Originally built at 135 feet long with three decks, the Milwaukee steamship was sized to fit the dimensions of Welland Canal locks between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. For more than a decade the Milwaukee ran on four of the five Great Lakes carrying settlers and settlement supplies westward. The ship was then remodeled and repurposed to carry all manner of cargo across Lake Michigan. The Milwaukee was lost after it was rammed in 1886 midway across Lake Michigan off Holland in deep water.

Valerie van Heest, director of the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association, will visit the North Berrien Historical Museum to discuss the recently announced discovery of the steamship Milwaukee in deep water off Holland, Michigan. She will share the history of the ship, and the circumstances of the accident that bring to mind the old superstition that bad things happen in threes.

No RSVP is required for this free program.

The 1924 Dodge Truck that is part of the collection at the North Berrien Historical Museum turns 100 years old this year!

To celebrate, the museum  is hosting a time traveler program for kids ages 6–12. Participants will learn what drove Michigan's automotive industry. They will then run their own automotive assembly line, build rubber band cars, and test their vehicles for distance. Kids participating in this free program will take home their handmade toy.

RSVP is required. Please call (269) 468-3330 to reserve your spot today!

The city of Coloma is rich with history. From its early days as a shingle making settlement to the resort era of Paw Paw Lake to the present day, there are many fascinating stories associated with the background of this small southwestern Michigan town.

Peter Cook, Director of Programs and Outreach at the North Berrien Historical Museum, will present an overview of Coloma City and Township, from the days of “Shingle Diggins” to the development and growth of Coloma.

No RSVP is required for this free program.

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a fun, self-guided scavenger hunt around the North Berrien Historical Museum to find the hidden pot of gold and learn about Irish-American history along the way!

This free program is designed for wee folk ages 6+ and their families. It will take place on Saturday, March 16 from 2:00–4:00 p.m. No RSVP required. Contact the Museum with any questions at (269) 468-3330.

You are invited to join the Bayer family on behalf of the Tri-City Record to celebrate their 40-year anniversary in business.

The Open House will be held on Saturday, February 24 at the North Berrien Historical Museum from 1 p.m.–4 p.m.

A short presentation on the history of the Record will begin at 2 p.m.

Refreshments will be served

Born Cassius Clay in 1942, Muhammad Ali, with his lightning hands and fancy footwork, became the three-time heavyweight boxing champion.  His shouts of “I Am the Greatest” and self-promotion appealed to some Americans and disgusted others.  Refusing to serve in the U.S. Army during the height of the Vietnam War, he was stripped of his heavyweight title in 1967, suspended from boxing, and became one of the most reviled men in America. Infidelity marked his several marriages and his parenting skills were less than exemplary. However, he made a career comeback in the 1970s and regained his title with a knockout of George Foreman. In retirement, he gave his time and money to worthwhile causes in Southwestern Michigan. Suffering from Parkinson’s disease, a visibly ill Ali lit the cauldron at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

History professor Tim Moore will present a look at an amazing and controversial man, Muhammad Ali.

No RSVP is required for this free program.

Most people take for granted that they have electricity in their house. But what was life like for people who lived over 100 years ago in a time before homes were powered by electricity?

This children’s program will illustrate what life was like in the home during wintertime as the daylight hours grew shorter. Activities will include hand-dipped candle making, writing with a quill by candlelight, and using wax to seal an envelope.

This program is recommended for children ages 6–12. RSVP is required, please call (269) 468-3330 to register your child for the 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. program that will take place on Tuesday, January 2.

The sun may set early on Thursday, December 21, but the lights will be bright at the North Berrien Historical Museum. During this special evening open house from 5:00–7:00 p.m., visitors are welcome to view and vote on the 30 holiday trees decorated by local businesses, organizations and society members.

For all the last-minute shoppers out there, this is a great opportunity to pick up holiday presents from our gift shop including our one-of-a-kind gingerbread house kits. Please call (269) 468-3330 with any questions

Company towns, places where one employer is responsible for nearly all aspects of life in the community, have always existed in the United States and are still with us today. Over the course of U.S. history, company towns have spurred significant technological and industrial accomplishments, while also inspiring bloody conflict and challenges to representative democracy. This historical survey by Dr. David Benac explores common features of company towns, from Jamestown to Mountain View, California, in hopes of better understanding their place in our past and future.

Dr. Benac is an associate professor at WMU who has written about company towns in Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oregon, and Washington.

No RSVP is required for this free program.

The Annual Members-Only Meeting is reserved for North Berrien Historical Society Members. Doors are at 5:30 p.m. There will be a buffet dinner from CK Catering served at 6:00 p.m. The annual meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m. with the program to follow at 7:00 p.m.

