Jan 1, 2014 ... collection of Martin Luther. Medallions and the history that goes with them. He is
a very enthusiastic speaker that you are sure to enjoy.
Swartz Creek Area Historical Society swartzcreekhistory.com
Pub # 93
Nov-Dec 2017
November 8- Factory 1 - Kevin Kurbitz December - No Meeting - Happy Holidays Regular meetings are held every 2nd
while my Dad was stationed in North Africa
Wednesday of the month at 7pm in the
with the Lighter than Air (blimps) Division of
Swartz Creek City Hall, 8083 Civic Drive,
the U.S. Navy. My father-in law served in the
Swartz Creek, MI 48473.
Army and lived through the terrible Battle of the Bulge in Europe.
Please join us.
“It is the mission of the Swartz Creek Area Historical Society to keep alive the chronicle of our community’s yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows in the hearts and minds of those around us.”
We are thankful that
they both came home unscathed. Many of you also served, whether during war time or not, each sacrificed a part of their life so that all of us could enjoy the freedom we have in the United States.
We
would like to invite all of our veteran mem-
P
lease note that occasionally our meetings are relocated from City Hall to a different location and time. Those changes will be mentioned in this newsletter and posted on the door at city hall. If we have your email address, you will receive an email as well!
bers to be with us at the November meeting
Notes from the President
Since we have no meeting in December, I Can
winter be far behind?
No-
vember brings two very important holidays, Veteran’s and
Thanksgiving.
Really, both are days to give thanks.
Veteran’s Day al-
lows us to honor and show gratitude for those who served in our military to protect and preserve our democracy. Most of us had relatives who served during World War II.
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all of the blessings we enjoy; family, friends and freedom. I hope each of you will be sharing the day with those you care about. Be safe if you are traveling to visit loved ones. would like to also wish you a very Merry
Fall is in full swing!
Day
so we can thank you personally.
I
was born and celebrated my first birthday
Christmas!
Methodist
Sept 13 Meeting Ghost Town in the U.P. - Peter Maas One of the most noteworthy historical sites
in
Keweenaw
County is Central, or Central Mine. Central is a village that once was the home for over 1,200 people, and the site of one Keweenaw's most successful mines. The mine, opened in 1854, produced nearly 52 million pounds of copper by the time it closed in 1898. Several
miners'
homes
and buildings still stand on the site. In 1996, the Keweenaw County Historical Society ac-
Church for the Central
weenaw County Historical Society has been restoring the buildings at Central. In 2017 they began renting House #8, an old miners house, for weekly rentals to raise income to continue this restoration process. Descendants
of
Central
mining
families
gather
each year, on the last
Sunday
July,
at
the
in old
in
tinctive battlemented tower reflecting the Cornish ancestry of many Central families, closed in 1903. It is reopened on each Reunion Sunday for a service of tribute to the hardy pioneers of all faiths from all the early copper mines that dotted Keweenaw County. July 30,
2017
marked the 111th anniversary of these reunions. We thank Peter Maas for bringing us this story of Central Mine, Michigan. It is a beautiful area if your looking for a peaceful get away in our wonderful state.
October 11 Meeting Swartz Creek Street Names Dave Spillane
stored, and a Visitors Center provides in-
homes, schools and churches. The Ke-
erected
The
1868, with its dis-
Some of the residences are being re-
mine but also about the miners' families,
Reunion.
church,
quired 38 acres of the old Central site.
terpretive exhibits not only about the
Episcopal
Dave Spillane researched the history of the
Swartz
Creek
Area
Streets
and
Roads, and shared his findings with us at the October meeting. He started his presentation with Adam Miller and his sons who cut the path through a forest which is now Swartz Creek – then called “Miller Settlement” in 1836, and continued on to the present. Like any town in development,
some
of
the streets and roads were named after the people who settled here. Some were named after the trees or history of the 2
area and some were named after what
Community Service
was built there, like School Street, right
Dennis Holden
along Mary Crapo or Miller Road named after Adam Miller and his sons.
