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NILES — A local organization is raising funds to preserve and interpret the history, heritage and culture of Berrien County and the surrounding areas.

The Berrien County Historical Association, 313 N. Cass St., Berrien Springs, is raising $5,000 to create the Leader Publications Newspaper Archives. The BCHA recently agreed to acquire approximately 500 volumes of Niles Daily Star, Cassopolis Vigilant, Edwardsburg Argus and Dowagiac Daily News archives from Leader Publications following the business’ relocation to 25 N. Second St.

“We are doing this to be able to take on 500 volumes of Niles, Cassopolis, Edwardsburg and Dowagiac history, which is obviously in line with our mission,” said BCHA Director Rhiannon Cizon. “We are asking the residents of Niles Cassopolis, Dowagiac and Edwardsburg to help contribute to this.”

Founded in 1968 to save and restore the historic 1839 Berrien County Courthouse as a historical museum, in partnership with Berrien County, the BCHA has expanded its mission to preserve and interpret the history, heritage and culture of Berrien County and the surrounding areas. To do so, the organization serves as the stewards to the History Center at Courthouse Square, which includes the Courthouse, the 1830 Murdoch Log Cabin, the 1870 Sheriff’s Residence, the 1860 Records Building and Bennett’s Forge.

“Obviously our responsibility is Berrien County but there will always be shared regional history we have, especially here in Niles because there’s a lot here with Cassopolis and you know Dowagiac and Cass County,” Cizon said. “It’s important that folks feel that they’re getting their dollar’s worth and we would be very happy if a donor wants to see the space and what we plan on doing with the space, I am happy to walk them through it and show them kind of what we plan on purchasing.” 

The funds will help cover:

• Professional movers to ensure the 500+ volumes of bound newspapers travels from Niles to Berrien Springs safely
• Improved environmental controls for the short term holding space inside the Records Building, including window coverings, trash removal, upgrade pest control systems, and a portable (de)humidifier
• Additional needs for shelving unit construction
• Archival-grade storage for the oldest papers in the collection

Once moved, books would be available for research by appointment.

Cizon said donations will be accepted at the BCHA, which takes cash, check or card. Checks can also be mailed to the BCHA. Additionally, readers can donate online.

“I know we have a lot of history in Berrien County and people just don’t understand how deep that history goes,” Cizon said. “Our responsibility is to preserve and protect the history of Berrien County and that is through collecting and managing our archives and collections, it is through the development and presentation of temporary and permanent exhibits at the museum and it is through programs and events that both reflect past and present issues in Berrien County.”