The LEGACY
April 2016
Newsletter of the Muskegon Heritage Museum & Association
PLEASE MEET…. “THE LEGACY”
A call went out to our membership for
suggestions for a new name.
We
appreciate the many proposals that were
submitted; twenty-one to be exact. One
was selected that seemed to be tied more
directly to the very nature and purpose
of the publication as well as the aims of
the association.
The name that was
selected by the Board is “THE LEGACY.”
Welcome to the April edition of the
Muskegon
Heritage
Association
Newsletter. For many years you have
become accustomed to seeing “The
BOOMER”, the previous title or flag of
the newsletter, along with a figure of an
old 18th century cannon.
Many readers have inquired about the
origin of the BOOMER as have several of
us who serve on the Board of the
Heritage Association. Having failed to
come up with a definitive explanation,
the Board members began to conjecture
about the long-standing title.
We
concluded that it had nothing to do with
the generation of people born after
January 1, 1946 commonly referred to
as the Boomers.
Also, some have
suggested
that
BOOMER
could
conceivably be related to the cannon in
the header. However, an 18th century
cannon hardly passes as a meaningful
representation of early Muskegon or a
significant
representation
of
what
contributed to the development of this
city and county. A Boomer was one of
the men that moved the logs in the log
booms at the end of Muskegon Lake and
this may be the source of the
newsletter’s name. Logging was certainly
important to the founding of Muskegon
but does not reflect all the industries
that made Muskegon what it is today.
Legacy is a synonym for heritage.
Webster’s Dictionary describes legacy as
“anything handed down as from an
ancestor.”
Furthermore, a popular
thesaurus describes legacy as a heritage,
tradition, survivor, vestige, heirloom,
hand-me-down, remnant, relic, record,
memento, souvenir, etc.
The Muskegon Heritage Museum is a
repository of artifacts from our past that
made Muskegon what it is today. We
display these remnants and publish
articles about them so that people of all
ages today and in years to come can
connect with those who contributed to
the development and prosperity of
Muskegon. It is this connection with the
past that defines the museum and the
purpose of the association. The term
“LEGACY” reflects both the tangible
items from our past that we can see and
touch and also the people whose
ingenuity, courage, resourcefulness, and
leadership created this fine community.
We hope that you reflect on these
purposes as you enjoy this first issue of
“THE LEGACY”.
Consequently, the Board agreed it was
time to consider a new name more
representative of the aims of the
Muskegon Heritage Association and
Museum.
Article by Paul DeHorn, Board Member
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This is an Owen & Kelly Nutmeg
Grater, patented and manufactured in
Muskegon circa 1867. The museum
would like to find one of these nutmeg
graters to display. If you have ever
seen one of these graters, the museum
staff would like to talk to you. They
were manufactured by the Kelly
Manufacturing Co.
Muskegon Truck
The museum staff is always looking
for something new to display or
exhibit.
Andy Hegedus attended
our
membership
meeting
in
December and brought Allan Dake
a copy of an ad for a Muskegon
Truck. Andy wanted to know if we
knew anything about this truck.
Many of the exhibits at the
museum started just like this. We
had never heard of it before.
This truck was manufactured by the Muskegon Engine Co. from 1918 until about
1922. While we have not found a truck yet, we now have a large folder of information
about this company and the various parts used on the truck. We have a 1918 Stewart
Carburator and a 1921 Eisemann Magneto in the display, along with an ad for a
Torbensen rear axle used on the Muskegon Truck. The factory in the drawing above
was at the corner of Roberts and Keating streets where the FitzJohn Coach Co. was
located
soon
after
the
Muskegon Engine Co. went
out of business. Part of the
building was torn down in
2015. The engine used was a
Continental C4 engine. The
truck had a weight of 4250
pounds and was listed as a 2
ton truck. The President and
general
manager
of
the
Muskegon Engine Co. was
C.E. Johnson of the Piston
Ring Co. The cost of the truck
was $2360. These items are
on display on the second floor of the museum by the FitzJohn display.
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Changes at the Museum for 2016
In the last issue we told you about the
Continental 7 cylinder radial engine that was
donated by Air Repair Inc. of Cleveland, MS.
This engine was restored by our volunteers at
the museum. We now have an authentic wood
propeller donated by Sensenich Inc. of Plant
City, FL mounted on the engine. The propeller
is 92” long and is impressive to see in person.