The evening program is “Michigan’s Lonely Hearts Killers: A History of ‘Cupid Club’ Crimes and Criminals.” Tobin T. Buhk, author and aficionado of history with a dark twist, will detail the 1940s Michigan crimes of Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez as well as other “Cupid Club” killers who, throughout the years, preyed on Michigan lonely hearts through the personal advertisements.

Program is reserved for Society members and will follow the Annual Meeting & Dinner. The cost to attend is $20 per person. To RSVP or for membership details, call (269) 468-3330.

Learn what it was like to vacation at Pratt’s-on-the-Lake (Pier Road) during the 1930s and ‘40s in a talk by former Hagar Township resident Bill Corbett. Through photographs, journal entries and letters kept by his father, Bill will describe the daily activities of resort life, and the lifelong friendship his mother developed with Pearl Pratt.  

Bill’s parents, former Chicago residents Cy and Dorothy Corbett, loved Pratt’s and Lake Michigan life so much that in 1944 they purchased their own waterfront property, an abandoned summer retreat near Camp Warren. They developed the property into their own resort, which they ran until Dorothy died in 1981.
     

Cy was a former newspaper man and kept journals and saved correspondence throughout his life. In going through the family archives, Bill has discovered many interesting writings. In April, he released a book of his father’s materials, The Drums of War: An Autobiography by T.C. Corbett (1917-1924) which is a first-hand account of Cy’s WWI Army Air Service, and difficult return to civilian life.

No RSVP is required for this free program.

The Niles History Center is the historic Chapin Mansion and the Fort St. Joseph Museum. The Chapin Mansion was constructed in 1882 and features colorful stained glass windows, beveled mirrors, impressive brass chandeliers, beautiful hand-carved wood work and nine fireplaces.

Society Members will take a tour of this beloved Niles landmark. Lunch at Wegners Lakeside Bar and Grill with follow.

See schedule below. Attendees may arrive at the Museum before 9:15 a.m. to carpool or meet at the Niles History Center to begin the tour at 10:00 a.m.

North Berrien Historical Museum Departure………. 9:15 a.m.

Private Tour of the Niles History Center………. 10:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m.

Lunch at Wegners Lakeside Bar and Grill………. 12:00 p.m.

Return to the North Berrien Historical Museum………. ~1:30 p.m.

Please RSVP by Friday, September 8 by calling (269) 468-3330. For membership details, click here.

The Coloma Courier was published weekly from 1885–1969, at which point it was absorbed by the Watervliet Record (now the Tri-City Record). Joe and Marjorie Wells of Coloma are recognized in the community for their run as owners of the Courier, publishing the periodical from 1946–1959.

Charles Chauncey Wells, the son of Joe and Marjorie, will appear at the North Berrien Historical Museum to present “Country Weekly: Heart of the Community.” Charles will discuss his experiences growing up at the Coloma Courier and how it led to a lifelong passion for letterpress printing and other forms of the medium.

No RSVP is required for this free program.

Learn about the daily life and activities of the French fur traders in this fun and immersive program designed for children ages 6–12.

The program will begin at the North Berrien Historical Museum with a lesson and craft about the canoes used by the voyageurs. The program will then relocate to Paw Paw Lake where a Sarett naturalist will take the group on a trip in a 34-foot voyageur canoe replica!

Personal floatation devices will be required and provided. Due to limited seating, we ask that only one parent accompany the group of children they are overseeing. Children under age 8 may ride along without paddling.

Two times frames are available on August 10: 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. RSVP is required. Call (269) 468-3330 to reserve your child’s place today!

Steam power, which Scotsman James Watt first effectively harnessed to an engine in 1769, would drive the Industrial Revolution and make humanity mobile as never before—pulled by belching locomotives and spanning the seas in ships the size of small cities.

Historian and museum designer Valerie van Heest will take us back to the early 20th century when steam powered industry, drove the economy, and created a growing prosperity that generated demand for recreational travel on luxurious passenger steamers circling the Great Lakes during the golden age of steamships.

No RSVP is required for this free program.

Upon opening its gates in 1949, Deer Forest served as a magical place that would enchant not only the surrounding small community but the entire world around it for over 60 years. Tucked away in a corner of Coloma, Michigan, the petting zoo/amusement park featured animals to pet and feed such as deer, antelope, mountain sheep, llamas, and peacocks, as well as other attractions such as Storybook Lane, a train, and a souvenir building. By 1989, more than 3.5 million people had visited Deer Forest.

