Another beautiful Charlevoix summer draws to a close with one of our most popular events, the Society's annual Ice Cream Social. This gathering of members, guests, and friends has long been the occasion for thank-yous to our volunteers for the many hours of work they have donated at the Harsha House Museum and the Depot ove the past year. Please join us.

When: Tuesday, September 2 @ 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Depot

We have an added attraction this year. Linda Mueller of Castle Farms will give a brief presentation on the remarkable renovation and restoration work she and her husband have undertaken in the two large barns and on the grounds of the old Loeb estate on M-66. So far they have hosted weddings, high school proms, conferences, children's activities, and other functions in an historic setting unsurpassed in northern Michigan. Linda will tell of the work done to date, their philosophy in carrying out their vision, and the renovations and events planned for the future.

Castle Farms is open for tours 2:00 Sundays and Wednesdays the rest of the summer.

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The Friends of the Charlevoix Public Library will feature Caroline Kohn Minch as guest speaker in the continuing series of Michigan Room Programs. Ms. Minch is a retired teacher and recently helped to edit the Charlevoix Historical Society's new Bob Milesí Charlevoix II book. Caroline will talk about her late father, Dr. Harold E. Kohn, well-known artist, author, lecturer, counselor, and minister, at the library on Tuesday, September 9, at 7 P. M.

Dr. Kohn became the minister of the First Congregational Church in 1952 and wrote eight popular books based on his sermons, lectures, love of nature, and life experiences during his tenure. He wrote a nationally syndicated column called "A Lift for Living," and was published in Reader's Digest. He illustrated all of his books and articles with pen and ink drawings, primarily dealing with birds, animals, flowers, birch and pine trees, and other scenes from nature. Dr. Kohn painted many watercolors, works highly prized by collectors.

Following the presentation, light refreshments will be served. Admission is free. For additional information call the library at 231-547-2651.

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The following report from a July 30, 1921 Petoskey paper was recently unearthed. It is slightly "politically incorrect" but enjoyable all the same. The more things change . . . ?

Charlevoix Now Swimming Town
Girls, Brown as Indians, Wear Bathing Suits All Day, Take Naps on Shore, and Policemen Don't Make 'Em Put on Their Clothes, Either

"Charlevoix has stepped into the limelight as a "bathing suit town." There are girls there who don on their bathing suits when they don off their nighties and wear them all day.

"Some of them have gotten so brown, excepting for the smaller portions of the shapely anatomies that do not show, that they resemble the members of the tribe that once owned the site of Charlevoix.

"Girls take naps on the grassy shores of Pine Lake (Lake Charlevoix), and sometimes their bathing suits don't get wet all day, but most of the girls are good swimmers and expert divers and pass almost as much time in the water as they do on land. And they make pretty pictures as they wander beneath the trees on the shore near the Belvedere or recline in the sands.

"And it's perfectly all right. And there's nothing scandalous about it; no indeed! Policemen don't chase them like those rude Chicago policemen would, because Charlevoix policemen think they look nice, and besides, isn't Charlevoix a place where they come to relax? And doesn't Charlevoix want all the pretty mermaids to come back next summer? To be sure she does!

"Sometimes the girls go riding in their bathing suits, but they haven't gone shopping yet, like girls at other places told of by the newspapers; but the season is young, the bathing suit habit is growing, and you can't most always generally sometimes tell!"

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The Society has been hosting the Venetian week tennis tournament for the past few seasons. Board members Karen Pierce and Bob Heath, who are on the tennis committee, report a 30% increase in participation over last year, with several hundred now turning out for the event.

The Society hosted four events in a row over two weeks that were very well attended.

The first was participation in the Heritage Day in East Park on the Friday of Venetian Festival week. Vice-president Jack MacKenzie co-ordinated the event which featured antique farm implements from the collection of John and Phyllis Elzinga who were on hand in the tent. David Miles put together an exhibit of 54 panels displaying almost 80 photos for the tent perimeter and six albums for the tables containing close to 400 historic photographs. (These albums are now available for viewing at the Harsha House - Charlevoix's hotels, bridges, Bridge Street, Loeb Farms, vessels, professions and industries, and miscellaneous photos.) We had a painted board of two Victorian children with cut-out faces for the kids to have their pictures taken. Except for the wind, which played havoc with a few of the panels, the day went very well with many visitors.

That same evening, the Society's annual Venetian fireworks potluck picnic at Depot Beach crowned the day in spectacular fashion. Mona Bergeon chaired the event which filled the beach pavilion to capacity with a groaning board of excellent food and over one hundred members and guests. The Depot was opened for the maritime exhibit.

