Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society

February 7, 2008 – 7:00 pm

Peninsula Township Town Hall

Agenda

I. Social Time: Arlene & Bob Dean

Program: Al Bonney will lead us in singing some of our old favorite songs along with providing the history of a few of these songs.

Business Meeting:

A. Meeting called to order.

B. Announcements

1. As always, new membership forms may be picked up from chairman Ann Marie Grenadier, directly at our meeting or by a written request to the following address;

OMPHS

P.O. Box 115

Old Mission, MI 49673

Please indicate “Old Mission Membership Form” and your return address.

2. Community news.

II. Monthly Reports:

A. January Minutes – Anita Klein

1. Motion to approve

2. Seconded

B. January Treasures Report – Warren Berthelsen

1. Motion to approve

2. Seconded

III. Old Business:

A. Volunteers needed: We need a volunteer to act as chairman for the Hessler Log Cabin for this year (2008) and the next. Responsibilities are outlined in the January Minutes. Paul Burns

B. Update from the Nominating Committee: Any results in finding a Vice President and Treasurer for next year’s slate of offices? Laura Johnson/ Barb Berthelsen

C. Update on the Hessler Log Cabin Responsibilities and duties there of – Paul Burns/ Fred Stoye

IV. New Business:

A. We received a memo from Dave Charlton that he is resigning his position at the end of this term. We will therefore need a new Chairman for Publicity/Fund Raising for next year. Paul Burns

B. Any other new business to be added. Membership

Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society

January 3, 2008 – 7:00 pm

Peninsula, Township Town Hall

Minutes

I. Social Time & welcome – Paul Burns. We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and may you have a Happy New Year! Just a reminder, if the weather is bad and we decide to cancel the meeting, we will be calling everyone before 3:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

II. Program introduction – Jackie Burns. Michael Kilmury has several maps of the Peninsula set up in the back of the room. The 5 maps date from 1861 to the 1930’s. There is also a map/chart of the Ogdensburg Cemetery and the Lakeside Cemetery. These maps provide us with a lot of information and history. Thanks to Michael for bringing them in.

Program: Michelle Kroupa, presented “Reminiscing with John Kroupa” (John is Michelle’s Great Grandfather). Michelle showed pictures of the Kroupa family while playing a taped interview that was done with John several years ago. Michelle and her parents (Joan & Dave) than answered questions about this very prominent family on the Peninsula.

III. Business Meeting:

A. Meeting called to order at 8:10 p.m.

B. Community News – no reports.

IV. Monthly Reports:

A. November Minutes – Anita Klein. The minutes of the November meeting were approved as written and accepted. There were no minutes for December since we did not have a meeting. We had the Christmas party instead.

B. Treasurer’s Report – Warren Berthelsen. Warren distributed the November/December report and reviewed the contents. Report was approved and accepted as written.

C. Membership - Paul Burns announced that anyone in the audience who is interested in becoming a member of the Society should talk to Ann Marie Grenadier.

V. Committee Reports: No reports.

VI. Old Business:

A. Changes to Old Mission Lighthouse: Fred Stoye reports that as of January 15, 2008 the Lighthouse will be vacated. Grant Blackmore will head the new grounds and maintenance department. Grant will not reside in the lighthouse. Once the lighthouse is vacated, our Park Commission will be visiting the site to do an examination to see what has to be done. Jim has done some improvements and it’s in fairly good working order. However, the tower needs some repair and we may need a mechanical investigation. The tower inside is structurally sound for visitors to go up but you cannot go outside. We are still planning on having the lighthouse open for visitors this summer. Perhaps only 2 to 3 days a week and maybe only 1 to 2 rooms. We are also looking at a Keepers Program. This is where volunteers can live a year in the lighthouse, working and helping us out. Other lighthouses in Michigan have adopted this program. In addition, we have to organize a Lighthouse Association to run the lighthouse once it’s ready. This association will be open to anyone in the area to join. A question was raised about tours during Log Cabin Days and Fred assured us that tours would be available.

B. Hessler Log Cabin Duties: Paul Burns reports that the Duties and responsibilities for the Hessler Log Cabin have been typed and submitted for review to Fed Stoye. Fred will review and return the document to Paul and than the Historical Society Board will review it. Once it has been approved by the Board it will be presented to the Historical Society members.

C. Pictorial History of Old Mission Peninsula: Carol Lewis reports that the time frame for collection of pictures of the peninsula has been extended to December 2008. All pictures will be scanned and returned to the owners the following day. The book “A Pictorial History of Old Mission Peninsula” will give tourists a good idea of life here up to the early 1950’s.

D. Christmas Party Dinner: All comments regarding the party were positive and a decision was tentatively made to do it again this year. Thanks were made to Jerry Ostlund and Shirley Donovan for providing the meats and bread, to Joan and Al Bonney for the entertainment, and to the decorating committee.

We also want to acknowledge Sheryl Hayward, for her wonderful program about the current happenings and history of the City Opera House.

VII. New Business:

A. Hesler Log Cabin Chair: We need a volunteer to replace Patti Rudolph as chairman of the Hesler Log Cabin Committee. Patti is willing to provide training when she returns in the spring. We hope to have a volunteer by the February meeting. Patti’s job consisted of organizing volunteers to; open/close the cabin on the weekends; setup work days for yearly maintance; open/close the cabin in the spring/fall. One thing that we have to consider is that Jim will no longer be opening and closing the cabin during the week. Security is also something we need to consider. Grant (the new grounds keeper) will be checking on things but will not be living in the Lighthouse.

B. Nominating Committee: We will need volunteers to run for Vice President and Treasurer. Voting takes place in June. The offices are for a two-year period. The Vice President become President after the first year. If you are interested in one of these positions, please contact Barb Berthelsen or Laura Johnson (Nominating Committee).

VIII. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:34 p.m.

Attendance

Anita & Marty Klein Lee & Donna Hornberger Steve & Carol Lewis

Dave Charlton Jacki & Paul Burns Jerry Ostlund

Fred Stoye Shirley Donovan Nancy & Dave Warne

Laura Johnson Judy Charlton Sally Frye

Penny & Bob Rosi Shirley Donovan Bill & JoAnn Cole

Judy & Ken Weaver Michael Kelmury Bob & Arlene Dean

Lucile & Ted Bagley Warren & Barb Berthelsen

Respectfully Submitted,

Anita Klein, Recording Secretary