Although the park closed in 2014, the legacy of Deer Forest lives on. The North Berrien Historical Museum is excited to unveil a new interactive exhibition of objects and artifacts from Deer Forest. Elephant keys from Storybook Lane will be available to take home as a souvenir for a nominal donation. Please join us for a trip down memory lane. The exhibition will be available to view throughout summer 2023 during regular visiting hours.

No RSVP is required for this free program. Please call (269) 468-3330 with any questions.

Approximately 90,000 Michigan soldiers fought in the American Civil War and almost 15,000 made the ultimate sacrifice. The bullet torn, blood-stained battle flags that these men carried and died beneath were their proudest possessions—they stood for the Union, for their loved ones back home, and also as the rallying point in combat.

The Michigan Capitol Battle Flag collection—housed in a special archival unit at the Michigan History Center in Lansing—includes 240 battle flags carried by Michigan soldiers in the Civil War, the Spanish American War, and World War I. Matt VanAcker, the Director for the Michigan Capitol Tour Service in Lansing, will discuss the collection. His talk will include flag terminology, the importance of flags in battle, some specific regimental histories in connection with the flags including those near northern Berrien County, and the history of the collection including current conservation efforts.

No RSVP is required for this free program.

Of all the tall ships that sailed the Great Lakes in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Michigan Maritime Museum chose a relatively unassuming square topsail sloop named the Friends Good Will to replicate and bring to South Haven in 2004. Why this ship? This program will explore the fascinating history of the original Friends Good Will, the process of bringing her back to life, and how she supports the Michigan Maritime Museum's mission and education programs today.

Claire Herhold is the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven. A native of Hartland, Michigan, Claire holds a BA in History from Saginaw Valley State University and a MA in Public History from Western Michigan University, where she is also a part-time instructor. Claire joined the crew of the Friends Good Will as a deckhand in 2021 and is looking forward to getting out on the water as much as she can this summer.

No RSVP is required for this free program.

A contemporary of Theodore Roosevelt called him “a steam engine in trousers.” TR lived life to the fullest and sometimes on the edge. As a precocious youngster, he read grown-up books and exhibited dead animals in his home’s “natural history museum.” As an adult, this Harvard graduate was also a cowboy, an explorer, a conservationist, an author and intellectual, and a soldier who glorified war. As the 26th President of the United States (1901-1909), he tried to reign in Big Business through government regulations. But TR revealed a darker side when the United States entered World War I in 1917.

On the evening of Tuesday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m., history professor Tim Moore will appear at the North Berrien Historical Museum to present a fascinating look at Theodore Roosevelt. Moore has taught American History and the History of Modern East Asia at Lake Michigan College since 2003. No RSVP is required for this free program.

Spring is the time to begin preparing your garden for the warm growing season. To celebrate this exciting time of year, the North Berrien Historical Museum is offering Kids’ Spring Break: How Does Your Garden Grow? Participants will learn about the history of gardening in human civilization and receive some pointers for how to maintain their own garden. Before leaving they will plant a small sampling to take home.

This free program is designed for children ages 6–12 and their families. It will take place on Tuesday, March 21 at both 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Call (269) 468-3330 to RSVP your child today!

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a fun, self-guided scavenger hunt around the North Berrien Historical Museum to find the hidden pot of gold and learn about Irish-American history along the way!

This free program is designed for wee folk ages 6+ and their families. It will take place on Saturday, March 11 from 2:00–4:00 p.m. No RSVP required. Contact the Museum with any questions at (269) 468-3330.

The Watervliet Fruit Exchange has been in the local community since 1940 and continues to grow and evolve, serving area farmers and gardeners. On Tuesday, February 28, Society Members are invited to take a behind-the scenes tour of the Watervliet Fruit Exchange. Lunch at Local 3 Grill & Tap will follow.

Call (269) 468-3330 by Friday, February 24 to RSVP.

See schedule below. Attendees may arrive at the Museum before 10:00 a.m. to carpool or meet at the Fruit Exchange to begin the tour by 10:15 a.m.

North Berrien Historical Museum Departure…….. 10:00 a.m.

Private Tour of Watervliet Fruit Exchange….…….. 10:15 a.m.–11:45 a.m.

Lunch at Local 3 Grill & Tap…………………..….12:00 p.m.

Return to the North Berrien Historical Museum…~1:00 p.m.

Settled in the mid-1800s, Hagar Township was an early hub for the lumber industry given its wealth of trees and proximity to Lake Michigan. The later rise of resorts in the area included the famous private estate known as “Jacobia,” with its tall wooden water tower on the Lake Michigan shore.

