Antique Quilt Block Billboards for Sale
The Consumers Energy
Foundation has awarded
the Remus Area Histori-
cal Society $1,000 to-
ward a project named
Preserving Heritage.
The project is designed
to better monitor for and
protect against the main
causes of deterioration of
historical records and arti-
facts while conserving en-
ergy and cost.
While recognizing the
company’s 125th anniver-
sary, the project also fit
the Foundation’s com-
mitment to Michigan
Growth and Education,
Community and Civic
projects.
The new conservation
and preservation items
will help to preserve arti-
facts.
Museum displays edu-
cate residents and visi-
tors about lessons we
have learned from our
history while celebrating
the area’s significance.
Shown at left accepting
the award from Yolanda
Lewis of the Consumers
Energy Foundation is
Linda Howard, RAHS
Board President.
Quilt Block painting on wood, for outdoor deco-ration. Hang them on your barn, garage, porch or shed! There are six block designs used by area ancestors from which to choose. Each
one is made of heavy materi-als with multiple coats of paint to endure Michigan weather and the edges are trimmed. You can choose your own colors. We can create a trail like Osceola County did! (See page 4)
The Quilt Boards are available in a large size 4’ x 4’ for $150 or small size 2’x 2’ for $75.
For more information, contact Sherry Marks at (231) 250-2441, email [email protected] H, or Mary Simon (989) 561-2768, or send an email to [email protected] U H.
Consumers Energy Foundation awards Preserving Heritage Grant
Collection News
Area Churches display
Old School Photos
2
Fall Fest Oct. 13, 2012
Sports & Recreation display
New Book about Remus
Spring Tea June 9, 2012
3
Quilt Trail
Ed Walch Jr Memorial
Work Day May 10, 2012
Veterans Display
4
Match Day Donors
2011 Donors
2012 Donors
5
Contact Info
Purpose Statement
Museum Hours
Communication Display Loan
6
Inside this
issue:
April 2012 - Spring Issue
Remus Area Historical Society (RAHS) a nonprofit tax exempt organization
324 S. Sheridan, P. O. Box 71, Remus, MI 49340
“Our Past, Your Future"
Ed Walch, Jr. started the Old School Photo project and after he became
ill, Gary Cox began working with the Wheatland Township Library,
and, Frank J Boles, CMU Clarke Historical Library historian/archivist,
to get the old graduating class composite photos from 1925 – 1967
scanned. As of March 31st, the last batch of 19 photos of the 43 origi-
nals had been delivered to CMU to be scanned. Once scanned RAHS
plans to print, mount and display them in the museum’s Old Schools
Display. Each photo, like the 1937 class shown at right, will cost $36
to print and mount. If your family or your graduating class would like
to adopt a year or contribute toward this project, please contact Gary at
Ph (989) 561-2848 or by email [email protected].
Old School Photo Project Continues
funeral records, old Sunday school materi-als, an old family bible, communion certifi-cates, jubliees, a chalice, hand bells, etc. Larger items that might represent your church might include a choir robe, a stained glass window, an old pulpit, a pew, etc. Items can be donated or loaned.
To confirm your group’s participation please contact Ken Todd, Vice Presi-dent of Remus Area Historical Society (989) 967-8249, by email at [email protected] or stop by the museum on Wednesdays.
history of area churches.
Churches or faith based organiza-tions located in one of our ten township are invited to showcase your history. Artifacts that have dates, names of original donors, and, stories about the item’s histo-ry add to the intrigue of the item. Depending on the response, each display might need to be limited to 3’ by 3.’ It might include: the story of your origin, founding families, baptismal clothes, a hymnal, pho-tographs, birth, death, wedding, or
Churches and faith based or-ganizations were all important to the growth, develop-ment and
support of area families, and, contin-ue to be a mainstay of our area.
Under the leadership of Ken Todd, the Museum is developing a new display that will celebrate the
Area Churches Display Under Development
Collection News (Contributors since October)
Page 2 Remus Area Historical Society (RAHS)
Come see the International Harvester Potato Digger locat-
ed in south yard of the museum. The tractor shaft pow-
ered implement was used in the 1940’s by area farmers.
