Press Releases

"Michigan City Lights: A Celebration of 150 Years"

On Wednesday, May 14, at 7:00 pm, The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center will offer a program entitled, "Michigan City Lights: A Celebration of 150 Years." 2008 marks the sesquicentennial of the "old" Michigan City Light. Built in 1858, the "old" Michigan City Light replaced the original lighthouse erected along the busy Trail Creek in 1937. The "old" light itself was replaced in 1906 by the Michigan City East Pierhead Light.

Brian Forist, who is a docent at the Old Lighthouse Museum and member of the Michigan City Historical Society's Board of Directors, will present the program. He will focus on the history of lighthouses in Michigan City and stories of this important port's maritime heritage. Featured will be information about Michigan City's most noted light keeper, Miss Harriet Colfax, who tended the lights from her appointment in 1861 until her retirement at age 80 in 1904. The 1858 structure has been preserved and is now home to the Michigan City Historical Society's Old Lighthouse Museum.

The story of the Michigan City lights relates to that of the St. Joseph lights. From 1893-1917, the U.S. Lighthouse Supply Depot located at St. Joseph supplied the Michigan City lights with all their operating equipment. The two lights also share present-day concerns. Like Michigan City, the city of St. Joseph in the process of obtaining ownership of the North Pier lights and will be responsible for their preservation.

This program is part of The Heritage's annual Public Program Series and looks forward to the upcoming exhibit, "Working Waterfronts: Planning and Preserving the Maritime Traditions of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor." The program is free for members of The Heritage and $5.00 for non-members. The Heritage is located at 601 Main Street, St. Joseph. Please call 269-983-1191 for more information.

"Annual Members Meeting"

On Thursday, May 1, at 7:00 pm, The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center will hold their Annual Membership Meeting. Members will enjoy wine and heavy hors d'oeuvres, provided by Tim's Too Asian Grill in St. Joseph. Executive Director Kenneth Pott will give an illustrated presentation on Great Lakes shipwrecks and the secrets they hold, secrets which remain buried until maritime archaeologists carry out careful underwater investigations. Pott was the lead archaeologist who studied the Rockaway, a ship lost in 1891 while transporting lumber to Benton Harbor.

The evening will feature a rare glimpse of treasures from the deep. For the first time in the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor area, a sample of the Rockaway's remarkably well preserved artifacts, recovered by Pott and a team from the Michigan Maritime Museum, will be on display.

The Annual Membership Meeting costs $22.00 for members. Anyone who would like to become a member of The Heritage and attend the meeting may call 269-983-1191 to join. Proceeds from the event will support the mission of The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center: to engage the public in a vibrant organization that promotes historical preservation, education, and research that relates to Benton Harbor, St. Joseph and the surrounding region.

The Heritage is located at 601 Main Street, St. Joseph. Please call 269-983-1191 for more information.

"Aquatic Invasive Species on the Great Lakes."

On Thursday, February 28, at 7:00 pm, The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center will offer a program entitled, "Aquatic Invasive Species on the Great Lakes." Dr. Dan O'Keefe of Michigan Sea Grant will present the program. Invasive species are plants and animals that live outside of their native habitats and cause problems by threatening the biodiversity and function of Great Lakes ecosystem. A few examples are the sea lamprey, which preys on native fish, and the zebra mussel, which damages recreational boats and clogs water intake pipes at power plants and water treatment facilities, costing millions of dollars to control each year.

Dr. O'Keefe's program will focus on these and newer invasive species, such as the Asian carp and bloody red shrimp. He will discuss Michigan Sea Grant's support of research, outreach and education to prevent new introductions of invasive species into the Great Lakes and control the spread of established invasive populations. Michigan Sea Grant, a joint program of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, is part of the NOAA National Sea Grant network of 30 university based programs.

"Historical St. Joseph-Discovering the Past."

On Sunday, September 23rd, at 4:00pm, The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center will present a public program entitled, "Historical St. Joseph-Discovering the Past." The program is focused on one of the stories in local author Daryl T. Schlender's recent book, 3 Tales of a City, concerning the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and the related shooting of St. Joseph City Police Officer Charles Skelly by Capone mobster Fred "Killer" Burke.

