“Eden Waits” featured at Brown Bag Lunch

Posted on July 21, 2024July 21, 2024

The Schoolcraft County Historical Society will host a Brown Bag Lunch at Zion Lutheran Church on Thursday, July 25^th from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. The guest author is Maryka Biaggio, Ph.D., from Portland, Oregon. Her novel, Eden Waits, is based on the true story of the Hiawatha Village Association, a Utopian community founded in Hiawatha Township during the 1890’s following the economic “Panic of 1893.” The hard times threatened the settlement founded by Abraham and Elizabeth Byers. Abraham, a preacher and self-proclaimed man of the people, rails against greed and corruption and launches Hiawatha Colony, a product-sharing community designed to support its members through self-sufficiency. Challenges lie ahead including internal strife, the harsh wilds of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the antagonism of the outside world. Read More...

Stain-Glass Rose Window to be Displayed at Folk Fest

Posted on July 10, 2024July 11, 2024

St. Francis de Sales church circa 1884, SCHS photo courtesy Earl Cousineau Collection

The historical society building on the corner of Deer and Weston is home to hundreds of historic photographs, manuscripts and artifacts related to Schoolcraft County’s past. One such item is a stained-glass rose window that was salvaged from the original St. Francis de Sales church in Manistique, following the April 1953 fire which rendered the building unsafe. The window was donated to the society in 2019 by the family of Earl Cousineau, and will be on display at the historical society booth during Folk Fest. We look forward to the day when hundreds more items from our archives can be put on display in a museum dedicated solely to the history of Schoolcraft County. Read More...

Great Lakes Quilt Auction

Posted on July 3, 2024July 3, 2024

The quilt can be viewed at the historical society store next to Manistique Computers.

Help support the historical society by being a part of our silent auction!

The quilt top was sewn by Arliss Larson before her death and was donated to the Zion Lutheran quilting group by her family. The Zion quilters finished the quilt and they in turn donated it to the Schoolcraft County Historical Society as a fundraiser. The quilt can be seen at the historical society store located on Cedar Street next to Manistique Computers. The quilt blocks depict Great Lakes ships and lighthouses including the Carl Bradley, Edmund Fitzgerald along with the Manistique and Seul Choix lighthouses, among others. The central blocks are completed in the “Storm at Sea” pattern. It is a standard 60 inch by 80-inch size. The quilt auction began Wednesday, July 3rd and will continue through Sunday, July 14th at noon. Starting bid reserved at $200. Highest bidders’ payment will be due when the quilt is either picked up at the store or prior to shipping. Payment can be made either by cash, check, or via PayPal from the historical society website. Shipping costs, if necessary, will be paid by the winning bidder. Read More...