Spillane Phone Recently
we
received a donation of a phone from the trose
Mon-
Historical
Society with the name
Spillane
written on it. Originally we thought it may be a phone from the fire department because of the front dial on the phone. The dial had nothing to do with where it was used but was just the type of phone used during that period of time. We went first to Dave Spillane to ask if it was his family’s phone, but he didn’t recognize it. He asked his family members and his cousins Pat Burk and Pam Vredovoogd recognized the handwriting on the phone as the one used by their father in the 1940s at the Spillane Hardware in Swartz Creek. The
Spillane
Hardware
Store
was established by their
Grandfather
George His
son
Spillane. Charles
later joined him in the business they then ran together. We are happy to
Pat Burk & Dave Spillane
Part of the ongoing work at the burial ground is the mowing of the large grassy area and the lane leading to the burial plots. Last spring, a group of Cub Scouts visited and as the group was leaving, one of the adults in the group, Dennis Holden, came up and asked about the grassy area. I explained that we sometimes have a mower visit who is sent by the Mt. Pleasant tribe, but we can’t always rely on any consistency of keeping the grass mowed. Mr. Holden volunteered to help us and all summer long he has been very attentive to mowing the grass. It has never looked nicer than this summer, so we are honoring him with a certificate of appreciation for his volunteer efforts that make all of us look and feel good about this special place in our community. Thanks, again, Dennis, for your contribution of time to help us care for it all.
now have it in our archives. 3
Chippewa Burial Grounds
The 10th Michigan
On September 25, we met a Goodrich Area Senior Center tour group who were visiting several areas around the county. We were delighted they chose to visit our sacred place.
Infantry History
When they disembarked from the coach, they were simply amazed at this place; almost all of them had never been here. They listened attentively to hear about the origin of the Henry Howland Crapo Farm and his relationship with the Chippewa Native Americans who worked on the farm. The group was also interested in some of the Native American customs that take place here, as well as being impressed that two Chippewa Tribal Chiefs are buried in our area, as well as a Civil War soldier. I am certain some of them will return to the site to see our volunteer efforts taking place. We received a very nice contribution from the center and touring guests Mr. & Mrs. William Mertz made a personal contribution, as well.
Battle Flag Adoption On Wednesday September 27 Len & Sharon Thomas adopted The 10th Michigan Infantry Battle Flag in honor of their 11 family Civil War soldiers who were in the 10th Michigan Infantry and in honor of the Swartz Creek Area Historical Society! They also adopted the 3rd Michigan Cavalry Battle Flag after the Corporal Carson Civil War letters book was written by Len in 2012.
The 10th Michigan Infantry was organized on the banks of the Flint River, where present Aventine and Avondale Cemeteries are now located, on February 6, 1862. Although not a soldier, attorney Edward Hughes Thomson, of Flint, was one of the organizers of the camp and is buried in Glenwood Cemetery. For his involvement he is included, as a Colonel, in most lists of Civil War soldiers. There were 1,514 men enrolled in the regiment; 62 were killed in action, 26 died of wounds, 9 died in Confederate prisons, and 86 died of disease. 178 men were discharged because of wounds during battle. The enlisted men came from the cities and towns of Byron, Saginaw, Sanilac, Port Huron, Almont, Pontiac, New Lothrop, Hillsdale, and Flint. In April of 1862,Colonel Charles M. Lum was appointed commander and this unit joined General Halleck’s regiment at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. Once reaching this destination, the 10th Michigan was in direct conflict with the Confederate units. The regiment took part in 29 battles, including Corinth, Mississippi; Stone River, Tennessee; Buzzard’s Roost, Georgia, Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia, and Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia. The unit spent much time building fortifications, guarding trains, and hand-to-hand combat with Confederate troops. In March the Regiment was re4
turned to Michigan, arriving at Detroit and was furloughed for 30 days. By May 11th the Tenth was back in Chattanooga, thence to Georgia, marching by way of Dalton and Kennesaw Mountain, crossing the Chattahoochee River the 17th, then taking part in the Siege of Atlanta. The Tenth was a part of General Sherman's great army and participated in the march from Atlanta to the Sea On the 10th of May, 1865, the Regiment was marched to Washington, D. C., where it took part in the Grand Review with General Sherman's army on the 24th. The men honored today were part of that activity, and probably talked about this event for years following the war. The regiment returned to Jackson, Michigan on July 22, 1865 and on August 1, 1865, the men were paid, discharged and the unit was disbanded. With but one exception, all of these soldiers are buried in Michigan, and we proudly honor their service. These flags hung for years in the Michigan Capitol Rotunda, they are now housed in humidity/ temperature-controlled conditions. Some of the flags are now being repaired, some are beyond repair in silk shreds.
