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Upcoming Programs and Events

October 3, 2023: Vintage Views Along the West Michigan Pike, From Sand Trails to US-31

By M. Christine Byron & Thomas R. Wilson

Join Christine and Tom for a road trip on the old West Michigan Pike, now US-31. This historic road was the first continuous, improved route between Michigan City and Mackinaw City. The road along the Lake Michigan coast opened West Michigan to automobile travel and tourism. The authors depict the adventure and romance of motoring showing vintage postcards, photographs, maps, and ephemera to illustrate this journey. Time-travel with them through the beautiful West Michigan landscape and quaint towns to hotels and cabins, tourist camps and state parks, and other stops along the road.

Christine and Tom share a love of Michigan and a fascination with its history. They are especially interested in the history of Michigan’s tourism industry. Their collection of antique postcards and tourist and travel ephemera was the inspiration for five of their books: Vintage Views Along Scenic M-22 including Sleeping Bear Dunes (2012); Vintage Views Along the West Michigan Pike (2011), Vintage Views of the Mackinac Straits Region (2007), Vintage Views of the Charlevoix – Petoskey Region (2005) and Vintage Views of Leelanau County (2002). Their sixth book, Historic Leelanau: Recognized Sites and Places of Historical Significance, is a fundraiser for the Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society.

October 17, 2023: Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society, Family and Local History

By Joyce A. R. Beedie, President, Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society.

Finding your ancestors and learning about their lives has never been easier. Joyce Beedie will talk about the resources offered by Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society and other local entities as well as highlighting how online websites enhance genealogy and local history research. She will give an overview of the society sponsored programs and the one-on-one assistance available to those trying to find their roots.

Ms. Beedie is the president of the Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society (VBRGS) and has held the position for the past 10 years. She also administrates and oversees the society’s vast collection of manuscripts, photographs and books archived at the Vanderlyn Community Center Hartford Public Library.

The VBRGS was organized in 1987 in Decatur, Michigan and in 2020 moved into the new Hartford Public Library. They have been recognized for their many years of contributions to family and local history with the naming of the library’s genealogy room as the Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society Genealogy Room.

View More Upcoming Programs and Events

All programs begin at 1:00 p.m. This year’s programs and concerts will be a hybrid of in-person (at the Scott Club unless noted otherwise) and online. All are welcome. Non-members/guests – info@scottclub.org to request a Zoom link.

The South Haven Scott Club was organized in 1883 as a reading circle and has been providing cultural events to the community ever since then in its Michigan historic site. Located at the corner of Phoenix Road and Pearl Street in South Haven, Scott Club is a stately Queen Anne style building of sandstone capped by a cupola of carved oak. Two historic windows of Austrian stained glass frame our east and west walls and serve as a cultural icon to the east entrance to the city.

Supporters:

Activities supported in part by the MICHIGAN ARTS AND CULTURE COUNCIL and the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.