Well, I am sure glad that 2016 is over and that 2017 will not be a history making year, but I am afraid we will have another year like the last.

All of the media is busy reviewing the national and local events of last year as though we had slept through it all. Sometimes I wish I had. So this week I am not going to give you my take on all of the national and local events of last year, but I will relate a summary of events at the Edwardsburg Museum for 2016.

Each year the volunteers try to make less work since they are all getting older and each year events seem to grow in spite of good intentions. This year was no different. The main goal for the year was to get more visitors into the museum.

Unfortunately it didn’t happen and there were less than the year before. This is disappointing when everyone is working hard to keep things improving. Topics were selected that were thought to be of interest to the community.

Youth on Parade featuring all the youth groups in Edwardsburg and their histories, the moon-landing and recovery with an Edwardsburg resident on board the recovery ship telling his story by display and an evening interview and Christmas trees decorated by area residents plus an open house for the tree lighting ceremony were major events of the year.

A total of 250 people visited the displays with more than 100 of those attending the tree lighting ceremony. Visitors came from 10 different states during the year.

The year started off with the first display “Youth On Parade” with the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire and 4-H highlighted. Contributions for the display were shipped from former residents in California and Virginia and other parts of Michigan.

The next display was “Mooning Over Edwardsburg.” Eric and Judy Singley mounted an attractive display with a timeline of recovery events. Eric Singley offered interesting facts of what was going on aboard ship as they prepared for the recovery of the moon capsule.

The last event was the Christmas trees decorated by area residents. There were 15 trees with all their sparkle. They featured dogs, bears, camels, airplanes, trucks, an Eddies tree and of course the vintage feather tree from the 1800s.

Added to the display were the Official White House ornaments and a collection of china ornaments and a pewter collection, all from residents.

Events for the year were varied and brought in some guests that were not in the visitor count.

A second grade tour, Edwardsburg Schools new teacher orientation, alumnae open house and ice cream social, perennial plant sale, U.S. Highway12 Yard Sale and booth rental, Witches on the Porch, fundraiser with Vite Greenhouse and the Dr. Sweetland Award.

Community events that the museum participated in included the Memorial Day Festival, the cookie walk, The Christmas tree lighting ceremony and the Edwardsburg Expo where tulips were given away.

A new endeavor this year was the display highlighting local authors: Judy Singley, Jim Meunick, Norma Lu Meehan, all Edwardsburg residents, gave presentations highlighting their books.

There are nearly 50 books on display written by Edwardsburg authors.

Much of local history is lost when a resident passes away. Over the years the museum has invited residents to come and tell their life story to be recorded or videotaped.

When this was started VHS was the medium for recording but now they are on DVDs and memory sticks.

The museum was fortunate to receive a grant from the Cass County Historical Society of $600. The board decided that the money should be used to put all of the oral histories and interviews on DVDs.

 

JoAnn Boepple works at the Edwardsburg Area History Museum.