echoes from the Ledges Since 1976 A

echoes from the Ledges Since 1976 – A coalition of community partners where the preservation of the past is the joy of the present and the heritage of the future. Vol. 4 No. 1, March – June, 2016 ~ From Your President ~ Oh what a year! We closed out 2015 with the Christmas Parade at which the GLAHS proudly displayed a new banner. The 41 st Holiday Traditions Tour was a success and will continue under the direction of Marie Brown, Vice President of the GLAHS. A special “Thank You” to Marilyn Smith for her 40 years of chairing this event. We are happy to inform you that the “Gently Used Art Sale” project raised almost $4, 000 for the GLAHS. Thank you for supporting this project by either donating or purchasing a gently used piece of art. Also, a special “Thank You” to Stan Baxter and Mary Spagnuolo for their dedicated work on this event and to Shatzie Lee for her work doing the newsletter the past couple of years. The Board greeted 2016 with much excitement for the activities scheduled to further the goals of the GLAHS. The purpose of the Historical Society is to preserve materials and information relating to the history of Grand Ledge. With that in mind, the digitizing of archives is well underway and we are seeking volunteers to help scan materials for the archives so if you have a couple hours per week/month, give us a call and we’ll get you trained to help with this project. If you are a student at the high school, consider volunteering some of your time making a valuable contribution to your community. Check out the website www. gdledgehistsoc. org to see what we are accomplishing. A special “Thank You” to John Clark for his leadership in this area. With all our events, fundraisers and projects, it is the members that make our organization a success and your continued efforts are truly appreciated. There are many informative as well as fun programs coming up such as a community sing-along, presentation at Lincoln Brick Park and Purse Party Bingo. Make sure to come out and enjoy these events! A Gently Used Accessories Sale is coming later in the year on August 6 th. We have collected some beautiful purses, scarves, belts and jewelry, and are still in need of donations. Call us if you have something you would like to donate for the sale. On the back of the newsletter, there is a membership form for new members or previous member renewal. The Board is open to new ideas and your suggestions are always welcome. If you have any questions, please call Ann Lawrence at 627 -6632. GLAHS DATES TO REMEMBER March 6 – Museum Exhibit, “All Things Victorian, ” Opens! March 11 -12 – Museum Open during St. Patrick’s Day Celebration April 30 -May 1 – Museum Open during Victorian Days May 3 – Lincoln Brick Park Presentation May 28 – Museum Open during Memorial Day Parade OPERA HOUSE DATES VICTORIAN DAYS Join in the fun of Victorian Days, Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1. Something for all ages! This compliments our Museum exhibit, “All Things Victorian. ” Saturday will include a Tea for kids followed by a May Pole Dance, High Tea for adults, quilt show, and period demonstrations such as spinning, goat milk soap, blacksmithing and country store. A Victorian Ball will round out Saturday. Civil War encampments will be on the Island Saturday and Sunday. Riverboat and carriage rides will also be available. For further information and additional activities visit www. victoriandays. org March 1 – Trash or Treasure Appraisals March 8 – Community Sing Along March 20 – Cello & Piano Concert April 3 – Organ Concert April 17 – Delta Community Choir April 22 – Jim Malcolm, Scottish Folk Singer May 10 – Grand Ledge High School Madrigals May 12 – Purse Party Bingo May 22 – Organ Concert May 24 – Hayes Middle School Vocal Concert May 27 – Concert on the Grand COMING COMMUNITY EVENTS March 11 -12 – St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Celebration April 30 -May 1 – Victorian Days May 28 – Memorial Day Parade June 2 – Summer Concert Series begins at the Bridge Street Plaza June 16 -19 – Yankee Doodle Days June 23 -24 – Mudges Follies

Grand Ledge Area Historical Society Presentation of the Lincoln Brick Park Interpretive Center – 13991 Tallman Rd. , Grand Ledge May 3 rd – 7: 30 p. m. Lincoln Brick Park is historically named after the time period of brick production that once took place on the site. The park is located just north of Grand Ledge on Tallman Rd. one mile west of M 100 off State Rd. Being across the river from Fitzgerald Park, this 90 acre park is composed of a variety of habitats from woodlands and open meadows to over 6, 000 feet of scenic river frontage. The Interpretive Center at the park includes a museum. The museum area features a display on the history of Lincoln Brick Park and has a large collection of fossils and rocks from all over the United States. Join us at the Lincoln Brick Park Interpretive Center on Tuesday, May 3 rd at 7: 30 p. m. The night will start off with a brief presentation on the history of the park and all it has to offer. The presentation will be given by Jackie Blanc who is a Naturalist and Operations Manager for Eaton County Parks. Following the presentation, guests will be able to view the display area at the Interpretive Center Museum. Refreshments will be available. Please note: $3 motor vehicle entry fee. the m. Use. Um 118 W. Lincoln St. Sundays 2 -4 p. m. Festival Days 1 -4 -p. m. Closed National Holidays To arrange for a group or individual tour Call 627 -5170 The new museum