As part of the program, Deputy Lieutenant Michael Kline of the Berrien County Sheriff's Department will give an account of the episode. The program will include a rare showing of two "Tommy Guns" used in the massacre. In addition, Daryl T. Schlender will review 3 Tales of a City and offer a book signing. 3 Tales of a City is available for sale at The Heritage gift shop.

The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center is located at 601 Main Street, St. Joseph. The cost for the program is $8.00 for non-members and $5.00 for members of The Heritage. Call 296-983-1191 for more information.

"The Whitcomb Hotel: A Living Legacy"

On Wednesday, August 22, at 7:00 pm, the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center will present a public program entitled, "The Whitcomb Hotel: A Living Legacy."

Terra Engelman, Frederick S. Upton Fellow and Public History graduate student at Western Michigan University, will discuss the various transformations of The Whitcomb, from its roots at the rustic Mansion House in 1831 to the glamorous Whitcomb Hotel and Mineral Baths that became renowned in the Midwest, if not nationwide. The program will feature archival images of The Whitcomb and will identify the visionary citizens and unique structural elements that contributed to the hotel's success.

The program will also cover the conversion of The Whitcomb to a retirement residence. Representatives from The Whitcomb Retirement Residence will discuss the current mission and makeup of The Whitcomb today and highlight residents who are representative of its legacy. There will be an opportunity for attendees to share their own memories of The Whitcomb.

The Priscilla U. Byrns Heritage Center is located at 601 Main Street, St. Joseph. The cost for the program is $5.00; Members of The Heritage are free. Call 296-983-1191 for more information.

Press Release
“A Scrapbook of Memories: Creating the Germans from Russia Exhibit”

On Wednesday, June 27, at 7:00 pm, the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center will present a public program entitled, “A Scrapbook of Memories: Creating the Germans from Russia Exhibit.” The exhibit is currently on display at the Heritage Museum, and celebrates the Germans from Russia, one of the largest ethnic groups of southwest Michigan. Many Germans emigrated from Volhynia, Russia (now Ukraine) and the Volga region, and came to live in Berrien County, Michigan. While living in Russia, the Germans retained their own ethnic identity and language.

The exhibit features stories and objects from several local families, including German prayer and song books, confirmation and marriage certificates, immigration documents, amber necklaces, and colorful Russian scarves. One exhibit highlight is a threshing machine model made by Herbert Engel of Berrien Springs. The model shows the type of threshing machine used on the Russian farm where he lived as a child.

Sylvia Lieberg, the exhibit curator, along with other members of the Southwest Michigan Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR), will present the program.

The Priscilla U. Byrns Heritage Center is located at 601 Main Street, St. Joseph. The cost for the program is $5.00; Heritage Members are free. Call 296-983-1191 for more information.

Press Release
“100 Years of Innovation” American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers

On Wednesday, June 13, at 7:00 pm, the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center will present a public program entitled, “100 Years of Innovation from American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.” The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) is an educational and scientific organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems. Founded in 1907 and headquartered in St Joseph, Michigan, ASABE comprises 9,000 members in more than 100 countries.

In celebration of the ASABE’s Centennial, the Society’s Executive Vice President, Melissa Moore, will discuss 100 years of innovation and advancements in agriculture. Moore also serves on the Board of Directors at The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center. Agriculture has been an important part of southwest Michigan’s economy since the mid 19th century. Agricultural and biological engineers work to develop efficient and environmentally sensitive methods of producing food, fiber, timber, and renewable energy sources for an ever-increasing world population. They have helped provide the world with more food, in higher quality and more nutrition, than it has ever known. This presentation coincides with The Heritage Centers current exhibit “World’s Largest”-The Benton Harbor Fruit Market and Southwest Michigan’s Fruit Belt.

The Priscilla U. Byrns Heritage Center is located at 601 Main Street, St. Joseph. The cost for the program is $5.00; Heritage Members are free. For more information cal 269/983-1191.

