his life growing up. Josh's great, great-grandmother, Jane Williams, passed this art down to her children and it continued down to his great-aunt, Bernadette Azevedo. Bernadette is the one who taught Josh basketry. He made his first basket in 2007, in which he harvested and processed all the materials. His aunt and uncle, Bernadette and Roger, shared their knowledge by hosting basket workshops. They were concerned that this art would die out within their family. Her words were, “anyone can make a basket, but would they also be able to harvest and process a log to make the supplies to make the basket”. Josh took her words to heart and decided he would continue on this art and teach our future generations. He taught my wife, Sarah and together they have hosted many workshops and demonstrations. They are teaching our children so the art of black ash basketry stays alive within their family.

[History Hounds] Little House in the Bog Woods: The Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Millions of schoolchildren grew up with the “Little House” books and the opening sentence, “Once upon a time . . . a little girl lived in the Big Woods of Wisconsin.” Join us as the staff of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Pepin, Wisconsin, tells us the author’s story. 

Note: It's a rewind! Join us to watch a previously recorded program, stored in our member library. 

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, tonight's "Claiming Michigan: The 1820 Expedition of Lewis Cass" program is canceled.

In 1820, the governor of the Michigan Territory, Lewis Cass, and thirty-five companions participated in an expedition from Detroit to the furthest limits of what would become the states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Dan Truckey, Director and Curator of the Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heritage Center will retrace the expedition and delve into the lives of those in Cass's party and the effect it had on Indigenous people.

In cooperation with the St. Ignace Public Library and generous funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, this is a free in-person presentation. Registration is recommended, but not required. Click here to register.

Dan Truckey has been the Director of the Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heritage Center since 2007. Before returning to Northern Michigan University, his alma mater, Dan served as executive director of the Grand Traverse Heritage Center in Traverse City. Previous employers included the Sioux City Public Museum in Iowa, Noah Webster House, the Connecticut Historical Society and the former Catskills Entertainment Hall of Fame. In his spare time, Dan is a folk singer/songwriter, and enjoys downhill skiing, biking, hiking, playing tennis and spending time with his wife and their two kids.

[History Hounds] A Park and a Steamer: The Tale of Tashmoo with Art Woodford, Author

Tashmoo Park, located 20 miles north of Detroit on Harsen's Island, opened in 1897. For nearly 50 years, the park was Detroit's most popular park destination, and a visit was incomplete without an excursion aboard the grand steamer Tashmoo. 

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

[History Hounds] Michigan’s Pompeii: The Lost Town of Singapore with Janet Kasic, Travel Talk Journeys

Did you know Michigan has its own “Pompeii”? Just as the Roman city of Pompeii, Italy, was buried by ash and volcanic rock from Mount Vesuvius, so the little village of Singapore, Michigan, was buried by sand. Beneath the dunes near the resort town of Saugatuck lies the remains of Singapore, one of Michigan's most famous ghost towns.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge

The Great Lakes are as notorious for shipwrecks as they are for beauty. Since the beginning of European sailing vessels traversing the lakes, there have been more than 6,000 documented shipwrecks. Approximately 20 of those occurred on the Straits of Mackinac. Shipwreck researcher, Ric Mixter will discuss his discoveries, vessels lost on the Straits, and where to find them.

In cooperation with the St. Ignace Public Library and generous funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, this is a free in-person presentation. Registration is recommended, but not required. Click here to register.

Ric Mixter is a familiar voice at Michilimackinac; you can hear him daily in the shipwreck video he produced at the shipwreck museum at Old Mackinac Point. He has appeared most recently on National Geographic Explorer and has an article in this year's Michigan History Magazine on a recent discovery he was part of in Lake Superior. Add in appearances on History, Discovery Channel and 30 shows on PBS, and you'll know why Ric is frequently asked to share stories live with audiences. 

Ric started diving in 1991, and served as SCUBA cameraman on underwater expeditions to the Great Lakes largest shipwrecks, the Edmund Fitzgerald and Carl D. Bradley.  He has interviewed dozens of shipwreck survivors over the past 15 years, including two from the 1913 Storm, two from the 1940 Armistice Day Storm and survivors from the largest shipwrecks in lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie. 

