The Dexter Heritage Guild will host their annual Holiday Bazaar along with the Dexter Area Museum’s Gift Shop Sale featuring many handcrafted Christmas gifts, decorations, warm and cozy winter hats, and beautiful kitchen accessories that will make wonderful gifts.
Visit this wonderful historic home and enjoy the beautiful holiday decorations on December 10, 17, and 28 from 6-8 PM.
Visit this wonderful historic home and enjoy the beautiful holiday decorations on December 10, 17, and 28 from 6-8 PM.
In the first half of the twentieth century, the Israelite House of David—a religious commune in Benton Harbor, Michigan—was known all over North America for its barnstorming professional baseball teams. The bearded Christian Israelites, billed as a novelty act and dubbed “Whiskerinos” by sports journalists, were expert ballplayers who took to the road just prior to World War I. They entertained generations of fans with their offbeat look, humorous antics, famous “pepper game,” and fast-paced style of play.
Not all workers embraced labor unions during the Flint sit-down strikes of 1937. Some of these conservative employees joined loyal worker organizations, participated in pro-company demonstrations, and lobbied political leaders to oppose the UAW. Learn the story of how General Motors forced the labor union to temper its members’ militancy and paved the way for conservative electoral victories.
The first professional architect to reside permanently in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, D. Fred Charlton used local Lake Superior sandstone to craft the distinctive style found in buildings throughout the region. His Marquette firm was prolific, designing more than 400 structures over nearly 30 years. Explore the modern structures still standing throughout the Upper Peninsula—serving as monuments to Charlton’s skill and adept foresight.
During the period of 1882-1928, opera houses were vital fixtures of cultural and community life in nonmetropolitan areas of the country. However, the importance of these theaters has seldom been documented, and many of Michigan’s wonderful old jewel boxes have been razed or burned down. This presentation will explore the Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, and the Calumet Theatre—all of which have served their communities for over a century.
Although his name may not be as recognizable of some of Michigan’s other automotive titans, Ed Cole’s contributions to the industry were no less significant. One of Cole’s favorite sayings was “Let’s kick the hell out of the status quo”—which is exactly what he did in developing the Chevrolet Corvair, the small-block V-8 engine, and new environmental and safety technologies. Learn about the legacy of the General Motors leader in this presentation by local author Barry Levine.
When Soupy Sales left Detroit in 1960 after seven years on WXYZ-TV, he was the highest-paid local television personality—and one of the most well-known and loved celebrities in town. His time in Detroit offers numerous insights into popular culture of the 1950s, including family life, the Cold War, consumerism, Jewish-inflected humor, and more. Join the speaker to explore the TV personality’s impact in modern America.
Songwriters in Manhattan’s Tin Pan Alley produced some of America’s most popular music, but one of its best songwriters came from Michigan, not the Big Apple. J. Will Callahan began writing lyrics for ragtime composers—often from his Bay View, Michigan, cottage—after he lost his eyesight. Join us to learn about the musical world of the lyricist, whose songs were recorded by both Judy Garland and Al Jolsen.