exhibit is “ALL THINGS VICTORIAN. ” Featured in this exhibit is a collection of items showing what life was like in Grand Ledge from the 1860’s to 1910. Included are the living areas, clothing, entertainment, Island Resort, street scenes, stores and schools. In the children’s area there is an early buggy, games, books and a stereopticon, an item used long before TV and tablets. Music and entertainment was often held in a home. A variety of instruments that people would bring to form a band, such as an 1800’s drum, concertina and clarinet, are on display along with a phonograph. We also have many early community band photographs. What is that odd looking couch you ask? Make sure to check out the fainting couch or chaise lounge where people rested when not feeling well. The Seven Islands Resort provided entertainment in good weather not only for locals but trainloads of people who came from as far away as Detroit to stay at the Island House Hotel and to ride the steamboat or roller coaster. They also came to enjoy the ledges, mineral wells, fountains and picnic. On display is an original pot bellied depot stove, a replica of the Island Queen paddle boat, souvenirs and many pictures of the islands and the ledges. Clothing at the time was very different from now. You will see a variety of clothing from children to adults. A spinning wheel and weaving loom would have been used to make much of the clothing and scrap pieces were saved to make quilts. See the scrub board and hand-turned wringer washing machine used for laundry. When shopping during this time period, you went to individual stores such as a bakery, meat market, produce store in season, staple groceries, shoe store, clothing, jewelry, hardware and buggy shops. There were no Meijer or big-box stores. The stores were located on Bridge Street which was not paved. In the exhibit, you will see street scenes showing some of the stores and the interior of a few. Did you know in 1887, both the north side and south side had high schools? We show an 1800’s north side graduating class and an early 1900’s south side graduation held at the Opera House as there were no gyms in the schools. Students living outside of the city attended one-room schools and came to Grand Ledge for high school. You will see many scenes and artifacts you probably have heard your grandparents or great-grandparents talk about. Don’t miss this wonderful exhibit and a chance to see many things from historic Grand Ledge!

This Year In History During the Victorian Era, Grand Ledge was a very busy yet quaint town. Small businesses occupied the store fronts downtown, churches and schools were being built for the growing community, and many of the factories Grand Ledge is known for were established. Here is a glimpse into the history! 1869: Railroad comes to the north side, The Grand Ledge Independent is founded; 1870: The Iron Bridge is built; 1871: April 8 th - Grand Ledge incorporatedinto Village by the State 1872: ; John Burtch begins the Seven Islands Resort; 1877: S. M. Hewings purchases the Seven Islands Resort; 1878: Island House Hotel is built on Second Island; 1883: Grand Ledge Chair Company founded, located on Bridge St. ; 1886: Grand Ledge Sewer Pipe Company is formed on W. Jefferson, Fireman’s Hall is built on the corner of Bridge St. and River St. to house the Fire Station and Village Hall, Julian Scott Mudge buys the Seven Islands Resort; 1887: Mudge builds new lower or Stone Dam, the dam remains today; 1888: Railroad Trestle built to bring the railroad south of the river, Grand Ledge becomes the second city in the State, after Lansing, to get electriclights, During this era Seven Islands Resortgets 60, 000 or 70, 000 visitorsper year; 1891: J. S. Mudge builds a roller coaster on the Islands, believed to be the first coaster in Michigan; 1893: Grand Ledge is incorporatedas a City Spiritualists Association creates campground, later to become Fitzgerald Park; , 1895: New Depot is build on Washington Street; 1898: American Vitrified buys the Grand Ledge Sewer Pipe Company; 1902: Crawford Chair Company opens in new factory on Orchard St. ; 1906: Grand Ledge Chair Company moves to new building on Perry St. , Grand Ledge Clay Products is formed, factory is built on W. Jefferson; 1909: The water tower is built on north side; 1910: Cement Bridge is built; 1914: Baker Clay Company is formed, later will become Grand Ledge Face Brick Company; 1915: Bridge Street is paved with bricks The Grand Ledge Area Historical Society is pleased to provide the City of Grand Ledge a sing-along with Sue Stratton-Radwan. Sue will play the keyboard and lead the audience, both young and old, in a variety of old favorites and a few new ones (perhaps from “Frozen”). This is a fun family activity and will be held at the Grand Ledge Opera House on Tuesday, March 8 (Spring break) at 7: 30 pm. Join us for the fun! On May 12, the Grand Ledge Area Historical Society will have the 2 nd Annual Purse Party Bingo! The fundraiser will be held at the Grand Ledge Opera House. Doors open at 6 pm with play beginning at 6: 30 pm. Mayor Kalmin Smith, back by popular demand, will again be the MC for the event. There will be 15 bingo games with 15 beautiful purses as the bingo prizes, including one vintage purse from the Salvage Yard. These purses have a retail value of at least $40. There are lots of great door prizes too. Come support the Historical Society and have a great time too! Thank you to our Business Card Sponsors! Make sure to visit these and all the great Gran Ledge businesses!