With over 20 years of stories on historical preservation, Ric was awarded the 2009 Award for Historic Interpretation by the Association for Great Lakes Maritime Historians.  In 2011 he was elected to their board of directors.  Ric was also the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association’s third president.

[History Hounds] A Capitol and its Cameras: Legislative Photographers Under the Dome with Jacob McCormick, Michigan State Capitol

Welcome to the world of legislative photography at the Michigan State Capitol! Explore composite photos, illustrated manuals, and souvenir albums. The nearly 60-year history of staff photographers under the dome offers a glimpse into the era of increased communications efforts by the legislature, through modern day.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge

Join us for a one-night event at the Hessel School House - a presentation and exhibition of the McKenney and Hall lithographs. Thomas McKenney was the Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the 1820s and 30s. During his tenure, he commissioned artists James Otto Lewis and Charles Blackbird to paint portraits of Native American Chiefs and dignitaries who came to Washington D.C. After leaving his position with the War Department, McKenney partnered with lithographers and funded by James Hall to produce lithograph prints of the portraits. Learn about Thomas McKenney, James Hall, artists, and the Native Americans who sat for the portraits.

[History Hounds] Ring Lardner: Literary Hero of Niles with Molly Watson, Niles History Center

Born in Niles in 1885, “Ring” Lardner was a famous author who got his start as a newspaper reporter. His illustrious career included regular columns, short stories, plays, and even songs. One of his best-known works, “You Know Me Al,” was first published in The Saturday Evening Post.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge

[History Hounds REWIND] Kirtland’s Warbler: A Conservation Victory

The iconic Kirtland’s warbler has seen it all—from mystery to murder, from a symbol to near extinction. Today, the Kirtland’s warbler is making history again as a model for recovered species conservation.

Note: It's a rewind! Join us to watch a previously recorded program, stored in our member library.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

Meet John Hagen, story teller and author of "Sea Stacks," a collection of short stories about the lives, loves, and humor of residents of the fictitious Ojibwa County. He will present excerpts from "Sea Stacks" and other stories, poems, and songs. Attendees will also get a preview of Hagen's upcoming novel.

In cooperation with the the St. Ignace Public Library and generous funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, this is a free in-person presentation.  Registration is recommended, but not required. Click here to register.

J. L. Hagen is a writer, poet, musician, and retired non-profit executive. He is the author of Sea Stacks, a collection of short fiction available on Amazon.com. These stories reference  the fictional Upper Peninsula community of Loyale, Michigan. His story “Chelsea’s Rescue” in the anthology Again, Hazardous Imaginings was named one of the best science fiction short stories of 2020. In 2022, his novelette "Runtley Goes Rogue" won a gold medal from Florida's Royal Palm Literary Awards. His poem, "Northwest of the Skillagalee," was anthologized in "Thrills and Chills," where it was recognized as one of the top three submissions. Recently, his short story, "Two Bells," was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. A graduate of creative writing programs at the University of Michigan Residential College and the University of Chicago, he grew up in St. Ignace, MI.  He has lived and worked in four states and briefly taught English Composition at the Community College of Indiana. He and his wife Joy commute between Lake Michigan and Tampa Bay.

[History Hounds] Gratiot: A Man, a Fort, a Road, and a Lighthouse! with Andrew Kercher, Port Huron Museums

Fort Gratiot is mostly known today as the name of Michigan's oldest lighthouse, but it was also a military installation that guarded the mouth of the St. Clair River into Lake Huron from 1814 to 1879. Hear stories about the how and why of the fort, as well as its famous residents, and the exciting life of the Fort's namesake.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

[History Hounds] Burned Out: Unraveling the Tragic History of the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians with Deborah Richmond, Author

Discover the shocking truth of October 15, 1900, when a thriving Native American village in Brutus, Michigan, was ruthlessly torched by a land developer and sheriff. Historian Deborah Richmond unveils the heart-wrenching events that stripped families of their homes, their land, and their ancestral rights, leaving lasting scars.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

