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CCHS • 115 Ashmun Street • P.O. Box 342 • Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783906-635-7082 • Fax: 906-635-9280 • cchs@sault.com

Chippewa County Historical SocietyP.O. Box 342Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

NON-PROFIT ORG.PRST STD

US POSTAGE PAIDSAULT STE. MARIE, MI

PERMIT NO 541

Author Talk by Larry ChabotCCHS will host author Larry Chabot on Wednesday, October 3, at7 p.m., at its fall general meeting. Mr. Chabot will talk about his recent book The U.P. Goes to War: Upper Michigan and Its Heroes in World War II, after a brief business meeting. The book tells stories of life on the war front and the home front. The author is a native of Ontonagon, Michigan, and a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He was employed for many years by White Pine Copper Mine, in the western U.P., where he wrote for the company magazine and interviewed veterans. His book will be available for purchase and signing. The program will take place at Bayliss Public Library, 541 Library Drive in Sault Ste. Marie, instead of at CCHS, as originally reported. The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

Sault Ste. Marie Fire Hall Centennial The City commemorated the Centennial of the building of the fire hall on Ridge Street with a celebration from July 30 through August 4. CCHS’s circa 1900 chemical fire engine was on display at the fire hall that week. Robert Money and Paul D. Freedman conducted interviews of retired and current fire department and emergency personnel (Robert Miller, Curt White, Rollie Wiertalla, Lawrence Campbell, Ken Eagle, Darrell Marble, and Tim McKee), with camera assistance from Joe Gallagher and Susan James. Bernie Arbic compiled the new book Fighting Fires in Sault Ste. Marie: From Horses to Horsepower, A Fire Hall Centennial Commemoration in honor of the event. It sells for $6.00 and is available in CCHS’s Gift Shop or by mail order (include MI sales tax and $4.00 for shipping and handling). Bernie Arbic and Patty Olsen offered the book for sale at the fire hall during the week. Our thanks to John Shibley and Sault Printing for their work on the book. A companion display with prints provided by Filkins Fotos is on view this fall at CCHS. You may see the display Tuesday through Saturday, from 1-5 p.m. Please enter by the front door, at 115 Ashmun Street. If you would rather enter from the back of the building that is handicap accessible, please call ahead (635-7082) and give us your anticipated time of arrival so that a volunteer will have the door open for you.

Gift ShopStop by and see what is happening at our new gift shop at 115 Ashmun! The shop is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 1-5 p.m., with board member Karen Sabatine managing operations. The shop will remain open into the fall. Volunteers with some retail experience are

needed. There will soon be credit card and debit card capability at the shop, so you will be able to pay for books and other merchandise by phone and have them shipped to you. Also, you will be able to pay your membership dues by phone. (Sometime in the near future you may be able to do so on a new website as well.) Don’t forget that we also have paintings, crafts, poetry, prints, photographs, and note cards on consignment from many of our talented area artists. They are perfect for holiday gift giving.

Water Street Historic BlockBishop Baraga HouseOn Saturday, September 29, and Sunday, September 30, the Baraga House on Water Street will be open for viewing in honor of Baraga Days. Since 1927, one weekend in September has been chosen to gather and commemorate the first mass celebrated by Father Frederic Baraga, later Bishop Baraga, on September 21, 1823. In anticipation of possibly more than 400 visitors to the Sault from all over the country, work is being done on his former home. CCHS volunteers Sharon MacLaren and Arline Fitzmaurice have organized the efforts with the help of Roland Akre, Jack DeWeese, Ed Wilson, Fred and Renee Farmer, Jim Howie, Gordon MacMaster, Anita Flynn, Bob Jones, Gina Livingston, Pam Williamson,

Fran Hoholik, Elizabeth Dietz, Don Cooper, and other volunteers. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Roland Akre at 635-6875. If you would like to donate funds to the project, send a contribution to: Bishop Baraga House Fund, c/o City of Sault Ste. Marie, 325 Court Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. You are welcome to stop by to view the house on the 29th from 2-4 p.m. and on the 30th from noon-4 p.m. (See insert for a reprint of Sharon MacLaren’s letter on the Baraga House and the Water Street Historic Block.)

