Once again members and their guests are invited to gather in the spirit of the season for the annual Historical Society Christmas dinner, always one of the nicest events of our year.

When: Tuesday, December 7 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: The Grey Gables, 308 Belvedere Ave.

A holiday cheer social hour with old friends will precede the Gables’ quality offerings (menu and price on inside page). As in previous years we would like to have a rough estimate of how many of each entrée will be ordered. So, if you can, we would appreciate a call by December 4 (Saturday) informing us of the number in your party and your selections. 547-0373, Tuesday through Saturday 11-4, or leave a message. You can also call David Miles at home, 547-6736.

You may appear at the appointed hour at the Gables should circumstances prevent you from deciding or being able to call until the last minute. No prior payment is needed. Someone will be on hand to collect your payment at the door. We hope to see you there.

And, we will have music provided by a consort of the North Winds Recorder Society from Petoskey!

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ANNUAL CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSEAnnual Christmas Open House

The Harsha House is hosting its annual Christmas Open House in conjunction with the city-wide celebration on Saturday, December 4 from 12 to 4 P. M. Our museum store will be stocked and manned for Christmas gift sales. Light refreshments will be served. Anyone who would like to volunteer to work a two-hour or more shift selling items and greeting visitors please call Karen Pierce at 547-6004 or the Harsha House, 547-0373. If not a shift, we would welcome donations of cookies or punch for the refreshment table.

The following list gives an indication of what the Harsha House has to offer for that perfect under-the-tree, toe-of-the-stocking item. A complete listing can be found on our website (Museum Store) or call the Harsha House for more information. We accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover). A shipping and handling charge is usually $3.50 for most items, $5 for the Bob Miles' Charlevoix II book, more for mailing tubes and postage for maps.

Bob Miles' Charlevoix II: This 476 pp. pictorial history of Charlevoix was published in September of 2002 and surpassed all sales expectations. The first edition of 2200 copies sold out in early November 2004. A second printing of 500 copies arrived November 17. $47.70 (tax included) The books are also available at the Shop of the Gulls and the Bridge Street Book Shop.

Christmas Bulb Ornaments: Our 2004 bulb shows the old water tower above the channel and a snow-frosted embankment, white on a deep red background. We also have bulbs from 1998 through 2003. $7 each, $6 with purchase of three or more.

Gold Lighthouse Hanging Ornaments, both Charlevoix and Michigan lighthouses. $5

Charlevoix Lighthouse replicas, some as magnets, pull chains, and hanging ornaments. Various prices

Charlevoix Lighthouse and Piers Collectible Plaques $17

Jim Annis Depot with Train prints (signed and numbered) $75

Irene Young's 1934 Map of Section Michigan $10

Russ & Sue Bolt's Note Cards, Mugs, & Tiles $1.50, $7, and $18

Historic Photos Note Cards $1

Lighthouse with Sunset Note Cards $1

Beaver Island History Journals $12

Postcards of Charlevoix Views $1

Children's Books

A Selection of Historic Photos Used in Our Calendars $5 (or any photo from our archives: $5, $7, or $10 printed on site, various prices for larger copies printed outside the museum)

Edith Gilbert's Summer Resort Life: Tangos, Teas, and All book $16.50

Historic Charlevoix, a 48 pp. walking and driving tour booklet $5

Depot T-Shirts, various prices

Historic Round Lake Schooners Plaque $10

Ferdinand the Charlevoix Foghorn cassette tape $5

Plus railroad posters, a Great Lakes Lighthouses jigsaw puzzle, various books, and more!

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MICHIGAN QUARTERS NOW AVAILABLE AT HARSHA HOUSE

The Charlevoix State Bank has turned over the Michigan State Quarter sets, which it had been selling on our behalf, to the Harsha House museum store for purchase during the holiday season. Only fourteen sets (two coins per set) remain, for $5 (or more) in support of the Society. They make perfect stocking stuffers for kids or coin collectors. We would like to thank John Kurtz, Marilyn Joy, and everyone at the State Bank for their contribution to the Society's cause.

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A SPECIAL THANK-YOU TO JOHN GASKIN, SUPERSALESMAN

Society past president and supervolunteer John Gaskin, 90 years young, canvassed the Charlevoix area this summer and fall and managed to sell almost 300 of our 2005 Historic Photos calendar. His contagious enthusiasm and determination to spread the word of the Historical Society are an inspiration. We again extend our thanks and appreciation for his efforts.

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VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR

Society members Patti Aikin, Rhea Dow, and Joan Nowak of the Charlevoix Area Garden Club have been honored as the Society's volunteers of the 2003-2004 year for their splendid work in establishing the Depot Heritage Garden.

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CALENDARS GOING FAST!!

