Marshall
Historical Society
A Newsletter for Members and Friends of the Marshall Historical Society
Volume 3, August 2014
Getting Ready for 51st Home Tour
Home Tour co-chairs - Jeff Greene and Judy Babcock pictured at left - have
been working hard to get all the details in place in time for the 51st annual
Home Tour. “This year is actually the 50th anniversary of the Home Tour, as
well as the 175th anniversary of the Governor’s Mansion, and we wanted to
have another special tour in place to celebrate that,” said Judy Babcock. “We
have a great set of homes on Home Tour, some for the first time, and some
that haven’t been on tour for many years, so this should be fun for visitors.”
(For a preview of this year’s homes and venues go to the MHS web site.)
Jeff Greene is new to the co-chair role, and he has benefitted from Judy’s
experience. “When I was asked last fall to be this year’s co-chair, along with
Judy Babcock, the event seemed like a long way in the future. But with the
help of many valuable, experienced committee chairs and a wealth of fresh
enthusiasm, I am excited to be a part of this adventure.”
Both co-chairs have been very complimentary to their various committee chairs, noting that as usual, nothing gets
done unless everyone works well together. They commented on the number of folks in Marshall who turn out to
work in various roles, from hosting to setting up tables and cleaning up, all while making it look easy and fun. “ We
are looking forward to another great weekend that brings folks to Marshall, and sends them away wanting more.”
Celebrating 175 Years!!!
In 1839 State Senator James Wright Gordon was so sure that Marshall
would become the state’s new capital that he built a home for Michigan’s chief executive. The 51st annual Marshall Historic Home Tour on
Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6-7, will celebrate the 175th anniversary of
the Governor’s Mansion.
The first state constitution in 1835 fixed the capital at Detroit until
1847. There had been a political understanding that key towns along
the Old Territorial Road would get the new state’s institutions. The
university went to Ann Arbor and the prison to Jackson. The capital
was to be in Marshall.
However, in a key legislative vote in 1847, Marshall finished one vote
behind Lyons (soon to be renamed Lansing). A later vote confirmed
Lansing as the new capital. Although his efforts to make Marshall the state capital would fail, Senator
Gordon did become lieutenant governor in 1840 and acting governor in 1841.
The Governor’s Mansion is owned and managed by the Mary Marshall chapter of the Daughters of the
American Revolution. It sits across from the Calhoun County fairgrounds. That land originally was planned
as the site of the state capitol building.
Please join the Marshall Historical Society in congratulating the D.A.R. on its celebration of the Governor’s
Mansion’s 175 years by planning a visit during this year’s Home Tour.
www.marshallhistoricalsociety.org
President’s Letter
Well, another year has rolled around, and Home Tour is fast approaching. We have another great
tour planned, with seven homes, two businesses, an art gallery, a church, and eight museums.
And some great activities have been planned at the fairgrounds; we will have the Civil War Ball;
Art at the Museum is taking shape; and lots of activity will be happening in town. If we can get
the same weather we had last year, it should be another wonderful weekend!
If you aren’t working yet on one of the committees or as a volunteer at one of the venues, now
is the time to sign up. Call the Honolulu House and leave your name and number – you will get
a call! We get a lot of visitors from out of town for this Tour, and you can be part of someone’s
great memories of Marshall.
We will have several character portrayals at various venues, so look for those announcements as we get closer to
Home Tour. Our new Marshall Museum, which is taking shape in the GAR Hall, will be open for viewing during
Home Tour, so plan to stop in and see what’s been done. This is another exciting initiative committee members have
been working hard to bring forward, and progress has been made that you should see.
And we’re pleased to bring back one of the member benefits we used to offer – half price Home Tour tickets! From now until September 5, members can buy up to 4 tickets for the family at $10 each. Just stop
by the Honolulu House or go online to purchase tickets, and take advantage of this benefit. If you haven’t
done the Tour recently, what are you waiting for?
