Have you heard of the Blue Star Museum program? It's sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, a military support organization, and provides active military personnel and their families free admission to more than 1,300 museums across the United States all summer long.
I think it's one of the neatest ideas and a fantastic way to say "thank you" to our service men and women.
The Blue Star Museum program began last summer and was a great success with a reported 300,000 military family members visiting museums of history, art and science throughout the country.
I received a press release about the program from a newly christened Blue Star Museum -- the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm -- and it became the subject for this week's "Patch of History" column for Rochester/Rochester Hills Patch.
Since WWI, the blue star has been a symbol for the sacrifices service men, women and their families make every day. Perhaps you've seen the blue star flags hanging in windows in homes in your neighborhood. The red-bordered rectangular white flag with a blue star in the center is a sign that a family member is in the military -- much like the yellow ribbon tied around a tree in the front yard.
Forty museums in Michigan -- from Detroit to Ishpeming -- are participating in the Blue Star Museum program this year. The program runs through Labor Day and is open to active duty military personnel and up to five immediate family members. A military ID is required for admission.
Click here for a complete list of Blue Star Museums.
I hope your enjoy your museum visits & thanks for reading!
Tiffany
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Dear Diary . . .
I adore old journals, diaries and scrapbooks. Just like that record from the WWII soldier – see my first blog post for more on that – these glimpses of the past through first-hand written accounts are what keep me hooked on history. Yet I have mixed feelings when reading through them – delighted to read about someone’s life in their own words, sad that these journals somehow ended up with strangers and sold in antique shops or on eBay, and a bit mischievous at doing something rather forbidden – reading someone’s diary. You could argue that most diaries and scrapbooks were written or put together for someone other than the author to read; never meant to be secret or under lock and key. Otherwise, why would they have bothered to keep a diary, right?
Still, there’s always that chance that the personal journal I'm reading was really just meant for the writer’s eyes and I'm intruding in a past life.
To publish or not to publish
I've been working on transcribing and editing some travel diaries written by Sarah Van Hoosen Jones. I hope to publish this project someday, but wondered, at first, if I should publish her words. I thought of how a teen-ager would respond if I told her I was publishing her diary. I could almost hear a faint gasp from the past.
But if you know anything about Sarah Van Hoosen Jones you know how much she valued history. At the tender age of seventeen, Sarah travelled to Europe and northern Africa with her mother, aunt and grandmother -- all remarkable women in their own right -- for an entire year from 1910 to 1911. They sailed to Scotland and visited Austria, Hungary, Algiers and even the Sahara Desert among other fabulous places. They met people, attended social events and enjoyed new experiences in foreign lands.
Sarah went on to become a highly successful female farmer and one of only two women in the United States to be named Master Farmer, a title she earned in 1932-33. In addition, she was the first woman in the U.S. named Premier Breeder of Holstein cattle, which she raised on her family’s farmstead – Van Hoosen Farm -- in Stoney Creek Village in Avon Township (now Rochester Hills), Michigan. In the 1930s and early 1940s, the farm was a major supplier of bottled milk in southeastern Michigan, and all under Sarah’s direction.
Throughout her life, Sarah supported a number of programs highlighting local history, including the Double Jubilee in Avon Township, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the township’s founding along with the 100th anniversary of Michigan statehood.
Sarah also understood her and her family’s contributions to history. After her death in 1972, Sarah's books and papers were kept by longtime friend and companion, Alice Serrell. Sarah never married or had children. Her legacy was preserved in her work and in her words, including a book about her family's life on the farm titled Chronicle of Van Hoosen Centenary Farm.
I believe Sarah would've approved of people reading about her travels abroad as a young girl. As a much older lady, Sarah took several more trips to Europe and documented those excursions in countless photographs.
I’m not sure when I'll finish this project, but for me, it’s the journey that’s the most exciting. Reading the words from 1910 and imagining the scenery Sarah described is mesmerizing.
Now if only I had all the time in the world to be mesmerized.
Thanks for reading,
Tiffany
Still, there’s always that chance that the personal journal I'm reading was really just meant for the writer’s eyes and I'm intruding in a past life.
To publish or not to publish
I've been working on transcribing and editing some travel diaries written by Sarah Van Hoosen Jones. I hope to publish this project someday, but wondered, at first, if I should publish her words. I thought of how a teen-ager would respond if I told her I was publishing her diary. I could almost hear a faint gasp from the past.
