Everyone who lives in Charlevoix has to have a family story of how they or their forebears came to arrive on our shores. Some can trace the circumstances back to the mid 1800s; some might look back only as far as last year. All of our ancestors traveled either to Charlevoix or to the surrounding area by one means or another. This is the topic that Harsha House Museum co-director Steve Goslee will explore in our program for April: "Getting Here Was Half The Fun?"

Steve will look at the passenger and work boats that brought our earliest pioneers, at the trains, the stagecoaches and wagons and the horses and oxen that drew them, the automobiles and trucks, whatever means of transport led them north. The transportation network of northwest lower Michigan will be investigated. Interspersed will be stories from locals of what they recall or were told in family lore.

When: Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Depot

Was it a job offer that brought great grandfather here? A search for a new beginning with no prospects because hearsay had said this was the place? The lure of family ties? Fishing? Lumbering? A job transfer? Drove through the town and fell in love at first sight? Call Steve at 547-0373 with your family's story. Bring a guest and join us at the Depot to explore how we all happened to come to town.

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

It's not too early to ask for volunteer assistance for the coming season(s).

The Big Rock Point Nuclear Plant exhibit at the Depot this summer will need docents during opening hours of 1-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday from June 30 through Labor Day weekend. (A docent is a guard / guide overseer who answers questions and keeps an eye on the premises.) We have an opening for a vice president on our slate of officers to be elected in July. Our scholarship committee needs a chair to oversee the writing and judging of our annual high school senior historical essay contest that awards scholarships for the top four entries. Marilyn Boss is relinquishing her Courier scrapbook duties. This invaluable activity involves cutting up each week's Courier and placing important news items, obituaries, and articles in three-ring binders for the Harsha House library.

We'd appreciate any offers for filling these important positions. Call President Paul Hoelderle, 547-6127, or the Harsha House if you'd like to offer your services.

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MARCH BOARD MEETING MINUTES SUMMARY

Haggard's Plumbing & Heating will move forward to air condition the Depot before summer arrives. Selected photos (unreproducable at low resolution) from the Society's archives will be placed on a local website to help disseminate our local and area history. Funds to maintain the Harsha House are being made available via the Charlevoix County Community Foundation from a designated fund. The Society's website received 10, 017 hits in February, with 553 home page views and 3723 total page views. The museum store took in $129.50 in February. Traverse Magazine featured one of our photos of a Lake Michigan Beach ice cave in a recent issue. The Petoskey News-Review will be featuring Charlevoix County in its upcoming Reflections supplement and will use many photos from our collection. The Big Rock Nuclear Plant will be the theme of this year's Christmas ornament. 147 vintage Society photos were printed for the Charlevoix Historic District Commission's study of Bridge Street. The photo digitization project has almost reached 7000 images saved. A general overseer of the Big Rock exhibit, to supervise both the Society's and the Plant's responsibilities, will be looked for. The lighthouse preservation campaign will begin some time in April.

The Society deeply regrets the recent passing of longtime member LaRue Gill, once very active in the Society's activities and donor of many important items to the Harsha House.

Memorial received: from Dr. William and Carol Venema for Virginia Olsen.

The Society welcomes new members Michael & Karen Lindley.

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