[History Hounds] Deeds, Not Words: A History of the Future Farmers of America with Alex Schnabelrauch, Michigan FFA Foundation

With nearly 100 years of history, Future Farmers of America (FFA) is synonymous with leadership, work ethic and more. From humble beginnings to a federally-charted program across the country, the organization spans beyond the farm. Join us to learn how the FFA’s agricultural traditions have evolved to serve modern students and communities.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

[History Hounds] A Mapping Mishap: The Toledo War with Adam Franti, Historian

In 1835, Michigan's bid for statehood caused political controversy when Michigan, citing map errors, claimed ownership of the city of Toledo. The claim brought Michigan into conflict with the Ohio, the U.S. Congress, and President Andrew Jackson’s administration. Learn about the Toledo War, mapping Michigan, and the beginnings of statehood.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.

Please mark your calendar for Wednesday, July 17, 2024, when we will celebrate the contributions of the Maurer Family and Maurer Publishing at the MHS Bridging History Celebration at Little Bear East.

The MHS Bridge Award for Historical Impact is given to those who inspire use with their outstanding philanthropy, community involvement, and dedication to preserving history so that others may learn from it. We are honored to celebrate the contributions of the Maurer Family and Maurer Publishing whose names have been synonymous with journalism and integrity on Mackinac Island, St. Ignace, and the Les Cheneaux Islands for more than six decades. Their impact on all of Mackinac County has been profoundly felt by many and we proudly celebrate their dedication to make their community a better place.

Maurer Publishing began with Wesley and Margaret Maurer, Sr. and continued with Wesley and Mary Maurer, Jr. until March of 2023. Wesley Maurer, Sr. was a professor of journalism at the University of Michigan and dedicated to improving journalism education. During his extensive career he received numerous accolades for his work. The highest honors include receiving the title of professor emeritus from the University of Michigan, the Honor Medal for distinguished service in Journalism, and induction to the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.

Mr. and Mrs. Maurer, Sr. purchased the Mackinac Island Town Crier in 1957 to use the small-town paper as a laboratory for graduate journalism students interested in community journalism. They extended the laboratory when they purchased the weekly Harbor Springs’ newspaper Harbor Light in 1963, eventually turning the paper over to a former student. In 1975 the Maurer family purchased the Les Cheneaux Weekly Wave and then The Republican News & St. Ignace Enterprise. The paper was later renamed to The St. Ignace News and incorporated the Weekly Wave in 1978. Wesley Maurer, Sr. was devoted to social justice and to professionalizing the field of journalism and believed that “the newspaper is the basic element of the community, its institutions and life. The newspaper’s objective should be information” (Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame). He lived this purpose and instilled these values in his family. Dedication to journalism education, seeking the truth and reporting it has been a hallmark of the Maurer family, as well as a love of history and preservation of the past which is still seen every week in Wes Maurer, Jr.’s popular column, “Looking Back.”

The net proceeds of this event go toward finishing the Straits Cultural Center

Learn St. Ignace’s history through the stories of the city’s past residents. Take a glimpse into their lives on curated tours through 3 local cemeteries: Gros Cap, Lakeside, and St. Ignatius Loyola. Tours will be 1 to 1.5 hours.

9am | Lakeside Cemetery (100 Graham Ave.) Currently under the administration of the City of St. Ignace, Lakeside Cemetery was first established in 1887 by the Lakeside Cemetery Association, who owned it for 115 years.

1pm | St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Cemetery (458 Chambers St.) Once located on State St. near the present-day Shell gas station, the St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Cemetery was relocated to its present location in the early 1900s.

4pm | Gros Cap Cemetery (1502 US-2) Gros Cap Cemetery is the Nation’s oldest cemetery still in use. For centuries it has served as the burial grounds for Native Americans, traders, and early pioneers through to residents today and yesteryear.

Through funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, these tours are free to attend. Registration is recommended, but not required. Click here to register for individual or all tours.