But if you know anything about Sarah Van Hoosen Jones you know how much she valued history. At the tender age of seventeen, Sarah travelled to Europe and northern Africa with her mother, aunt and grandmother -- all remarkable women in their own right -- for an entire year from 1910 to 1911. They sailed to Scotland and visited Austria, Hungary, Algiers and even the Sahara Desert among other fabulous places. They met people, attended social events and enjoyed new experiences in foreign lands.
Sarah went on to become a highly successful female farmer and one of only two women in the United States to be named Master Farmer, a title she earned in 1932-33. In addition, she was the first woman in the U.S. named Premier Breeder of Holstein cattle, which she raised on her family’s farmstead – Van Hoosen Farm -- in Stoney Creek Village in Avon Township (now Rochester Hills), Michigan. In the 1930s and early 1940s, the farm was a major supplier of bottled milk in southeastern Michigan, and all under Sarah’s direction.
Throughout her life, Sarah supported a number of programs highlighting local history, including the Double Jubilee in Avon Township, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the township’s founding along with the 100th anniversary of Michigan statehood.
Sarah also understood her and her family’s contributions to history. After her death in 1972, Sarah's books and papers were kept by longtime friend and companion, Alice Serrell. Sarah never married or had children. Her legacy was preserved in her work and in her words, including a book about her family's life on the farm titled Chronicle of Van Hoosen Centenary Farm.
I believe Sarah would've approved of people reading about her travels abroad as a young girl. As a much older lady, Sarah took several more trips to Europe and documented those excursions in countless photographs.
I’m not sure when I'll finish this project, but for me, it’s the journey that’s the most exciting. Reading the words from 1910 and imagining the scenery Sarah described is mesmerizing.
Now if only I had all the time in the world to be mesmerized.
Thanks for reading,
Tiffany
Friday, July 15, 2011
Local History Serves This Summer Town Well
Earlier this month, I spent another wonderful vacation in Charlevoix, Michigan. It's been a favorite family vacation spot for years. It's a small town -- with a year-round population of about 2,500 and a summer population of 26,000 (wow!). No matter how many times I visit this beautiful lakeshore town, I'm always delighted by how Charlevoix values its history, with fine examples of historic preservation nearly everywhere you look.
Former middle school now a library
One of the best examples of historic preservation and adaptive re-use is the Charlevoix Public Library. The library opened in Sept. 2006 in what was once the Charlevoix Middle School building, which was built in 1927. If you haven't visited this library, please consider it. It may not be the typical vacation spot -- no tanning, golf or beach vollyball opportunities on the premises, but it does offer visitors free Wi Fi (desperately needed since few signals reach the lakeshore), an ongoing used book sale -- books for beach reading (who wants sand in their e-reader?), and a fun children's section for rainy days -- or even sunny days when you want a break from the heat.
Not only is the library housed in a fantastic old building -- the main reading room is in the former gymnasium -- but it's also a wonderful library for both kids and adults.
There are several reading rooms and the one for children is a kid's dream with warm and inviting wall graphics and a solarium for classes and crafts. The librarians are friendly and patient. :-)
If you're a gardener, you'll find inspiration in the landscaping and the many gardens on the property. The children's garden makes kids giggle and even lets them practice their musical skills. It's a sure-fire cure for any summer vacation boredom blahs.
Another striking and important feature about this library is its attention to local history. Everywhere you look (and walk), there are beautiful black-and-white photos that show Charlevoix's rich history -- photos of former school kids, local musicians and more. It's a historian's dream just to walk into this beautifully preserved building and down its halls. Instantly, you feel welcomed -- as if you've been a life-long resident of Charlevoix (incidentally, for a close-up view of what this town has to offer visit Cottage and Broome, a new blog that compares Charlevoix with the Island of Manhattan -- truly! Also, Park Avenue Prowl, which has some great information about the town's history).
There's also a special local history room open and accessible to everyone to peruse the shelves. I love this idea. My local library has the history room under lock and key and is a bit intimidating for those who just want to have a look and review what's on the shelf -- the more fragile items are kept in a different location and require permission to access (understandable). Unfortunately, visitors with a bit of an interest in local history have to seek permission for the key and jump through a hoop or two. A local history room should be available to visitors during library hours with delicate or extremely old items tucked away for serious researchers, as the Charlevoix Public Library does. Makes sense.