This particular propeller was actually used on
one of these engines before it was sent to us.
Thank you Sensenich Co.
In January the museum purchased at cost a
Stearman Bi-Plane model from Horizon Hobbies
to hang above the engine. The model has a
wingspan of 42”.
Continental built over 10,000 of these engines to mount on the
Stearman Bi-Plane to train our pilots during the second World War. Plan a visit to the
museum just to see this engine. Another example of excellent products, “Made in
Muskegon.” Look in the exhibit for a video on the workings of the engine.
The third floor is finally completed, with all the wood trim finished in March. We have
moved the Occidental Hotel display to the 3rd floor, it looks similar and is in the same
relative place as it was on the 2nd floor. The American Grease Stick display has also
been moved to the 3rd floor along with the school desk exhibit.
We have added and moved pieces of furniture around in the museum: the Moon Desk
Co. wood filing cabinet and roll top desk that were in the Print Shop are now on the 3rd
floor with more details about the company printed for our visitors. This allows visitors
to get closer to the pieces. We also added a Browne-Morse display. Browne-Morse
took over the Grand Rapids Desk Company and was in Muskegon building furniture
until the mid 1980’s. The Grand Rapids Desk Co. roll top desk that was in the ShawWalker exhibit is now in the Print Shop.
We have reconfigured our E.H.Sheldon, exhibit which includes an original vise
designed by E.H., a Sheldon work bench, Sheldon wood filing cabinet and Sheldon large
storage bookcase shelf unit. On long
term loan from the Lakeshore Museum
Center we have a salesman’s sample of
a Sheldon classroom. This sample was
transported to schools to show them
the layouts and types of furniture
Sheldon could provide. This sample is
lighted and very well done.
We have
the option of swapping this with two
other salesman’s samples every couple
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of years as they are all different.
local museums to share items.
We really appreciate this cooperation between our
In all the moving of furniture around we added a Shaw-Walker desk that was donated
by the Muskegon Community College from the Chronicle building. We have added a
major piece to the Shaw-Walker
exhibit and we wish to thank
Annosejka Steinman, Director of
the Lakeshore Museum Center
for loaning us the Shaw-Walker
wood logo for our Shaw-Walker
exhibit. We have this piece on
long term loan as long as we are
displaying it. This piece hung in
the lobby of the Shaw-Walker Co
for many years.
Fortunately,
the piece was in storage at the
Lakeshore
Museum
Center
archives and makes a great
addition to our many examples
of company products. It weighs
about 70 pounds so we had to
purchase some heavy angle iron
and
secure
that
to
the
brick/plaster wall with 3 - ½’ diameter anchors. The logo is 58” in diameter and is
impressive to see. Come in for a visit to look at all the different types of furniture on
display from Shaw-Walker.
The Employers Association of West Michigan is Celebrating 100 years in 2016. They
asked if we would be interested in having a display about the association in the
museum and we said yes. We actually have displays in the museum about all 6 of the
original founders of the association. Look for Yellow stars with E A in the center and
see if you can find all 6 during your visit.
The Muskegon Rotary is also celebrating their 100th anniversary and we look forward
to having a display commemorating that milestone.
Our George Morrell Incorporated exhibit with
the Spacelander bikes has moved to a new
location. It also shows the composite man hole
covers, Corvette rear spring and other products
made today, much better than in the old
location. Did you notice the buttons made by
this company, last time you visited?
The
buttons were made from skim milk with
formaldehyde added to make a plastic type of
material. They were the first product GMI made
thus people called them the Button Factory.
4
With the GMI exhibit relocated
from the corner room, we
moved the Racine Boat Co.
exhibit and this gave us a
space for an enlarged Mac Bay
Boat Co. display.
Mac Bay boats had their
factory on Airline Rd and built
these wood boats from 1956 –
1964. Included in the exhibit
are photos of brochures and boats that are still being used today. We know of four of
the Mac Bay boats that are still in Muskegon County. Included is a video of some of the
boats in action as well as black and white promotion photos of various models.
Two other companies that have wall displays added this winter are Muskegon Motor
Specialties Co. and Enterprise Brass Works.
Muskegon Motor Specialties
manufactured camshafts and Enterprise Brass made gas pump and valve parts from
aluminum and brass.
The Henry Motor Car display
was moved to another wall on
the 2nd floor. We have added
some new photos and a copy
of
an
original
enameled
hood/radiator ornament from
the
Henry
RoadStar
automobile shown to the right.