Ann Rhodes
Fun at the Annual Member Picnic
We had our second annual member picnic June 24 at the Capitol Hill
School, and a good time was had by all. Originally scheduled for June
23, we got rained out, and were lucky enough to get a beautiful sunny
evening for the rain date.
Hot dogs and hamburgers with all the fixings and drinks were provided
by the board, and everyone brought a dish to pass. Without any advance
planning, we seemed to have just the right mix of sides, salads, and desserts, and no one went away hungry or unsatisfied. We also had a drawing for a lovely planter, donated by Rosie and Dave Clark, which was won
by Mary Sue Lowman. She seems happy in the picture, doesn’t she?
Plan to join us next year – this is a casual, fun evening, and a good time to catch up with friends old and new.
New Feature Added to Home Tour
As noted in the June 2013 issue of this newsletter, Marshall’s Historic
Home Tour started in 1957 as a fund-raising event for the Women’s
Guild of Trinity Episcopal Church. The guild was interested in raising money to make purchases for the church’s kitchen, and it seemed
logical and fun to start a Kitchen Tour. From 1957 to 1963 the guild
sponsored the annual Kitchen Tour. In 1964 they expanded the tour
to include whole houses, and by 1968 the tour had become larger than
the guild could handle, and they turned what we all know as Marshall’s Historic Home Tour over to the Marshall Historical Society.
As the Home Tour has now entered its 51st year, it seemed fitting for the tour to return to its roots by including a
house that was on the original Kitchen Tour. Adding a newer home where the focus is on the kitchen, if one could
call a home built in 1959 “new,” allows the Home Selection Committee to expand the pool of homes available to
be considered for the tour. “Given the popularity of the Food Network, and given that our kitchen was on the original Kitchen Tour, we are excited about being included. Even though we have renovated the original 1959 kitchen, it
still occupies its original footprint which is quite small by today’s standards,” stated home owner Steve Rhodes.
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The picture is of a replica of the plaque that was fixed to the cabinets in the Rhodes home when it was on the
Kitchen Tour in 1961.
Marshall Museum Update
Did you know that there are EIGHT significant museums in Marshall? And do you know that curiously, despite
our city’s long and proud history, NONE of these museums focuses specifically on the history of Marshall?
The Marshall Historical Society (MHS) oversees three of Marshall’s eight museums: the Honolulu House,
Capitol Hill School, and the Grand Army of the Republic Hall (G.A.R.). In addition to these three Society museums, there are also five other notable museums in Marshall: the Calhoun County Fair Museum, the Governor’s
Mansion, M. Schragg Postal Museum, Walter’s Gasoline Museum, and the American Museum of Magic. For
more information on each of these museums go to the Marshall Historical Society’s web page at marshallhistoricalsociety.org and follow the links to “Museums” and “Other Attractions.”
As noted in the March issue of the MHS newsletter, recognizing that no one museum focuses on the history of
Marshall, the MHS Board along with representation from the community and consultation with a curator from
the Henry Ford Museum, started to explore some new directions for the Society’s museums. What follows is
an update on those explorations.
According to the MHS Board, progress on making the G.A.R. building into a more comprehensive Marshall
Museum is on track for an opening preview in time for September’s Historic Home Tour. The goal is “Telling
Marshall’s Stories.” The displays are to have exhibits in the following categories:
GAR/Civil War: Most of the Civil War and G.A.R. artifacts will be maintained with the hope to supplement
them with more information about Marshall’s role in the war and its aftermath.
It Happened In Marshall: Exhibits providing information about local significant events such as the Crosswhite
Incident, designing the state’s school system, and formation of the first railroad union.
Community Life: Information and artifacts about local police and fire department exhibits and showing how
people lived in previous eras.
Made In Marshall: Items and information about local businesses, both active and former, such as the Page
Buggy Company, Brooks Rupture Appliance, the Marshall Folding Bathtub Company, Royal Bicycles, and others.
The Hinkle Automatic Theatre: This amazing local folk art piece is a story about local entertainment in the
early 1900’s. The intent is to use this item to introduce the other areas of the museum.