Castle Farms
Another beautiful example of historic preservation and adaptive reuse in Charlevoix is Castle Farms. According to the Castle Farms web site, the farm was built in 1918 by Albert Loeb of Sears, Roebuck & Co. It housed livestock and served as a public display for new farm equipment as seen in the Sears catalog. Until 1924, the farm also sold cheese and ice cream to the public.
The web site also points out that over the years, Castle Farms became a storage facilty, then an art gallery and studio. During the 1970s through the 1990s, rock concerts were held at the farms --the 2011 Charlevoix Visitor's Guide mentions Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith.
In 2001, the property was purchased by its current owners who restored the farm and its grounds and opened the facility for weddings, festivals and the like. It's a beautiful site to see as you drive up M-66. Take a look at the web site for historic photos of Castle Farms.
I toured the property once several years ago before it underwent renovations. It was like an archaeological site -- full of old timbers, crumbling walls and that hollow, vacant feeling of a ghost town. Once again, Charlevoix and its residents have shown just how important local history is to the growth and popularity of its town.
Local history all around
But wait, there's more! The love for local history abounds in Charlevoix -- and it's all visible to residents and visitors alike. Sites include the Depot building, which is a state and national historic site, Harsha House (home to the Charlevoix Museum) and the homes of architect Earl Young (if you're not familiar with Young's work, do yourself a favor and take a tour of these homes if you're in Charlevoix; in the meantime, check out this web site). Young's cottages dot the residential landscape of Charlevoix's neighborhoods and are known for their fairy-tale like design and whimsical style.
My summer includes repeat visits to Charlevoix and that means more pictures to add!
Thanks for reading!
Tiffany
Former middle school now a library
 |
| The front entrance. |
Not only is the library housed in a fantastic old building -- the main reading room is in the former gymnasium -- but it's also a wonderful library for both kids and adults.
 |
| A glimpse at some of the beautiful landscaping at the entrance of the Charelevoix Public Library |
If you're a gardener, you'll find inspiration in the landscaping and the many gardens on the property. The children's garden makes kids giggle and even lets them practice their musical skills. It's a sure-fire cure for any summer vacation boredom blahs.
 |
| The second floor hallway of the Charlevoix Public Library is lined with historic photos. |
There's also a special local history room open and accessible to everyone to peruse the shelves. I love this idea. My local library has the history room under lock and key and is a bit intimidating for those who just want to have a look and review what's on the shelf -- the more fragile items are kept in a different location and require permission to access (understandable). Unfortunately, visitors with a bit of an interest in local history have to seek permission for the key and jump through a hoop or two. A local history room should be available to visitors during library hours with delicate or extremely old items tucked away for serious researchers, as the Charlevoix Public Library does. Makes sense.
 |
| The main reading room -- a former gymnasium -- at the Charlevoix Public Library. |
Another beautiful example of historic preservation and adaptive reuse in Charlevoix is Castle Farms. According to the Castle Farms web site, the farm was built in 1918 by Albert Loeb of Sears, Roebuck & Co. It housed livestock and served as a public display for new farm equipment as seen in the Sears catalog. Until 1924, the farm also sold cheese and ice cream to the public.
The web site also points out that over the years, Castle Farms became a storage facilty, then an art gallery and studio. During the 1970s through the 1990s, rock concerts were held at the farms --the 2011 Charlevoix Visitor's Guide mentions Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith.
In 2001, the property was purchased by its current owners who restored the farm and its grounds and opened the facility for weddings, festivals and the like. It's a beautiful site to see as you drive up M-66. Take a look at the web site for historic photos of Castle Farms.
I toured the property once several years ago before it underwent renovations. It was like an archaeological site -- full of old timbers, crumbling walls and that hollow, vacant feeling of a ghost town. Once again, Charlevoix and its residents have shown just how important local history is to the growth and popularity of its town.
Local history all around
But wait, there's more! The love for local history abounds in Charlevoix -- and it's all visible to residents and visitors alike. Sites include the Depot building, which is a state and national historic site, Harsha House (home to the Charlevoix Museum) and the homes of architect Earl Young (if you're not familiar with Young's work, do yourself a favor and take a tour of these homes if you're in Charlevoix; in the meantime, check out this web site). Young's cottages dot the residential landscape of Charlevoix's neighborhoods and are known for their fairy-tale like design and whimsical style.
My summer includes repeat visits to Charlevoix and that means more pictures to add!
Thanks for reading!
Tiffany
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)