Donated by Don Hatfield and installed by Tom Marks, the
equipment reflects the area’s agricultural heritage.
Dave Abel—Civil Defense Box that hung in school
Kathryn Bennett—Child’s desk
Mary & Terry Batchelder -Porcelain enamel Hershel’s Milk Chocolate Cow
sign, Remus Heritage Barns poster, 4 barn postcards from Lakeview, 3 poster size barn info, 2 large framed quilt block pictures, 1 large framed
Barn Picture, Notebook of Barn Memorabilia
Tom Diehm—numerous old newspapers
Karen DeLong—Christmas String Lights that hung in Remus for years
Linda Howard -Race Horse Poster of Hal Red Cloud, grandson of Elec-
tioneer, Book 30 Years in Pictures 1960-1990, Mecosta County 4H Plat Books 2003, 2007, 1996, 1972
Dale Karcher -carpenter’s hand saw, corn planter, kerosene can, Stanley
circular skil saw, paste brush, wooden pulley
Julie & Denny Nelson -2 old polaroids
Dorothy Lipar -photos and news clippings of the area and of Remus Herit-
age Days
Karen Rhode—German Bible and Songbook
Sandy May Roberts -1933 Girl Scout Manual that belonged to Alice May
Wheatland Twp -Bundy Mountain Jubilee book from the old theatre, 1868
& 1908 Wheatland Union Cemetery receipts log and record of meetings
The first ever Fall Fest was held in
October 2011. Despite the weath-
er, the event was a success. There
were hands-on demonstrations
like the cider press, weaving and
spinning and petting zoo. Amish
baked goods and candied popcorn
and free locally made cheese!
Many arts and craft vendors as
well as a group of old time musi-
cians entertained folks in the
Township Hall. The scare crows
all over town were a big draw!
There were even horse-drawn car-
riage rides and locally produced
garden items for sale. A former
Remus resident, Mary Batchelder,
gave an interesting presentation
about the use, designs and purpos-
es of barns to a standing room on-
ly crowd. A quilt block sign was
presented to Remus Lumber in
appreciation of their long support.
So we are doing it again on
October 13th!
SECOND FALL FEST IS SCHEDULED—OCTOBER 13, 2012
son Zack Hatfield, and, Deb Bruener,
both teachers at Chippewa Hills, are also
helping. Don and John are conducting
and filming oral history interviews with
area elders. The goal is to have the book
ready for sale by Remus Heritage Days.
For more information contact Don at
(989) 560-3224 or John at (989) 967
3416 or email [email protected].
Don Hatfield, John Oswald and Gary
Cox have been working on a new book
about the Remus area and early families.
John’s granddaughter Lily, a sophomore
at St. John University in Queens, New
York, is compiling the information as part
of a writing and publishing project. They
also enlisted the help of Char Lenon for
copies of photos and documents the mu-
seum had already collected. Don’s grand-
New Book About Remus Area Compiled
When Ken’s father, Keith was growing up on the
farm he would see deer tracks but rarely see deer.
Keith didn’t see a deer there until he was eight
years old. Now deer are plentiful and the Remus
area has some of the best deer hunting in the state
drawing outdoor sportsmen and women from
across the nation.
The mount, provided on loan, coincides with the
museum’s efforts to create a new Sports and
Recreation display. If you have items that de-
pict the area’s Sports and Recreation history—
such as trophies, team photos, old fishing lures,
or baseball bats, please contact Dawn Snyder at
(989) 561-5469.
A whitetail deer mount was hung in the
museum lobby. The deer was taken by
Ken Lobert on the Lobert Family Farm in
Wheatland Township. The farm has
been owned by the Lobert family since
1908 when the homestead was first pur-
chased by Joseph and Julia Lobert.