Our 2005 Historic Photos Calendars are selling very briskly. We have only about fifty left. Some people have returned to the Harsha House three times to pick up more as Christmas gifts. Those of you who haven’t purchased however many you need - don’t wait! We don’t want you to be disappointed as the holidays draw near. Once the press run of 500 are gone they won’t be reprinted. They are $13.75 each, with $3.50 additional for mailing and handling.

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NEW PUBLICITY CHAIR

Mary Willis, pastor of the First Congregational Church, has accepted the position of publicity chair. We're sure Mary's many years of outreach experience will prove very valuable in spreading the good word of the Society's activities.

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HERE AND THERE ODDS AND ENDS

Society members Ed and Sue O'Neill of Columbus, Ohio were in Argentina in August where they picked up the bilingual Buenos Aires Herald. In it was Washington Post political writer David Broder's annual column written from Beaver Island with mention of Charlevoix... the Pillars of the Society Depot pillar replacement project has taken in $700... Please help us raise more for this important restoration... A donation of a handcrafted tool chest made by George Meggison, reportedly the first settler of Charlevoix County, plus a multitude of tools that belonged to the Meggison-Medad Thompson-Joslyn family descendants, is now part of our pioneers exhibit... The newsletter goies out to just over 400 addresses... 500 more copies of the Bob Miles' Charlevoix II book have been ordered... Summer/winter members - be sure to notify us of any address or winter/summer time span changes so all correspondence reaches you.

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ANNUAL SPAGHETTI DINNER ANOTHER SUCCESS

Our seventh annual fundraising all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner at the Villager Pub on Wednesday, November 3 was a rousing success once more. Board members and Society volunteers served around 250 meals and collected $1419.35 in tips, all of which goes toward Society activities and needs. Our thanks to everyone who came down to the Pub to support us so generously, to Board member Mick Smith for pulling the event together so well, and to Pub owner Terry Left and his always helpful staff for allowing us to host this special evening each year. Door prize winners: Grand Prize of dinner for two at Terry's Place restaurant -JoAnne Beemon of Charlevoix; a 2005 Historic Photos calendar - Gail Innes of Charlevoix; a 2004 Christmas bulb ornament - Joan Brown of Eastport.

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TV SPECIAL ON ROUSE SIMMONS

A New York Times Magazine special section earlier this fall listed the offerings of the 2004-2005 television season. This paragraph appeared: "Another touching story comes to the screen in 'A Christmas Tree Ship,' a special hour-long holiday episode of the Weather Channel's nightly series 'Storm Stories,' It traces the fate of Captain Herman Schuenemann, who delivered evergreens to Chicago on a wooden schooner for years until 1912, when the ship and its crew were lost in an unexpected blizzard. Despite her grief, Captain Schuenemann's daughter, Elsie, made sure a schooner full of Christmas trees was docked at the Clarke Street Bridge, and to this day, the Coast Guard cutter Mackinac docks at the city's Navy Pier each Christmas season to sell trees in memory of the Christmas Tree Ship." The vessel in question is the Rouse Simmons which came through Charlevoix countless times, usually delivering tanbark harvested on the south shore of Beaver Island to the Boyne City tannery. She laid up here for the winter of 1903-04. A short version of her hair-raising tale is told on page 89 of Bob Miles' Charlevoix II. (Harsha House files say the year was 1913.) Mark your calendars for this tragic yet inspiring story on Sunday, November 28 at 7 P. M. on the Weather Channel, local cable channel #26.

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SUMMARY OF NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING

Guest Chuck Cleland of the Norwood Historical Society presented an update on the progress of the "Ancient Charlevoix" exhibit to be mounted at the Depot next spring. The museum store took in $474.80 in October. The 2005 centennial of our "incorporation as a city" photo project has brought in $600 with more pledged. More than 400 photos in the archives have been digitized. 500 more copies of Bob Miles' Charlevoix II are scheduled to arrive soon. Our e-mail site has received 6282 hits, 5957 sucessfully. A Charlevoix Cigar Company Bandwagon photo will be enlarged, matted, and framed for sale at the hospital's Holly Daze in December. Tree roots are affecting the white fence by the alley. The Pillars of the Society project has brought in close to $2000. Six school groups are scheduled to visit the Harsha House this fall. Depot usage policy was reworded and Depot grant application status was discussed. The rear entry tree and paver problem will be addressed. Dark-out shades have been installed in the Depot's large wing. Reports on Depot restoration items were heard. The intended Christmas walk will be deferred for a year. We have seven new members over the past two months. Possible website links to other appropriate sites will be explored.

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Donation received for spaghetti dinner from: Danie & Larry Allan. Pillars of the Society: Mary L. Toomey, Michael & Mona Bergeon, Jack & Carolyn MacKenzie, John & Phyllis Elzinga, Bruce Tibbs. Donation received for Depot pillars restoration from: Wayne Sundberg.