The Kemp Industrial MuseumThe Grand Opening of the Kemp Industrial Museum took place on July 29, with an attendance of about 150 people. Grants from the Chase S. Osborn Historic Trust and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs helped fund the museum’s photo display about the Sault’s historic industries. At the open house Robert Money and Paul D. Freedman conducted interviews of past employees from area industries: Eldine Bergeron, Mary Berlinger, Lawrence Campbell, Gloria Kemp Davis, Rose Gillotte, Leo Jorgensen, Adeline Lewis, Priscilla Lynd, Lillian MacLaren, Marvin Mastaw, Robert T. McPherson, Herb Peterman, Audrey Piche, Deloris Porcaro, Dan Rose, William Sadler, Virginia Shaffer, and Jim Sibbald. continued on next page

CCHS Newsletter Number 49October 2007

YES! I want to be a CCHS Member!Membership Ratesq Individual $20q Family $30q Student $10q Senior $10q Contributing $50q Business/Corporate/Org. $50q Lifetime $200+q New Millennium $1000+Additional Donation $__________

Name _____________________________________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

City _____________________________________________ State ______________ Zip ___________

Email ____________________________________________________________

Please keep me in mind for: q Volunteer Work q Board Member q Capital Campaign

Make checks payable to: Chippewa County Historical Society, P.O. Box 342, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

Office Hours:Monday 10 - 3Tuesday 10 - 12Thursday 10 - 12and by appointment

Gift Shop Hours:Tuesday - Saturday 1 - 5

See you at Larry Chabot’s talk on Wednesday, October 3, at 7 p.m., at Bayliss Public Library!

Thanks to Readers of the Evening News for voting us the “Best Historical Society”

in the Tri-County Area!

Upcoming Event Water Street

Portage Avenue

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St. VincentDe Paul

Thrift Store

Soo Locks Park

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Iconography WorkshopThe Sault Area Arts Council and CCHS sponsored the 7th annual Iconography Workshop in July. Arline Fitzmaurice and Sharon MacLaren coordinated the annual icon-painting workshop at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church. Our thanks to those who helped with the event and to the donors of food: Arfstrom’s Pharmacy, Penny’s Kitchen, Soo Super Valu, Anny Hubbard and friend Edie, Lillian MacLaren, and Louise Rose.

Summer VolunteersAs in past years, CCHS had booths at the Downtown Sidewalk Sales and the Sault Area Summer Arts Festival in August. We made almost $800 in the course of those 3 days. About $112 was made on used books at the sidewalk sales (thank you to Pauline and George Davidson, Janet Russell, Mary June, Nancy Steinhaus, and Elizabeth Weir for donating used books). A big thank you to Paul D. Freedman for his donation of a new canopy. Thanks too to all of the volunteers who helped with the setup and “manning” of the booths: Ginny and Gil Cymbalist, Jack DeWeese, Michael DeWeese, and his son, Bernie Arbic, Sharon MacLaren, Arline Fitzmaurice, Nancy Steinhaus, Lois Horner, Roland and Cathy Akre, Don Cooper, Don Gerrie, Eileen Jokinen, Mary M. June, Patty Olsen, Elizabeth Weir, Larry Cooper, Tony Stackpoole, and Susan James. Thank you to Soo Co-op grocery store for donating plastic bags.

Building Issues We are ready for winter with our new third floor roof, courtesy of our 2007 Evans Memorial Award for Historic Preservation, and a new third floor wall, thanks to the City of Sault Ste. Marie’s TIFA II funds of $30,000. Great Lakes Roofing and Markstrom Construction were our contractors on these jobs. Markstrom is assisting us further by painting areas of the façade. Kaysner Construction is currently working on the roof of the rear addition. Burton Excavating has completed the rear handicap-accessible ramp.

Capital Campaign UpdateWe officially kicked off our capital campaign in December. Thank you to all who have responded. Our cash received totals about $24,675 and our outstanding campaign pledges total about $12,461. If you haven’t already, please consider donating to the capital campaign. All donations are greatly appreciated. Pledges may be spread over three years, with payments made monthly or at other intervals. For example, a donation of $180, spread over 3 years, would be $60/year, or $5 per month.