Ray Hilt donated the only
known ornament and we had
some copies manufactured for
museum use.
The Fred J. Stulp Company manufactured several items in
Muskegon and one of them was a Boiler Valve assembly. This
patented device had a glass water tube between the upper and
lower valves to read the amount of water in the boiler.
These
valves also had a built in safety feature so that if the glass broke
the valves would close automatically. Ray & Jackie Hilt donated
this assembly to the museum. It came in the original box with
instructions and the pieces were wrapped in newspaper from
1911. It did not need polishing, we just wiped it down with a soft
cloth, and then mounted it on a cherry board. The assembly is
hanging near the steam engine for visitors to enjoy. The Stulp
family also had a hardware store in Muskegon and we are looking
for further information about that store.
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As you know the B.C. Cobb electric generating plant is slated to cease operation in mid
April. We took a tour of the plant recently and took about 100 photos to use in an
upcoming display in 2017. Greg Johnson came along and shot a video of the plant
operation, from coal delivery via ship, to the heat rising out of the stack. Look next
season, for a display about the plant and its time in Muskegon.
Muskegon’s aMazing Museums (M3) 14 in all, have been meeting for a year now and
are collaborating to help each other with marketing and ideas on how to inform our
Muskegon visitors about what each one has to offer. There is a Facebook page and a
new brochure. The reverse side of the brochure below has an explorers map to show
where each museum is located. The mission is: To create more awareness of the
fantastic cultural museum opportunities available in Muskegon County.
https://www.facebook.com/muskegonsamazingmuseums/info/?tab=page_info
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BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD
On May 21st half of the museums of Muskegon County are offering a free day for
Muskegon County residents. The rest of the Museums will be offering their free
day on May 28th. This is being done in collaboration with the Muskegon’s
aMazing Museum’s group to advertise to our residents what we have to offer.
Those open on the 21st include
Muskegon Heritage Museum
USS LST 393 Veterans Museum
White River Light Station
Lakeshore Museum Center
Muskegon Museum of Art
USS Silversides Submarine Museum
Michigan’s Heritage Park
Those Open on the 28th include:
SS Milwaukee Clipper
Muskegon South Pierhead Light
C & O Caboose -Whitehall
Dr. Meinhardi’s Apothecary Shop
James Jackson Museum of African American History
Hackley & Hume Home
Lakeshore Museum Center
Montague Museum
Antique Engine Show special
event
On the 21st we are adding some extra special
displays for our visitors.
Adam Winters has
organized an Antique Engine Show in the grass lot
behind the museum.
Scott Sieradzki has
volunteered the use of his lot for the day. Come
learn
about
many
types
of
antique
engines. Operators, museum staff, and guests,
dress for the period. Bring the whole family and
your camera for unique photo opportunities. We
will have Hit and Miss engines, steam engines &
antique outboard engines many of them running.
In front of the museum on Western Ave. is planned
an Antique Car show with Model A and Model T
Fords. Of course this will be a great day to tour the
museum and see many to the new displays and
exhibits all for free.
The Muskegon Heritage Museum opens for the season starting on May 12. This
year it is open again Thursday – Saturday 11:00 to 4:00. This is made possible by
our many volunteers that come to help our visitors enjoy the museum and learn
more about Muskegon’s Industries. We are always looking for more volunteers to
greet visitors, give tours, or help with other projects around the museum. If you
have some time give us a call. We are also planning to be open those days when
the cruise ships are in town, so watch for the cruise ships and remember we will
be open.
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Muskegon Heritage Association & Museum
561 W. Western Ave.
Muskegon, Mi. 49440
Share this issue of The Legacy with a friend.
You as members are the best promoters of the museum.
Memberships support exhibits.
Encourage your friends to visit the museum and become members.
Basic Family memberships begin at $15.
Patron memberships begin at $25.
Membership applications can be found on the museum web site and are available at
the museum.
The
mission
of
the
Muskegon Heritage Museum is
to
preserve
and
share
Muskegon’s industrial and social
history
so
that
our
irreplaceable
heritage
is
available today and for the
future.
The Legacy
is published three times
per year by the
Muskegon Heritage Association
A non – profit 501 (C)(3)
561 W. Western Ave.
Muskegon, MI 49440
www.muskegonheritage.org
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