Past Programs

By author, Valerie van Heest

Holland-based explorer Valerie van Heest, author of the book Fatal Crossing, will share the tragic story of the disappearance of Northwest Airlines Flight 2501 somewhere in the waters off South Haven in 1950, and her efforts to find the wreckage, solve the mystery of its disappearance, and provide closure for the families of the 58 victims. Her program and her book will reveal that the answers are sometimes found in unexpected places. She will have copies of her book available and will do a book signing after the program.

Valerie van Heest is an underwater explorer with the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association, a museum exhibit designer, and the author of seven nonfiction books about local history. She has appeared on numerous television and news programs sharing the stories of her adventures in history.

The South Haven Scott Club is pleased to host the Community Soup Luncheon on Saturday, November 18th from 11AM to 2PM at their Michigan Historic Site at 652 Phoenix Street. All are welcome at this fun event that serves as a kick off to the holiday season in concert with other local events.

Soup’s on…again! Paused due to the pandemic, the soup luncheon was last held in 2019. This year, several of South Haven’s best restaurants are partnering with the Scott Club to provide a delicious selection of soups. We are grateful to have the generous support of Clementine’s, The Depot, Taste, The Lodge, Cafe Julia, Six Chicks, Phoenix Street on Broadway, and Bean Box Coffee. There will be something for everyone with a range of options including vegan and vegetarian; come early to choose your favorite. In addition, Salt of the Earth of Fennville is providing an assortment of their delectable breads to accompany the soups. A beverage and dessert are also included and a to-go option will be available. Come out and support the Scott Club and warm up with some hot soup and festive company. Suggested donation is $10.

By Michael Moyer, Director, of Wine & Viticulture at Lake Michigan College

The unique characteristics of southwest Michigan’s climate and soil allow for the production of world class wines, to rival those of better known wine regions of Europe. Lake Michigan College’s Director of Wine and Viticulture Michael Moyer will discuss quality viticulture in southwest Michigan and highlight the opportunities and challenges facing the Michigan wine industry.

Michael Moyer is the Director of the Wine and Viticulture program at Lake Michigan College. The 2022 harvest marked his 23rd vintage, and 8th in the state of Michigan. Michael holds a Master of Science in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California, Davis. He comes to Michigan most recently from Walla Walla, Washington where he made wine for 12 years including 7 years as Enologist and Winemaking Instructor at Walla Walla Community College. Early wine industry experience was gained in Amador, Napa, and Sonoma counties in California, as well as the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Michael is currently the Secretary for the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail and chair of the Michigan Wine Collaborative’s Research and Education Committee. Along with his wife and four children, he has two dogs, two cats, five ducks, 21 chickens, and one pigeon.

Scott Club members will car-pool to Lansing to visit our capital with a tour by Valerie Marvin, Michigan State Capital Historian. This full day trip will include a meeting at the Lansing Women’s Club. RSVP is required. For information and to RSVP, email info@scottclub.org.

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.

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.

By Dr. David Benac

In the past year, climate disinformation has gained prominence as an obstacle to addressing climate change. To better understand and identify the practice it is necessary to explore its origins and evolution. This discussion traces the century of history during which the techniques of climate disinformation developed.

David Benac is an associate professor of history at Western Michigan University and teaches environmental and public history. His current major work is a forthcoming book titled Voices of Ecological Truth Tellers: The Rainforest Action Network and Grassroots Organizing.

By Sally E. Hadden, PhD

While it’s common in the current day to think of dispute resolution as the exclusive domain of judges in courtrooms, in the 17th and 18th centuries, early Americans had other options available for reaching judicial conclusions. This presentation explores a little-known realm of judicial action: decisions reached by legislative assemblies, governors, governors’ councils, and the King’s Privy Council, and how their transatlantic activities contributed to the concept we know today as judicial review.

Sally Hadden is Director of Graduate Studies and a professor of history at Western Michigan University. As a legal historian, her studies of early America led to her publication of Slave Patrols: Law and Violence in Virginia and the Carolinas which details the white-on-black violence that pervaded American slave societies. She is currently co-authoring a study of the first Supreme Court and its forbears. Hadden is also a past officer and board member of the American Society of Legal History and serves on the editorial board of Law and History Review.