Learn about the fascinating past of this unique area with “Township on the Shore: The History of Hagar.” This free program will be presented at Hagar Township Hall by Peter Cook, Programs Director at the North Berrien Historical Museum in Coloma. The presentation will cover the origins of place names as well as strange but true stories from the area, such as eccentric pioneers Kate and Ebenezer Standish and a deadly visit by Chicago mobsters in 1928.

“North Berrien Notables” is a presentation by the North Berrien Historical Museum that covers interesting local connections to nationally famous people and events in history. Learn about historical figures and celebrity visitors to the northern Berrien area (Coloma, Watervliet, Hagar, and Bainbridge), from Robert La Salle to Louis Armstrong. Discover the range of surprising and noteworthy stories connected to the area about pioneers, athletes, politicians, musicians, writers, and other remarkable figures from the past.

This free program will be presented at Watervliet Township Hall by NBHM Programs Director Peter Cook.

Spread your wings and fly on over to the North Berrien Historical Museum in Coloma for a free midwinter break program about birds!

Learn all about our feathered friends who live in Michigan and what they do for the winter from a Sarett Nature Center naturalist and make a pinecone bird feeder to put out for the birds in your backyard. This activity will include the use of peanut butter.

This free program intended for children ages 6–12 takes place on Thursday, December 29. RSVP is required. There are two opportunities to participate: 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. Call (269) 468-3330 to reserve your child’s place today!

Arguably no country has shaped the manufacturing and design of automobiles more than the United States. Although German-born Karl Benz introduced the world to its first motor car, it was largely American ingenuity that drove the automotive industry forward.

Fred Colgren from the Gilmore Car Museum will appear at the North Berrien Historical Museum to present “The Innovators: 20th Century Automotive Pioneers.” This program will highlight the men and women who invented key items and processes that were important to the auto industry, from the Model A to windshield wipers.

No RSVP is required for this free program. Please call (269) 468-3330 with any questions.

The Annual Members-Only Meeting is reserved for North Berrien Historical Society Members. Doors are at 5:00 p.m. There will be a made-to-order dinner prepared by La Chula Mobile starting at 5:30 p.m. The annual meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the program following at 7:00 p.m.

The evening program will be Crazy, Weird and Bizarre Michigan Highway Signs presented by Dr. John Geisler, who will be sharing a collection of road and highway signs that will entertain, inform and delight. He has driven over 5,000 miles conducting research on the history of highways in Michigan. While doing so, he has noted and recorded highway signs that seem out of place, out of joint, or out of this world. For example, a sign on a county road near Albion, MI that reads: "WATCH FOR WATER UNDER BRIDGE." He has always believed that's where it was supposed to be! In addition, he will be presenting materials on signage that will be helpful and interesting to all those who drive on highways and roads.

For membership details and to RSVP, contact the Museum at (269) 468-3330.

NBHM Society Members are invited for a trip to the Morton House Museum in Benton Harbor on Thursday, October 13.

The oldest building in Benton Harbor, the Morton House was built in 1849 by pioneer Eleazar Morton and his son Henry Morton, one of the founders of the city of Benton Harbor.  The family continued to be well known in the city and involved with its growth and prosperity, living in the house until 1936. The house was then deeded to the Federation of Women’s Clubs, which used it as a clubhouse and started a house museum in the early 1960s. The Morton House Museum board now runs the museum as “The Home of Benton Harbor History.”

With a 9:30 a.m. departure from the North Berrien Historical Museum, Society Members will be given a tour of the Morton House from 10:00 a.m.–noon. Lunch will follow at the Mason Jar Café.

Society Members have the option of carpooling. Please RSVP by Friday, October 7 by calling (269) 468-3330. For membership details, visit: http://www.northberrienhistory.org/society-membership/annual-society-membership

On the night of September 28, 1879, Charles Henry Morris and his wife Esther Jones Morris were slain by gunfire in their home in Decatur, Michigan. The only other occupant of the house, a servant girl, never heard a thing. The murder was shocking to the small frontier community and was immediately prioritized by the local police as well as every other person in the area. Despite their efforts, the murder is still unsolved nearly 150 years later.

Jan Roeder and Ron Morris will present “Unsolved: The Morris Murders.” Join us to learn the perplexing details of this unsolved case.

No RSVP is required for this free program. Please call (269) 468-3330 with any questions.

Have you ever dreamt of flying?

Become a pilot for a day with Taking Flight: Aviation History for Kids. This summer program, designed for children ages 6–12, will focus on the history of aviation. Before leaving, participants will design their own small aircraft to better understand the principle of lift in flight.

This FREE program is available on Thursday, August 25 at both 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Call (269) 468-3330 to RSVP your child today!