The MHS Board looks forward to previewing Marshall artifacts and stories with the Marshall community. Ultimately, the Board will need additional photos, anecdotes, artifacts, and other contributions. Keep watching the
local newspaper, as well as the MHS newsletter, website, and Facebook page to see how you can help in this
community endeavor.
PROGRAMS AT THE LIBRARY
The Marshall District Library has partnered with the Historical
Society to present various programs during the year. The next two
programs will be held in September and October, and are free to the public.
On Tuesday, September 2, at 7 p.m., Susan Collins will give a presentation on architectural
styles. This is particularly timely, taking place the week before Home Tour, and Susan will
share her expertise by identifying and discussing the components of various styles of architecture, with specific reference to the homes on tour this year. Susan is the chair of our National Historic Landmark District committee, and serves on the boards of the Franke Center
and the American Museum of Magic. In her spare time,
she also sits on the local Planning Commission.
On Tuesday, October 7, at 7 p.m., Janet Ostrum will present
“Decorative Paint Through the Ages.” Janet is the owner
and creative force behind Bayberry House Interiors, and she will discuss how certain
eras evoke specific historical colors as well as classic traditions and styles. She has
recently become the local source of Annie Sloan paints, and will use some of this material in her presentation. Handouts, a color wheel demonstration, furniture samples,
and much more will be included, so don’t miss this fun and informative seminar!
Volume 3, August 2014
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Board of Trustees
President
Ann Rhodes
Vice President
Ken Wirtz
Secretary
Ken MacNevin
Treasurer
Casey Nager
Trustees
Judy Edsall
Jeff Greene
Jerry Lehmann
Bill Mabin
Wayne Marshall
Lee Thornton
Marshall Historical Society
107 N Kalamazoo Ave
P.O. Box 468
Marshall, MI 49068
Return Service Requested
NONPROFIT
ORG.
US POSTAGE
PAID
Marshall, MI
PERMIT # 2
Museum Guides
Sue VanZandt
Pearl Baremor
Roy Carver
Shannon Aikins
Ann Mouland
Board Meetings
Monthly, 4th Monday
GAR Hall 7:00 pm
Contact Information
107 N Kalamazoo Ave
269-781-8544
[email protected]
www.marshalhistoricalsociety.org
History Repeats
Marshall’s Dark Horse Brewery is
receiving a lot of recognition for
its fine beer, and it is interesting
to note that Marshall has a long
history in the brewing industry. As noted in the souvenir
edition of the Headlight magazine, Joseph Gramer founded
Marshall’s first brewery in the
spring of 1886 (rendering shown
above). Assisted by his son,
Joseph Gramer, Jr., the beer they
made was described as “…wholesome and health-giving quality,
made of pure malt, as nearly like
the home-brew as it is possible to
make….”
Meet Our Guides
Roy Carver is another of our fine
guides at the Honolulu House. He enjoys giving tours, and especially enjoys
visitors’ comments and appreciation
for the museum and Marshall.
Born in Washington, D.C. into a military family, Roy graduated from the
American High School in Frankfurt,
Germany. He entered the U. S. Navy,
and spent 26 years as an officer, living
and traveling over the world. After living in Hawaii for more than three years, he can vouch for the accuracy of the
paintings in the Honolulu House that depict cactus!
His last job assignment was in the Federal Center in Battle Creek, and while
there, he and his wife Shirley discovered the charm of Marshall. They’ve been
residents here since 2005.
After working at the Kellogg Manor House in Battle Creek, Roy started giving
tours of the Honolulu House in 2006 as a volunteer, moving to regular staff in
2007. One of his hobbies is historical research, and as he says, “I’m fascinated
to discover more about the people of Marshall, and particularly the folks who
lived in the Honolulu House.”
With three children, seven grandchildren, and four “greats,” Roy and Shirley stay busy all year. He enjoys sharing the history of the Honolulu House
and Marshall with young people. He is looking forward to the crowds at this
year’s’ Home Tour!
www.marshallhistoricalsociety.org