Open House at the Old    Mission Log Church​


The Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society invites you to
experience the renewed historical display.
Follow the history from the evolution of the peninsula, be
introduced to the Anishinabek, the people that made the
peninsula their home, the religious and political climate of the
era in which Rev. Dougherty created his mission, the life of theoriginal church during the post-Dougherty era and learn why the log church was built.
When: May 21, 2023
Where: Mission Road, Mission Peninsula
Time: 11 am -3 pm Cookies and lemonade to enjoy.
Additional parking at the Peter Dougherty Mission House
Make a day of it: View the Peter Dougherty House, visit the
Hessler Log Cabin in Lighthouse Park, and of course, the
Lighthouse itself. Follow these experiences with a hike on the
trails in Lighthouse Park and have fun on the beach. Visit the
General Store for a snack and ice cream, experience the many
wineries, restaurants, and ice cream parlors that call the
Mission Peninsula home.​

​Next Meeting:  
Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society – 
Thursday, May 4 at 6pm
The May 4 meeting of the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society will take place at 6 p.m. at the  Peninsula Community Library 2893 Island View Rd. at the corner of Center Rd. "The 51 Year History of the Empire Area Museum" will be the program with David Taghon as the presenter.  The program will be preceded by a short business meeting. The meeting is free and open to the public.
The meeting is open to the public and visitors are welcome.
For further information, please e-mail our President at nikki.sobkowski@gmail.com.
Submitted by Ann Swaney
aswaney@acegroup.cc

          MISSION LOG CHURCH
​By Karen Rieser:
UPDATED DISPLAY AT THE MISSION LOG CHURCH
The replica of the Mission Log Church was built in 1939 by the Old Mission Betterment Associaton to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of Rev. Peter Dougherty’s Presbyterian
mission on the peninsula. Post-celebration, the church was to be turned into a museum, displaying the wonders of the peninsula. It took approximately thirty-five years before a display was artfully accomplished by the Old Mission Women’s Club. Fifty years has passed, and our need for a museum representing the entire peninsula is no longer relevant. Our cultural and historic outlook has been redefined. It was time for a facelift. A team of five from the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society took on the challenge to create the updated display. After two years of work the display has been completed and installed.
Come learn about the of the history of the peninsula, the people Rev. Dougherty met and worked with, the Anishinaabe. Read about the political and religious culture of the times that Rev. Dougherty was living in. How Reverend Dougherty, with the help of Chief Agosa established the mission and why the mission moved to Omena. Explore what happened after the move and the creation of the replica.
The updated Mission Log Church display was made possible by contributions by the: Old Mission Women’s Club, Peninsula Township, and the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society.
After having visited the display, if you wish to learn more please click the link below for a list of references.​
​OLD MISSION LOG CHURCH REFERENCES (Link)

Membership Dues


Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society
P. O. Box 115
Old Mission, Michigan 49673
FORMS
Membership Application
​
Julianne Meyer Fund
​
Memorial Tree Order Form 
​
Recommended Reading
                      

History Hounds lectures are now FREE for members of the Historical Society of Michigan, or for members of HSM's member organizations. Which OMPHS members

 "An HSM member organization has the option to live-stream the lecture for free for its members or offer the lecture to it membership for free remote viewing." I think it might be simpler at first just to let everyone know how to get in themselves.

THE MEMORIAL TREE PROJECT CONTINUES

The northern end of Old Mission Peninsula on Center Road was once  lined with magnificent old maple trees some over 100 years until age, salt and disease took them down. The Memorial Tree Project started in September 1999 under the direction of Rebecca and Leo Nothstine. It has continued since with over 650 trees planted and nourished.

If you would like to participate in this project please use this form and mail it with your contribution.  Many are memorial trees dedicated to specific individuals. 
Photos contributed by Brian Brooks
PictureTrees Old and New


Tracking the Sleeping Bear​bibliography_paragraph__1_.docx
Tracking the Sleeping Bear is a lengthy essay that includes: 1) documented versions of the so-called “Legend of Sleeping Bear” from the 1890s until its heavy commercial popularization; 2) alternative legends relating to Sleeping Bear Dune and the Manitou Islands; 3) authentic Anishinaabe landscape origin stories from the vicinity of the upper Great Lakes; 4) historical accounts touching upon Sleeping Bear and the Manitous; 5) discussion of where the tracks lead. This is a difficult topic, because the popularity of the “Legend of Sleeping Bear” stems from its close resemblance to romantic “fakelore” (see also my essay on Fakelore and the Ethics of Children’s Literature) but the earliest documented versions, although not until the late nineteenth century, did come from within the Little Traverse Odawa community.

Do you recognize this structure? What do you know about its' history? Please share  you know on our Facebook page under "Photos":
Facebook@omphs49673

Watson's store at Mapleton.
Contributed by John Scarbrough


Link to Pearl Hill's Grocery store story from Jane Boursaw:
www.oldmission.net/2019/06/pearl-hills-grocery/

This link will be of interest to you to research the history of your house.
​https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/a-guide-to-researching-the-history-of-a-house/

Mission Point Lighthouse         Dougherty House           Mission Church Replica       Hessler Log Cabin
Picture
http://www.missionpointlighthouse.com/ Michigan Lighthouse Festival August 2020 is in Traverse City Hosted by our Mission Point Lighthouse In honor of our 150th Anniversary celebration, we are hosting the Michigan Lighthouse Festival. The festival will be August 7 - 8, 2020.
Picture
http://www.oldmissionhouse.com/ Open to the public for the first time in 2019. Check the website for days and hours open.
Picture
Located across from the Dougherty house on Center Road and currently under restoration.
Picture
omphistoricalsociety.org Only open one day each year for the celebration of Log Open one day a year to celebrate Log Cabin Day with demonstrations and arts and crafts. omphistoricalsociety.org. Proceeds from Light House support the Historical Society.

Founded in 1992 by a core group of citizens concerned about saving the Hessler Log House, the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society continues to work toward fulfilling its mission of  preserving historical structures and keeping alive the history of the region.We joined Peninsula Township and the Dougherty Society to raise the money necessary to purchase, and renovate, the Peter Dougherty Mission and its fifteen acre site.  Dougherty founded the mission that gives the Old Mission Peninsula its name.  Now,  fully renovated, the house and programs are open to the public.
The replica of the Log Church of the Dougherty mission near the Old Mission General Store has was renovated  in 2019 and the historical society is currently updating the exhibits.
With the Hessler Log House, the Dougherty Homestead, the Mission Point Light House, and the Log Church serve as visible reminders of the rich history of this area.

​Please explore our site, read our newsletters, and other material, and consider joining us.   We meet at 6:00 on the first Thursday, September through May, meeting is 6:00-7:00) at the Peninsula Public Library,, Each meeting features a program on some topic of local history from 7;00-8:00
​
​Don't forget Log Cabin Day, the last Sunday in June at  Lighthouse Park.
​For information about the Historical Society or the Website, please contact us at: bbrthlsn@gmail.com