Program: Annual Membership Meeting and Dinner

Speaker: Kenneth R. Pott

“Celebrating 175 Years of Lighthouse History”

Date: Thursday, April 19, 2007

Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m. Heavy Hors d’oeuvres

7:30 Program

Location: Priscilla U. Byrns Heritage Center, Shepard Hall

601 Main Street

St. Joseph, Michigan

Dinner: $22:00 per person

Parking: Free

The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center will host its annual members meeting and dinner, Thursday, April 19, 2007 at the Priscilla U. Byrns Heritage Center. The evening will begin at 6:00 with heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by Classic Catering.

The meeting will cover the progress The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center has made in the past year, and will unveil the organization’s exciting plans for the future. The program will also include a recognition ceremony honoring special volunteers who have tirelessly dedicated time and energy to The Heritage.

Executive Director Kenneth Pott will offer an illustrated presentation on 175 years of lighthouse history at St. Joseph, and plans for the celebration in 2007 of the 100^th anniversary of St. Joseph’s existing range light system – one of only two still active in the Great Lakes region today. The program will be highlighted by an exclusive showing of St. Joseph’s own 19^th century Fresnel lens (removed from the outer pier light) before restoration. Pott noted that $2,000 still needs to be raised to complete restoration plans for the lens.

The event is open to members and persons interested in joining The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center. For more information or to make reservations please call The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center at 269-983-1191.

Press Release, June 26, 2006

From: The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center
Contact: Kenneth R. Pott
Phone: 983-1191
E-mail: kenpott@theheritagemcc.org

Heritage Society Changes Name and Logo

Officials at the The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center have announced they will be changing the name of their institution to more effectively reflect their mission. The new title, The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, will include the tagline Honor the Past. Embrace the Future. The branding process will also include a striking new logo that expresses the distinctive architecture of the organization’s home facility, the Priscilla U. Byrns Center.

According to Executive Director Kenneth Pott, “Developing and maintaining a large audience in today’s world can be a daunting task for any historical society. Museums and historic preservation organizations must therefore work hard to inspire the public to visit, to join, to partner, to volunteer, or to make a donation to their cause. One way a clear and engaging message can be conveyed to the public is through an organization’s brand – that is – the logo, tagline and printed pieces that are used to define one’s mission.”

Heritage Society Directors indicate their primary mission is to “ . . engage the public in a vibrant organization that promotes historical preservation, education, and research that relates to Benton Harbor, St. Joseph and the surrounding region.” Board President David Eifler elaborated further, “In renaming our institution, The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, we feel we have more accurately described what we do. The tagline Honor the Past. Embrace the Future. extends that message. While the Priscilla U. Byrns Center’s function as a meeting place for wide ranging events will continue – it is our greater role of historical preservation, education and research that defines who we are and why we are here.”

A working committee of Board members and staff directed the Heritage Society in its new initiative. The committee received special assistance from Board Member Gary Tipton of Perry Ballard, Inc. whose firm created the design for the new title and accompanying logo. Former St. Joseph resident and Society member, Kate Spelman, owner of the law firm Cobalt LLP, is donating her professional services as an attorney of intellectual properties and assisting the organization in establishing a federal trademark registration for its new identity.

FORT MIAMI HERITAGE SOCIETY OPENS NEW EXHIBITION ON FRUIT INDUSTRY

11/10/2005

St. Joseph, Michigan-- “World’s Largest” – The Benton Harbor Fruit Market and Southwest Michigan’s Fruit Belt will open to the public November 15, 2005 at the Priscilla U. Byrns Heritage Center, St. Joseph, Michigan. Over the last several years, FMHS has been developing a major exhibition and educational program that will highlight the rich fruit growing environment of Southwest Michigan and its significant impact on Michigan’s past, present and future.

Executive Director Kenneth R. Pott comments, “it is important to undertake this project because of the particular role fruit growing had in shaping the history of southwest Michigan and Benton Harbor, as well as the significance of agriculture in Michigan today. Michigan State University scientists tell us that the stretch of Berrien County that we live in embodies ‘the most productive fruit growing climate in the world.’ Although Michigan has been ranked among the nation’s foremost growers of fruit since the mid-nineteenth century, no comprehensive publication, museum exhibition or educational programming has ever been produced on the subject.”