Oral History InterviewsIn addition to the oral history interviews done at the Kemp Museum and the Fire Hall this summer by Robert Money and Paul D. Freedman, Bernie Arbic and Ed Johnson interviewed Ed Brown in Traverse City.

The Kemp Industrial Museum (continued from front page)Our thanks to all of the volunteers who provided food and helped with the reception. Sharon MacLaren, Patty Olsen, and Karen Sabatine served as docents at the museum this summer. Thanks to all of the volunteers who prepared the building for the opening: prisoners at the County Jail (Community Services Department), Jim Howie, Pam Williamson, Mary M. June, Arline Fitzmaurice, Karen Sabatine, Roger Blanchard, Nancy and Dallas Steinhaus, Steve Ball, and Sharon MacLaren. The museum will reopen in the summer of 2008.

The Johnston House and the Schoolcraft Office Dependency opened in June with docent-led exhibits, and programs in July and August. Peter DeCourcy portrayed John Johnston, Arline Fitzmaurice portrayed Ozhahguscodaywayquay (Susan Johnston), and Dave Stanaway and Susan Askwith performed original songs inspired by the Johnston family and the fur trade era. Docents this year were Arline Fitzmaurice, Karen Sabatine, Ginny Cymbalist, Patty Olsen, Marie Tietz, Susan Harries, and Phyllis Bigelow. Local artists Mary McCready (quilting), Joan Muckelbauer (rug hooking), and Sandy Spiewak (spinning) demonstrated their crafts. Thanks again this year to Biz-E-Bee (Linda and Lonny Marrison) for the donation of a porta-potty to the Johnston House.

“Dinner with the John Johnstons”“Dinner with the John Johnstons” was presented at LSSU’s Cisler Center on August 11. Susan and Peter DeCourcy produced the annual sold-out dinner theatre event with help from its originator, Sharon MacLaren. Our thanks to all of the actors, musicians, and servers, who made the event so enjoyable. This year’s actors were Peter DeCourcy, Aaron Payment, Jim Couling, Art Leighton, Ray Bauer, Don Cooper, Eric Kemp, Bernie Arbic, Otto Bacon, Paul Raappana, Dyke Justin, Karen Sabatine, our new Jane - Alexia DePlonty - who danced despite an injury, servers Arline Fitzmaurice, Amber Clement, Jaci TenEyck, Kelsey Justin, and Aquene Kemp. Special thanks to Susan DeCourcy for her extraordinary efforts to make it all happen, and to musicians Susan Askwith, who arranged a special sing-along, and to Jack Kinney, who played the fiddle. Thanks also to the Soo Theatre ticket office, the Sault Area Chamber of Commerce, and Karen Sabatine and Elizabeth Weir in the CCHS Gift Shop for their help with ticket selling. We appreciate the continued assistance of Lee Brown at Tuxedo World and Richard Trautwein with Austin’s Oak.

Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, the First Ojibway Woman Literary Author! Our second event of the Johnston Weekend took place on August 12, when we celebrated the writings of John and Susan Johnston’s daughter Jane (Bamewawagezhikaquay). It was held outside of her former home, the Schoolcraft House on the Water Street Historic Block. It was a pleasure to host Dr. Robert Dale Parker, the author and editor of the new book on Jane’s writings, The Sound the Stars Make Rushing through the Sky. He spoke about the Johnston family, and Jane and Henry Schoolcraft, and introduced Jane’s poetry, stories, and letters, that were read by Wanda Perron and Arline Fitzmaurice in English, and by Susan Askwith in Ojibway. Aagii Clement played the flute and drum. Susan Askwith sang and played guitar. Dr. Parker visited from Illinois and very generously donated his time and expenses for the joint CCHS/Bay Mills Indian Community weekend. Susan Askwith was expert at taking on the job of organizing the event, arranging for the readers, music, refreshments, etc., as well as performing. She deserves our special thanks. Our thanks to the donors of food and to those who helped with the setup, including John and Susan Askwith, Brenda and Tom Bennett, Pam Lahti, Barb Larson, Ruth Pike, Wanda Perron, Janet Russell, Mary M. June, Nancy Steinhaus, and Susan James. Thank you too to Biz-E-Bee for giving us a special discount on the 30 foot canopy that protected the almost 100 attendees from the elements, and to the City for the loan of chairs.

