The Society's event for April will be a program presented by Ann Baaugman, Program Director for the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council. This is northern Michigan's influential organization concerned with our area's environmental and conservation issues. Ann will focus on the history of our primary environment in "The Charlevoix Watershed: Past & Present" - how it was formed, the impact of our presence upon it during the past 150 years, and the outlook for its future.

The Lake Charlevoix basin has always been a huge influence upon the lives of everyone who has settled in northwest lower Michigan, especially during the days when lumber was king and both logs and millions of feet of dressed timber floated out of the lake to the world. Join us to discover how lumbering, manufacturing, farming, and other land and water uses made the basin and watershed what it is today.

When: Tuesday, April 6 at 7:00 p.m.

Where: The Depot

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GARDEN CLUB RECEIVES GRANT FOR DEPOT HERITAGE GARDEN

(submitted by the Charlevoix Area Garden Club, with whom the Society has been working toward the completion of the magnificent garden at the Depot)

The Charlevoix Area Garden Club has been awarded a $2500 grant from the Principal Financial Group Historic Gardens Project. The funds will be used to continue development of the Heritage Garden at the Depot, Charlevoix's historic railroad station. The National Garden Clubs, Inc. established the grant program under the sponsorship of the Principal Financial Group to enhance gardens at historic sites in communities across the nation.

Joan Nowak, club president, said, "We are thrilled to receive this financial boost which will make it possible for us to complete the work planned for the Depot Heritage Garden. Beautiful gardens in Charlevoix bring pleasure to our residents and let visitors know that we are proud of our community and its heritage. Our gardeners grow more than flowers, they help sow seeds for future enjoyment and community prosperity."

Libby Jacobs, assistant director of the Principal Financial Group, stated that, "We greatly value our relationship with the National Garden Clubs, Inc. organization. Our Historic Gardens Project supports talented volunteer gardeners in their quest to create and preserve magnificent gardens. By providing grants to projects like Charlevoix's Depot Heritage Garden, the Principal is able to leave a legacy of beauty in communities across the country."

Members and volunteers from the Charlevoix Area Garden Club, the Charlevoix Evening Garden Club, and the Charlevoix Historical Society, and all others involved in the project are proud of the progress made in this historic garden. Three garden "rooms" have been completed; the fourth, and final, "room" is now being developed. Additionally, this highly visible project has established and strengthened relationships with neighbors, between organizations, and throughout the community. The Garden Club looks forward to continued community support for this important project.

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"A morsel of genuine history is a thing so rare as to be always valuable."
- Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 1817

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CRUISE CHAIR NEEDED

The position of chairperson to oversee the volunteer committee for our annual sunset cruise, this year on Tuesday, July 27, is open. This would involve working with the Beaver Island Boat Company, the caterers, the band, and the Society to co-ordinate the event. Anyone interested please call the Harsha House or President Dave Garland at 547-6707.

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QUILT SHOW ALERT: HISTORIC QUILTS NEEDED

We're having another quilt show this summer at the Depot! The exhibit two summers ago was such a success we're doing another one by popular demand. We will need quilts with a Charlevoix connection, not necessarily having been made here, but owned and used by Charlevoixites. Anyone who would like to loan a high quality quilt, preferably pre-1950s, for display call Karen Lewis, 547-9743, or Cynthia Garland, 547-6707.

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EMAIL DELIVERY OF NEWSLETTER?

The Board of Directors is looking into the possibility of emailing the newsletter and other correspondence. If you would like to receive your communications from us this way, let us know either by email, by telephone, or by mail. Those who do not have email would still receive all of our communications by regular mail.

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2004-2005 PATRON SPONSOR CAMPAIGN TO BEGIN SOON

The names listed on the left hand side of the first page of each newsletter are the patron sponsors of the Charlevoix Historical Society who so generously support us during each fiscal year. Letters for continuing support are going out shortly. Would you like to be included? Patron sponsorship includes automatice membership. Remember: the Charlevoix Historical Society receives NO public funding, but relies upon its members' dues, patron sponsors, donations, memorials, and fund-raising projects to continue to serve the Charlevoix area so well.

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MICHIGAN STATE QUARTERS

When you buy Michigan State Quarters at Charlevoix State Bank, you're helping to support the Historical Society! Stop in today and see the newest State Quarter, MICHIGAN. They will donate all proceeds from your purchase to the Historical Society. Thank you, Charlevoix State Bank!

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SUMMARY OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, TUESDAY, MARCH 9

(submitted by Mona Bergeon, Society Secretary)

A project to digitize our photo collection has just gotten underway. Equipment has been purchased with the help of a grant, and "computer geek" volunteer members will be working long hours over many months to get the job done. A cubicle will be formed in the museum for this project.

A reorder of 500 copies of the Bob Miles' Charlevoix II book is being finalized. Over 2000 copies were sold in a year and a half.

Seventy fo our current members have still not paid their 2003-2004 dues. Have you?

The participation of the Historical Society on the Friday fo Venetian Festival has again been requested. Vice President Jack MacKenzie will be in charge.

A new "passport" program will be used by the museum. Participants will be the museums in our area. Each will have a page in the "passport" which provides information and location. The "passports" will be available at the Harsha House. "Passport"-bearing visitors to each museum will have that museum's page stamped. When all the pages have been stamped, the bearer will receive a prize.

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