In celebration of this rich legacy, the “World’s Largest” – The Benton Harbor Fruit Market and Southwest Michigan’s Fruit Belt exhibit will explore a range of topics including fruit growing conditions, the Benton Harbor Fruit Market, shipping and processing, allied industries, growers, labor and culture and commemoration. The exhibit highlights collections of historical artifacts, photographs and documents, most of which were loaned by local farming families and related businesses. According to Heritage Society Curator, Jacquie Johnson, “the public has been very enthusiastic about lending artifacts for the exhibit. Objects include a late 1800s cherry pitting machine and a commercial apple peeler used by the House of David, a selection of early specialized picking baskets and ladders and a range of equipment that was used to size and sort fruit.”

Teacher curriculum guides and educational lending kits focusing on the exhibition and finding local history will be made available—free of charge—for teachers to use in their classrooms. The curriculum guides and lending kits are being developed in collaboration with Western Michigan University and will utilize the content standards stated in the Michigan Curriculum Framework. As part of the guides, the student activity worksheets will be translated into Spanish for Latino learners, many of which come from migrant backgrounds. Guided school tours of the exhibition will also be available for a small fee.

Students and scholars from Western Michigan University’s Public History Program have collaborated on all aspects of the project and have developed many exciting elements to complement the exhibition. They conducted oral history interviews with more than 40 local families and individuals tied to the fruit growing industry, and the first-hand information they gleaned will serve as one of the important building blocks of the exhibit. A very ambitious student produced a special radio program with WMUK, Western Michigan University’s public radio station. A Fruitful Land originally aired on October 13, 2005 and featured interviews from local farmers speaking on the issue of land loss and current challenges facing farming families. A WMU student also developed a website for the exhibition which includes sections for people to download their own oral histories and photographs. Dr. Krisitn Szylvian, a history professor at Western Michigan University comments, “the website provides a more comprehensive view of the fruit belt project as a whole by allowing farming families from anywhere to download their oral histories and photographs to become a part of the Fruit Belt legacy.”

The exhibit will also be accompanied by a series of public programs related to agriculture and fruit growing themes. On December 1, 2005, the series will feature Chef Ali Barker presenting a cooking demonstration at the Heritage Center, 7:00 pm. The workshop entitled Flavors from the Fruit Belt will highlight local and seasonal food found right here in Michigan’s Great Southwest.

Executive Director Pott believes this exhibition will attract a wide audience and have a great impact on the community. He is particularly excited about a special 2006 edition of Michigan History magazine dedicated to Southwest Michigan’s Fruit Belt. He comments, “with a distribution of over 50,000, this issue will reach individuals throughout the state of Michigan and beyond.”

The Priscilla U. Byrns Heritage Center is located at 708 Market Street, St. Joseph, Michigan. Exhibit hours are 10:00am to 4:00pm, Tuesday through Saturday. For further information on “World’s Largest” – The Benton Harbor Fruit Market and Southwest Michigan’s Fruit Belt contact the The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center at 269-983-1191.

Hours for the exhibition are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 – 4:00 pm
Admission: Non-members – $5.00
Members – Free
Children 15 and under – Free

SHARED WATERS TRAVELS TO WMU

11/8/2005

The The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center’s award-winning exhibit, Shared Waters: Natives and French Newcomers on the Great Lakes, is making its first traveling visit to Western Michigan University’s Waldo Library. The traveling components of the exhibit will include its interpretive panels, the birch bark canoe that was commissioned for construction, and a range of French and Native American artifacts from regional museum collections. The exhibit will open to student and public audiences on September 9th, and will run through March of 2006.

Regina Buckner, Director of Operational Services for WMU’s libraries, says Shared Waters is only the second large exhibit to show at Waldo Library. “Waldo Library is a natural for this exhibit, offering a centrally located campus venue open to the public during extended hours, evenings and weekends.”