The previous day, a special lunch was prepared in honor of Dr. Parker by the Bay Mills Indian Community where community members could meet informally with the author. Wanda Perron and Paula Carrick of the Bay Mills History Department helped arrange the event.

Historic ChurchesThe Historic Churches Program was held this summer during July and August under a new format. All programs were on Monday evenings, rather than afternoons throughout the week, and the schedule was doubled in length, from four to eight weeks. By all counts -- attendance, donations, and positive comments received -- the new format was a great success. Our thanks to Bob Aldrich, Arline Fitzmaurice, Peter Gianakura, Lois Horner, Jennifer Parker, Scott and Shanais Strissell, Jackie Willey and Ray Bauer for their help in coordinating the programs for the individual churches. Thanks, also, to Ray Bauer for emceeing the programs and to members of the individual churches for donating refreshments. Next year’s program will follow the same format, and will again be held on Monday evenings in July and August. Lois Horner will be the project coordinator for the program next summer, and Phyllis Bigelow will be handling promotion.

Mr. Brown spoke about his early memories growing up in the Sault, where he and his father worked at the Locks.

EUPHCThe fall meeting of the EUP History Consortium will take place at CCHS on October 6. The Water Street Historic Block will be open for viewing that day. Call us at 635-7082 for more information.

Twilight ToursU.P. storyteller James Couling is offering “Twilight Walking Tours” along Water Street through September and “Lantern Light Mystery Tours” through October. The tours are by donation, and bring local history and personalities to life. For more information, contact Jim at 906-495-7122 or jimcouling@yahoo.com. You may also visit his website www.geocities/twilightwalkingtours.

The Soo Theatre ProjectSept. 21 and 22 - “Tales of Twain,” 7:30 p.m. Mark Twain (a.k.a. Roger Norton) is coming to the Sault for a return visit. The author made a visit to the Sault in 1895 while on his American speaking tour. He spoke at the Soo Opera House and stayed at the Iroquois Hotel before traveling to Mackinac Island.Oct. 26 and 27 - Haunted Theatre. Call 632-1930 for information on upcoming events and classes.

Bayliss Public Library author eventsOct. 4 - Superior Poetry Café with featured poet A. Van Jordan (professor from University of Texas, Austin, and a winner of a 2007 Guggenheim Fellowship) and an open mikeNov. 6 - Geri Taeckens, author of Blind Man’s Bluff!Dec. 13 - Bill Jamerson, author of Big Shoulders, about area CCC camps, will talk, sing, and show a portion of his film (Event co- sponsored with the Chippewa County Historical Society)

Upcoming EventsCCHS and Bayliss Public Library are co-sponsoring events associated with the first statewide Great Michigan Read in 2008. Ernest Hemingway’s Nick Adams Stories are the focus of the year-long celebration. In April CCHS will host the traveling exhibit “Up North with the Hemingways” along with a speaker. Other events will take place at Bayliss Library between January and June.

CCHS Board MembersNancy Steinhaus, PresidentMary M. June, Vice President, Membership and FundraisingSusan James, Vice President, Programs and PublicationsBernie Arbic, TreasurerVirginia Cymbalist, SecretaryRoger Blanchard, Don Cooper, Leanne Barnes Deuman, Jack DeWeese, Robert Money, Patty Olsen, Janet Russell, Karen Sabatine,Anthony Stackpoole, Alex Strobehn

WantedVolunteers

for CCHS Gift ShopDo you have a few

hours weekly, bi-weekly, monthly?

Shop will be openthrough the fall

Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m.

Some retail experience necessary

Provide information tovisitors about the displays.

Contact Karen at 635-0971or 635-7082

CCHS Wish List • Copy paper • File folders

• Post-its• Colored paper

• Vacuum cleaner bags • Paper clips

Aaron Payment, Ella Mitchell, her daughter Karen Sabatine, and Bernie Arbic, all at the J. J. Dinner

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View of our new roof before the replacement of the third floor wall

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• Assistance with newsletter printing costs• Assistance with winter gas bill• Readers for January Hemingway Read-a-thon at the library• Volunteers during April Hemingway display• Quilters for Hemingway “up north” challenge quilt contest