Although Ken Lobert has resided outside
the state since 1988, he makes sure to
make it back to Remus several times a
year; including opening days for both
deer and duck season as well as Remus
Heritage Days. Ken is shown at right
with son Max Lobert, age five, represent-
ing generation number five.
Deer Mount for new Sports and Recreation Display
Remus Area Historical Society (RAHS) Spring 2012
If you or your organization
would like space to sell area
made products, educate the
public about your business,
demonstrate an old time
craft, play music, or want to
help plan or participate, we
would like to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]
Tea, Cookies, Fancy Hats, Tribute to Ed Walch, Silent Auction, Music, and
more—at the museum,
324 S. Sheridan , Remus.
Because the cost this year is on a
“donation only” basis we need to
know how many will be attending,
so please reserve your seats by con-
tacting Sue Sheehan (989) 967-
3443, or , Mary Batchelder by email
at [email protected] .
7th Annual Spring Tea
Saturday, June 9, 2012, 2 p.m.
Elsie Vredenburg gave a presen-tation on the Osceola County
Quilt Trail at our November 9th, 2011 annual meeting. That Quilt
Trail is part of a volunteer public art movement that extends
across the United States. The trail not only celebrates rural
heritage but draws tourists that enjoy following the trail to locate
the over 79 quilt blocks. They are mounted on barns, homes,
businesses, township halls, fire barns and post offices all across
Osceola County. Shown with Elsie is Sherry Marks holding one
of the many quilt blocks pro-duced by Remus Area Historical
Society.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU to those that contributed to the “Honor Our Veterans” display:
American Legion Post 240 in
Blanchard for making a gift of $100.
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Albert Schiffer Post 2335 for making a gift of $500.
If you have Veteran items for the display, please contact Mary Simon at (989) 561-2768 or Gary Cox at (989) 561-2768.
THANK YOU TO “HONOR OUR VETERANS” DONORS
We bid a sad farewell to our board member, tech advisor and good friend Ed Walch, who passed away on December 14, 2011. He was a sweet man, always ready to help. He maintained the museum computers, initiated the Remus website, led the Post Office section of the Communications project, began the Old School Photos pro-ject and more. He is greatly missed. You are invited to join us in a memorial tribute to Ed on June 9, 2012 at 2:00 o’clock at the annual Spring Tea. See page 3.
Ed Walch, Jr.
You can order your own quilt block in your own colors or design in either the large or small size. For more information, contact Sherry Marks at (231) 250-2441,
email [email protected], or Mary Simon (989) 561-2768, [email protected].
Building a local trail...
Page 4 Remus Area Historical Society (RAHS)
WORK DAY PLANNED !
Please join Erna Lobert and other
volunteers on Thursday, May 10, 2012
during a Museum Yard Clean-up Day.
The day starts at 8:30 a.m. and contin-
ues until about 1:00 p.m. You do not
need to work all day. Come for an
hour or for the morning. We welcome
any amount of time you can spare…
Please mark your rakes and shovels
and bring them along.
PHOTO OF ED WALCH
On November 3, 2011, the Mecosta
County Community Founda-
tion received donations des-
ignated to Remus Area His-
torical Society. These gifts
were matched by the Foun-
dation up to fifty cents on the
dollar. For more infor-
mation, see
www.mecostagives.com.
MATCH DAY 2011 was the
single largest one-day fund-
raiser in Mecosta County his-
tory.
Thank you Match Day donors and Mecosta County Community Foundation!
2012 CONTRIBUTORS
Doyle & Dorothy Esch
John & Nancy (May) Doyle
Mike Gingrich
Don & Edna Hatfield
Harriet Marks
Craig & Dianne Nasson
Ken & DeLoris Todd
Mecosta County Community Foundation Community Needs grant toward a new Sports
and Recreation display
OTHER 2011 CONTRIBUTORS
Thanks to your support, Remus Area Historical Society received $ 4037.74 (your gifts and MATCH DAY funds.)