“The exhibit is of interest to Western Michigan University because of our Canadian History Program, while its themes are applicable to many disciplines. Shared Waters deals with geological transformation, geography, politics, wildlife, transportation, commerce, art, gender, archaeology, culture and religion. And I am sure that people will be especially enthralled with the 16-foot replicated canoe,” Buckner says.

During the Fall and Spring Semesters, Waldo Library often has 40,000 patrons per month visit which means Shared Waters will get broad exposure in Kalamazoo. Additionally, the exhibit will be part of WMU’s First Year Experience program, requiring all incoming freshman students to engage the exhibit in a variety of ways. The First Year Experience program selects on-campus presentations and events that enhance academic skills, strengthen academic and co-curricular program linkages, and allow students to develop an appreciation for the creative and visual arts.

According to Heritage Society Executive Director, Kenneth Pott, during the past winter, the Shared Waters canoe was shown at the South Haven Center for the Arts as part of a larger exhibit: “NI-KO-NONG – The Trailblazers of Early South Haven,” (coordinated by the Historical Association of South Haven). The canoe was part of an interactive component of local “tradition bearers” that were presented to visiting student groups.

Heritage Society staff gave a special presentation on the canoe, including its history and construction, to more than 350 elementary age students at Listiak Auditorium in South Haven. During its stay in the Center for the Arts, nearly 500 South Haven elementary school students saw the canoe.

According to Pott, “A critical part of our mission is to engage the public in historic preservation and education. “One of our goals in creating Shared Waters was to have it travel after its time at the Heritage Center and to address our greater mission of outreach and public education.” Pott says a number of different institutions, including the Detroit Historical Museum, have expressed an interest in showing Shared Waters following its sojourn in Kalamazoo.

Michigan History magazine highlights history of beautiful St. Joseph
05/06/2004 9:00 am

More than three centuries ago, a small band of French explorers landed their canoes at the mouth of the St. Joseph River. They built a fort, spent the winter and founded the first European settlement in the Lower Peninsula. In the years since that gray November day in 1679, the settlement-now named St. Joseph-is known for its industry, agriculture and beauty.

St. Joe's location along Lake Michigan allowed it to thrive as a freight-forwarding station and created demand for a boat-building industry. The fertile soil and temperate climate makes St. Joseph and Berrien County the center of one of the world's most productive fruit- growing regions. Sandy beaches, lakeside views and refreshing breezes make it the ideal resort destination.

The May/June 2004 issue of Michigan History magazine details the growth and prominence of St. Joseph, one of Michigan's oldest cities. Also in this issue, readers can find out how an experiment seventy-five years ago on Mackinac Island has influenced 30,000 young people and millions of visitors, celebrate the centennial of Lansing's "other" car company and the many accomplishments of a man who was renowned for his swearing.

The article on St. Joseph history is the latest in a series exploring the development of cities throughout the state. Sault Ste. Marie, the state's oldest European city, was featured in the previous issue of Michigan History. Matt Anderson, curator of collections at the The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, authored the St. Joseph article. "This was a great opportunity for us," Anderson said. "Our archives contain a wealth of historic photographs and information, and the Michigan History story allows us to share some of those materials with a wide audience."

The The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center was formed by a group of local citizens in November 1964 and has been dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of the Twin Cities area since then. "Clearly the Michigan History piece fits well with our mission," Anderson said. "From La Salle's 1679 landing to Augustus Herring's 1898 flight, St. Joseph has a tremendous heritage. We are excited to present these stories to the magazine's readers." Visit Michigan History online at www.michiganhistorymagazine.com to read fascinating stories, extra articles related to this issue and information about Michigan History for Kids. Michigan History also offers a variety of Michigan heritage products and other publications, which can be seen online. For more information or to order Michigan History or Michigan History for Kids, telephone (800) 366-3703 or visit the magazine's website.

Michigan History has provided engaging articles about the state's past since 1917. Every issue tells exciting stories of Michigan people and places, is filled with bold illustrations and colorful photos, and highlights history-related books and places to visit. The magazine is produced six times a year, including an annual single- theme special issue.

Michigan History, the nation's most widely circulated state history magazine, is part of the Michigan Historical Center. The Michigan Historical Center is an agency of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Dedicated to enhancing the quali