Four days later, Anne Marie Barnes once more helmed our annual sunset cruise which saw around 200 set sail on the Emerald Isle on an ideal night with a dramatic fireball sunset. Again, the captain opted not to venture into Lake Michigan because of its winds, but a protected Lake Charlevoix was picture perfect all the way beyond Ironton and back.

On August 8, the Depot was bulging with a standing room only crowd for our joint meeting with the Norwood Historical Society that featured a slide program on Great Lakes shipwrecks by State Archeologist John Halsey.

Many thanks to Jack, Mona, and Anne Marie, their committees and crews for the success of each of our functions.

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Society members and other interested parties have contributed enough funds to complete the Historic Structures Report needed to determine the extent of renovation and repairs which the Charlevoix lighthouse will need when it is handed over by the Coast Guard in a couple of years. A 50% match of the grant we received to help underwrite the cost of the report was reached by the end of July. Our thanks to everyone who so generously supported us in this undertaking. (See list on page 4 of those who contributed in the past month.)

Members who still wish to help the cause are encouraged to do so because those funds will be applied to future costs once the actual restoration work begins. This is one of the most vital projects ever undertaken by the Society and the community. It will help to preserve one of our most prized symbols for decades to come. Donors of $50 to $99 receive our new 2-inch replica of the lighthouse; those who contribute $100 or more receive a 5-inch model.

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Museum co-director Betsy Reynolds has just received a shipment of the seventh edition of our highly popular Christmas bulb ornament. This one depicts a loaded bobsled coming down the south Bridge Street hill, a reflection of the times in the late 1920s and early 1930s when the whole street was closed off, watered down to freeze, and turned into a bobsled run all the way across the bridge and up the north side hill. Same price as before, $7, or $6 apiece with a purchase of three or more ornaments, at the Harsha House Museum store. A perfect gift or memento for the holiday season.

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At the July 8 Board meeting the following resolution was passed: "Any conflict between CHS members, or between CHS members and members of other organizations, shall be presented to our president who will convene a meeting of the executive committee to resolve the problem." The current Society president is Dave Garland, phone 231-547-6707.

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Now is the time to see the fruits of the labors of the Garden Club at the Depot. The first phase of their new Heritage Garden project has come into full bloom and is a sight to behold. Come down any day to enjoy its calm and serenity, or plan a Friday or Saturday afternoon with a combined visit to the maritime exhibit inside the Depot.

The Society welcomes new members: Jean & Rick Belvin, Mr. & Mrs. Lynn R. Evans, Jeanne McCarthy (Ralph Hamilton Circle), Mike & Sharon Doherty, Marilyn & Lyle King

Donations received: from Jean, Ann, and John Gumpper & family in honor of Jack & Carolyn MacKenzie's 50th wedding anniversay; James & Maureen Sneathen; Drs. Susan & Phillip Storm in memory of Charles Zeitler & family; Carrie & Bill Venema in honor of the "Fitz-Dilley" family and celebration of the marriage of Neil & Dawn Dilley

Donations received for the cruise: from Nettie Cohen/Larry & Danielle Allan; Jeannine Wallace; William Kenney; Eileen Edwards; Kala & Ole Lyngklip, Jr.; Charlevoix Floral; Sandra & Gerald Stabnick; Hal Elrich; Rhoda Raider; Bill Price; Frances & C. T. Martin

Donations received for the Lighthouse Preservation Project: from Neil & Sally Suomela; E. L. Beaupre; Virginia Rountree; J. Jefferson & Anne Miller: State Senator and Mrs. Jason Allen; Avern Cohn; Jeanne & Richard McCarthy; Danna & Wade Segrest; Chuck Novak; Mary Toomey; Nancy Harpham; Robert & Marion Brewer; Don & Ellen Jesmore; Joseph A. Surico; Andrew Lonyo; Dave Waters; Lawrence & Danielle Allan; Chub & D'Ann Rothenberger; Mr. & Mrs. Mason Rosenthal; Richard Platt; Brenda Kovinsky; Jerry & Kate Left; Charlevoix Lions Club; Bruce & Suzanne Miller; Wayne Sundberg; John H. Logie; Hugh Harsha; Janey & David Runyan; Cinema III (Bill Supernaw); Kay & Don Heise

An anonymous donation to be received in three parts over eighteen months has been pledged to fund digitalization of our vast Bob Miles Collection photo archives.

The Society recognizes volunteer John Gaskin for helping to preserve the American Express baggage cart at the Depot, selling our 2004 calendar, and reaching the 200 mark for sales of the Bob Miles' Charlevoix II book.

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