Page 5 Spring 2012
MATCH DAY DONORS Bandit Industries Nancy Baldwin Pamela Burke Jane/Bruce Carlson Marjorie Chandler in honor of
Ray & Ann Simon Robert/Christine Cook Gary/Carrol Cox Art Diehm
Cynthia Diehm Karen/Ed DeLong Nancy Doyle Audrey DuBois Pamela S. /Michael J. Forbes
Edwin Gingrich GFWC Heart of the Lakes-Mecosta Neil/Linda Hopp Isabella Bank
Hometown Health Foods Darlene Howard Linda Howard Hosking and Killian Dentistry Arnold & Isabella Kempton
Patrick Kowaleski Chris/Fred Kuebler Char Lenon M.E. Lobert
Patricia Loers Wayne/Jean May Tom/Sherry Marks Steve/Karen Moore Maureen Nelson
Michael/Diane Ockert Elsie Packard Sue Parker in memory of Carl & Ardyth Wernette
Jann/Dowayne Parks Mary Jane Post Beatrice Ransom Remus Bowling Center Remus Heritage Days
Remus Lumber Company Remus Tavern Robert/Bonnie Ruetz Sackett Potatoes
William/Beverly Sheehan Ron/Paula Smith Larry/Elizabeth Snider Sweeney-Holbeck-Schuberg Insurance
Beverly Visser Charles/Sharon Wernette Jack Wernette
Terry and Mary Batchelder
Linda Berry
Because Remus Area Historical Society, Inc. is an incorporated tax exempt
nonprofit, all gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law.
The purpose of the Remus Area Historical Society, Inc., an educational and
charitable organization, is to celebrate the heritage, and preserve the cul-tural and historical resources, of the Townships of Wheatland, Broomfield,
Rolland, Millbrook, Colfax, Morton, Martiny, Austin, Hinton, Sheridan, and surrounding area.
Remus Area Historical
Society (RAHS)
324 S. Sheridan, P. O. Box 71
Remus, MI 49340
For more information, call
Linda Howard (989) 967-3468,
Char Lenon (989) 967-8153, or
Sherry Marks (231) 250-2441 or
Email: [email protected].
and a new Genealogy computer station! The
genealogy computer sta-tion has internet access
and a scanner and printer. It is free and available to
the public whenever the museum is open. Online
and printed Genealogy re-sources are also available.
COME TO A MEETING!
Regular meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of
each month at 5 p.m. at the museum. Come find
your niche. Propose a pro-ject or topic that you
would find of interest.
The Museum is open to residents and visitors every Wednesday
and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 2 through October 31.
Volunteers are welcome to help staff the museum, Memorial Day
through Labor Day this summer on Saturdays 11-3. If you are
interested, contact Ken Todd (989) 967-8249, email
[email protected], or, Char Lenon (989) 967 8153 email
Check out the handicapped ramp entrance made possible
by your gifts and grants!
Come see the brightened up-
stairs with its new coat of paint
MUSEUM HOURS:
WE’RE ON THE WEB! WWW.REMUS.ORG
If you wish to be deleted from this list or if this email should have been directed to a different email address please let us know.
COMMUNICATION DISPLAY for LOAN
The Communications display is now available for loan to area Schools, Museums, Libraries or other public sites. The display kit comes with an EARLY COMMUNICATIONS 66” sign and two large tubs of materials. One tub contains tin can phones, an old crank phone, old rotary dial and push button phones, an early car phone, educational cards, photos of Barryton switchboard work-ers, a notebook, and information boards. The second tub in-cludes examples of insulators on posts, old phone wire, modern cable, area phone company histories, and a lineman’s belt, gear and spurs for climbing poles.
The display was made possible by gifts from the Blanchard Tele-phone Association, Inc., The Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED) affiliated with the Organization for the Pro-motion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Compa-nies (OPASTCO), Mecosta County Community Foundation, Remus Heritage Days, and, supporters of Remus Area Historical Society.
Your site may reserve the kit for one, three, six or twelve months for a donation to the Remus Area Historical Society.
To make loan arrangements, contact Pamela Burke at (989) 967-8808 or email [email protected].