Charlevoix Historical Society - Charlevoix, Michigan

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES

Enclosed you will find our enrollment/renewal envelope/form for the 2008 membership year. As always, this envelope is directed toward annual members only. Check your address label. If there is nothing in parentheses to the right of your name, that means you are an annual member. Anyone who has a (P), (L), (RH)—Patron, Life Member, Ralph Hamilton Circle—beside their name, ignore the envelope unless you wish to make a further donation. Anyone with a (C) for Complimentary beside their name might wish to join the Society and become a member. Otherwise, ignore also. We hope we’ve determined everyone’s status, but there may be some changes or oversights, so direct any questions regarding membership or complimentary level to the Harsha House, 231-547-0373.

These envelopes have to be included in every piece of mailing because of uniform weight requirements for fourth-class bulk mail. Patrons and Ralph Hamilton Circle members will be contacted individually by letter. If any annual members wish to renew at a higher level, feel free to utilize the envelope to do so. Thanks to all for your continuing support!

CHARLEVOIX HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECEIVES CHALLENGE MATCHING GRANT FOR LIGHTHOUSE RESTORATION

The Charlevoix Historical Society lighthouse restoration campaign received $10,000 from an anonymous donor in 2007 as a challenge matching grant. The Society raised $11,743.23 to match and surpass that. The 2008 challenge matching grant is coming up, and the Society hopes to again match and surpass that by this time next year.

Donations and sales of lighthouse-related items through the Society's Harsha House Museum store contribute toward achieving the goal of an eventual $183,000 over a five-year period. The light needs structural replacement and reinforcement, restoration along historical guidelines, and a total replacement of its current white paint to an historically correct red.

Donors to the lighthouse restoration fund will be named Keepers of the Light and their names inscribed on a plaque to be kept at the Harsha House Museum. The lighthouse committee and the Historical Society would like to thank all those who have contributed toward the restoration to this time, either through direct donation or purchase of lighthouse items.

For more information regarding contributions to this important historical restoration of one of Charlevoix's primary symbols, contact the Charlevoix Historical Society at 231-547-0373.

MUSEUM WINTER HOURS

The Harsha House will be closed January and February so the museum directors can catch up on a huge backlog of work. Donations poured into the Society during 2007 at an unprecedented rate. But, as always, the side office door facing the First State Bank will remain open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 A. M. to 4 P. M. for anyone who needs to conduct Society business or make a store purchase. The museum will reopen Thursday-Saturday 1-4 P. M. in March and April. Office door hours will remain the same.

NO EVENT IS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY

ITEMS NEEDED FOR DEPOT TICKETMASTER’S OFFICE

The remodeling of the ticketmaster’s office at the Depot is underway. An ornate potbelly stove is awaiting finishing touches. Needed are a canvas mailbag and a telegraph key. Anyone who has either and would like to donate or long-term loan, please call the Harsha House.

EXCELLENT TURNOUT FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER

This year saw another fine annual Christmas dinner. Fifty-five members and guests gathered to celebrate the season at the Grey Gables Inn. There were some conflicts with other events that evening, otherwise we would have had well over sixty attend.

DEPOT FLOORING COMPLETED, DOORS ALMOST DONE

Previous newsletters reported that the flooring used as replacement at the Depot came from the old school gymnasium on Mason Street before it was converted to the library. This should have read flooring from the old classrooms from the school on Grant Street, still from 1927-28. The project is now complete, it has a weathered and used look that blends very well with the original, underlying beams have been strengthened where necessary, and everything turned out beautifully. The work was done by Shannon Reynolds, son of former museum director Betsy Reynolds. Also, the interior access doors through the large room wall to the exterior storage shed are almost finished. They will be as flush as possible with the wall to permit future exhibit items to be mounted over them. Behind them will be a storage capacity for eighty-eight chairs and nineteen tables.

Donation (unrestricted) received from: Paul Casciani

Lighthouse restoration donations received from: Virginia Finney-Lahde; Rose Elzinga

Memorial donations received from: Douglas & Betsy Reynolds in memory of Douglas Sloan; Jerry & Kate Left in memory of Ralph “Bruz” Cross; Barry & Marylee Pischner in memory of Gladys & William Baker;

Ronald & Carolyn Weislik in memory of Sandra Beaudoin

The Society welcomes new members: Jim & Elise Straus