Grand Ledge Area Historical Society Membership Form If you would like to help preserve Grand Ledge history, please fill out this form and return along with a check to: Grand Ledge Area Historical Society P. O. Box 203 Grand Ledge, MI 48837 Volunteers are our heart and soul! Please consider volunteering with us. Call 627 -5170 for information! To become a sponsor, please call Carrie Gross at 204 -5254 or email carrie_b 03@ hotmail. com Name _______________________________ Address ______________________________ City ______________ State _______ Zip _____ Phone ________ Email ___________________ Family/Household $30 Student $10 Business/Corporation $90 Donation $ _______ Membership letters and envelopes have been mailed. Thank you for your renewals and continued support! Just a reminder, life members do not have to renew but donations are most welcome. Need a SOUVENIR or GIFT? We have lots of souvenirs and gifts to choose from including coffee mugs, postcard books and much more! Stop by the museum or Ledge Craft Lane for more options! “On the Street Where You Live in Grand Ledge, Michigan” was our February 2 nd program presented by John and Ethelen Herbstreit, Lyle Clark and Marie Brown at the Opera House. The review of the streets in Grand Ledge gave us an opportunity to learn more of our history. We find streets that are a tribute to our founders, some are named for the Presidents, some are a reminder of other places, some with names or for groups of people. As a follow-up, it is our hope to publish a booklet that will list and describe the streets of our area. Newsletter Editor: Carrie Gross Find Us on Facebook! A TRIBUTE TO MARDELLE WEYMOUTH is given who departed to the arms of her Lord on October 31, 2015. She was born April 28, 1936 to parents Roger and Ann (Bergman) Ewing in Grand Ledge, Michigan. She graduated from GLHS in 1954 and married Ronald Weymouth October 2, 1955. For 19 years she served the Chamber of Commerce as Executive Director and was a most active volunteer with groups in the community. We will remember her excitement as a volunteer for bus tours of the town and serving as Docent at the Museum for the Historical Society. We extend our sympathy to Ron and her children Ronelle (Mark) Bowen, Kurt (Laurie) Weymouth and Sandra (Kevin) Mandeville, her brother Jerry Ewing, sister Ro. Anne Brokob, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We remember her as a special lady. A TRIBUTE TO DORRENE GILBERT is given who departed to the arms of her Lord on January 16, 2016. She was born in Grand Ledge on July 28, 1922, daughter of Jay and Cora Bills. She had worked for the Chamber of Commerce and Ledge Craft Lane. She enjoyed her membership and leadership with the Grand Ledge Garden Club and membership in the Grand Ledge Area Historical Society. She especially enjoyed being a Docent with many bus tours and also serving on the Board of Directors. She had received a volunteer award from the State of Michigan. She was predeceased by her husband Ashley and her son David Gilbert. She will be remembered as a most vibrant citizen with much joy in her heart and a great love for the natural world. BUS TOURS: We have four bus tours scheduled so far for this summer. J&L Steamboat and the Historical Society work together to provide a day in Grand Ledge. J&K schedules the boat ride and lunch and the Museum schedules the tour guide, Museum visit, shopping time and Opera House if available. Tours so far are coming from St. Clair Shores, Livonia, Flint and Allen Park. We are very excited about the “Photos& More”section on our website. We have partnered with the Grand Ledge Area District Library to digitize, catalog, and share historical documents. Visit the Grand Ledge Area Historical Society web site at www. gdledgehistsoc. org Grand Ledge Historical Society Board (serving 2015 -2016): Ann Lawrence, Marie Brown, Cindy Langenberg, Norman Smith, Jim Foster, Carrie Gross, Lyle Clark, John Herbstreit, Ethelen Herbstreit, Ann Richardson, Marilyn Smith, Stan Baxter, John Clark, Ruth Creyts, Harlan Mac. Dowell