Condolences
Upcoming Events •
November 8 - FACTORY 1 - Kevin Kurbitz Once home to the Flint Road Cart Co., established in 1886 by William Crapo “Billy” Durant and business partner Josiah Dallas Dort, it includes event space and a modern archive where future generations can learn about the innovators and risk takers who reinvented personal transportation.
•
December - No meeting
•
January 10 - “Stranglers of the Revolution”, American Polar Bears - Mike Grobbel; The American North Russia expedi-
tionary Force of 1918-1919. The story of the US Army, mostly from MI, who fought the Bolshevik Red Army during the Allied Intervention in the Russian Civil War.
Website All of our publications are listed with prices on our website: swartzcreekhistory.com
the Swartz Creek Area Histori-
Pease note that all of our speakers are tentative and sometimes do get changed. We will do our best to inform you of any last minute changes by email or newspaper and they are always posted at the door of the mini museum in City Hall!
cal Society, and he generously
2017
Dr James English, a long time supporter of our society, passed away on October 20, 2017. He was a life member of
allowed us storage space in his office at no charge for over 15 years. We will forever be grateful for his kindness and send our sincere condolences to his children, William English and Christine O’Conner and their entire families for the loss of such a wonderful man.
November 8 - FACTORY ONE; Birthplace of General Motors - Kevin Kurbitz December - No Meeting 2018 January 10 - “STRANGLERS OF THE REVOLUTION” - Mike Grobbel 5
Donations •
Ed & Fay Schultheis - Monetary Donation in memory of Dr James English
•
•
Mr. & Mrs. William Mertz - Monetary Donation for the upkeep of the Indian Burial Grounds The Goodrich Senior Center - Monetary Donation for the upkeep of the Indian Burial Grounds
Membership Information Dues Thanks to those who have paid your 2017 dues and beyond and to those who responded to the reminder.
Your dues are
very important and are used to cover our day to day costs. Payments can be sent to the address shown below and your new dues card will be sent with the next newsletter. Please
let
us
know
of
any
address
changes. We are a 501 C-3 non profit group
SC Area Obituary Index Len Thomas is continuing to update area obituaries for the file located at the
and all of your contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Contributions and memorials are always welcome.
Perkins Library in Swartz Creek. With
Membership dues levels:
people contributing and the current obitu-
Seniors: (60 and up) and Students (18 and
ary search each day in the Flint Journal
under) $5.00
as of November, 2017 there are 3,885
Individuals: under 60 years of age $10.00
obituaries on file.
Family: (all related persons in the same household) $20.00
If you haven’t looked at the obituary file, check it out; you will be amazed! Board trustee, Chris Campbell has volunteered to continue clipping current obituaries
from
local
newspapers.
SCAHS
member, Paul Williams has been scouting the internet for any very old obituaries he can find. All of this help is truly appreciated as we continue our mission of serving our own communities. If you have family obituaries not on the current list,
Send all payments or correspondence to: S.C.A.H.S. 11353 Cook Rd. Gaines, Michigan 48436 – 9742 Email:
[email protected] or
[email protected] - Phone: 989-271-9193
OFFICERS President……………… Susan Swan - 2020 Vice-President…….. Christine Campbell 2018
please mail them to: Len Thomas 4267 Springbrook Drive, Swartz Creek, MI
Patron: $50
48473
Secretary…………...
Angie Buda - 2018
Treasurer……………
Tim Buda - 2019
Trustees………………
Bill Miller - 2020
Dave Spillane - 2019
Lisa Spillane - 2018
Len Thomas - 2019
Carolyn West - 2019
Alternates………... Scott Roy - 2020 Ron West - 2020 6
