Howell Area Historical Society

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Volume 2013, Issue 2 Spring/Summer Howell Area Historical Society As the warmth of Spring inspires us to come out of our cocoon, another year brings hope and motivation to the Society.

Again this year, the Howell Carnegie District Library will partner with the use of their building and grounds. The library volunteers and space are vital to our success.

1 Volume 2013, Issue 2 Spring/Summer Howell Area Historical Society As the warmth of Spring inspires us to come out of our cocoon, another year brings hope and motivation to the Society. Plans are in full swing for the 10th Annual Howell History Days Celebration presented by the Society. Again this year, the Howell Carnegie District Library will partner with the use of their building and grounds. The library volunteers and space are vital to our success. We will be calling on your talents to assist us in making this the best celebration yet. Planning details can be found on page Board of Directors President Jon Boegler jeboegler@sbcglocal.net Treasurer Esther Brown ddbrown3095@sbcglobal.net Museum Director Judy Burns Trustees Bruce Powelson Sean Pengelly sppengelly@aolcom John Jankiewicz Jon and the crew are already gearing up the work team on the Caboose and Judy is busy at the Museum preparing for the school tours and plans are also in progress for the Melon festival held August Over the winter months, several changes have been approved by the board to streamline membership, event planning and regular summer hours. First, our fiscal year will be changed to the calendar year. This change will help us begin planning our activities so when spring arrives, we are ready to move forward. Secondly, with this change, our membership dues will run from January 1 - December 31st. Notices will go out December 1st for the 2014 Dues. The Board has also worked hard to correct the misinformation in the community about the Depot Museum becoming the new Wally Station. The Society will protect the historic building and has no plans of allowing it to become a part of the Wally Station nor a City park. Spruce Up & Clean Up day for the Museum has been scheduled for March 28th. VG s Community Rewards Program is a vital community share program for the Historical Society. If you have not earmarked your receipts to a not for profit organization, please consider saving for us. If you save for another group, please consider choosing one month this year to support the Historical Society. O u r w e b s i t e h a s a n e w l o o k f o r ! Like us on facebook:

Tavern on the SE corner of Walnut and Grand River (where the Opera House sits today). Amos Adams was the first proprietor of the Eagle Tavern where the first election in the township was held in 1836.

2 P a g e 2 w w w.h o w e l l a r e a h i s t or i c a l s o c i e t y.o r g I n s i d e t h e C o l l e c t i o n More than a Tea Pot In 1835, Crane & Brooks platted the village of Howell and in the same year, erected a two story frame building known as the Eagle Tavern on the SE corner of Walnut and Grand River (where the Opera House sits today). Amos Adams was the first proprietor of the Eagle Tavern where the first election in the township was held in For want of a Ballot Box, Mrs. Adams lent her pink Lusterware teapot to hold the 33 votes cast that day. S p r i n g P l a n t i n g s The Master Gardeners Association of Livingston County headed by Tom Rice will again this year be caring for our gardens and planters. The two large planters and two small planters should be filled with blooms by our May celebration, weather permitting. Last year, the club worked on relocating plants, trimming and adding perennial shrubs to the gardens which were generously funded by John Jankiewicz. Wish List For the Museum Outside Wrought Iron Bench Wall mount Crank Telephone eight camera Security System Needlework Artisan to repair hand stitching on artifacts. For the Gardens Outdoor push broom Barn wood to repair baggage cart Cedar mulch General Paper towels Window cleaner Toilet paper green garbage bags (available at VGs) Crud Cutter Cleaner Broom & dust pan sponge mop Cotton towels (cleaning rags) First aide kit VG s receipts

V o l u m e 2 0 1 3, I s s u e 2 I n s i d e t h e M u s e u m C a b o o s e N e w s P a g e 3 With spring right around the corner, the Caboose crew has been busy requesting bids for electrical

3 V o l u m e , I s s u e 2 I n s i d e t h e M u s e u m C a b o o s e N e w s P a g e 3 With spring right around the corner, the Caboose crew has been busy requesting bids for electrical service upgrade at the Depot Museum to include power and lighting for the Caboose. On March 10th, the crew met to formulate the 2013 plan which includes fabricating eight replacement windows for the cupola, painting the exterior and finishing the trim. Work has begun on the exterior lettering design. As time and finances permit, interior improvements will be made including painting, floor restoration and installation of the pot belly coal stove. The last item will be to sand blast the undercarriage. In the dispatcher s office of the old Ann Arbor Railroad Depot at Howell is the original desk, telegraph key and sender, lanterns, flares and levers of the semaphore. The sign above the desk is the original Wells-Fargo Express sign used by Edward Beach, the local agent, for many years. Did you know? The caboose provided the train crew with a shelter at the rear of the train. The crew could exit the train for switching or to protect the rear of the train when stopped. The conductor kept records and handled business from a table or desk in the caboose. For longer trips, the caboose provided minimal living quarters, and was frequently personalized with pictures and posters. Coal was originally used to fire a cast iron stove for heat and cooking, later giving way to a kerosene heater. Now rare, the old stoves can be identified by several essential features. They were without legs, bolted directly to the floor, and featured a lip on the top surface to keep pans and coffee pots from sliding off. They also had a doublelatching door, to prevent accidental discharge of hot coals caused by the rocking motion of the caboose. Cabooses were nonrevenue equipment and were often improvised or retained well beyond the normal lifetime of a freight car. Tradition on many lines held that the caboose should be painted a bright red, though on many lines it eventually became the practice to paint them in the same corporate colors as locomotives. S u m m e r H o u r s F o r t h e M u s e u m One of our goals for 2013 is to have regular hours for visitors. We have chosen to open the museum during the Howell Farmers Market on Sundays. The Museum hours will be from 10am - 2pm on the following days. If you can help as a docent, please choose the dates you can assist and let us know, or howellareahistoricalsociety@gmail.com May 5th - Esther Brown and Joyce Fisher May 12th - Jon Boegler May 19th - Bruce Powelson May 26th - open June 2nd - Esther Brown and Joyce Fisher June 9th - Jon Boegler June 16th - Bruce Powelson June 23rd - open June 30th - open July 7th - open July 14th - open July 21st - open July 28th - open August 4th - open August 11th - open August 18th - open August 25th - open September 1st - open September 8th - open September 15th - open September 22nd - open September 29th - open

P a g e 4 w w w. h o w e l l a r e a h i s t o r i c a l s o c i e t y.

importance of preserving historical buildings and personal heritage. Event hours run from 10am - 4pm.

The Ladies of the United Daughters of the Confederacy Thomas Ryan Chapter will be on hand again this year with their butter churns looking for young helpers to turn cream into luscious spread and

4 P a g e 4 w w w. h o w e l l a r e a h i s t o r i c a l s o c i e t y. o r g 1 0 t h H o w e l l H i s t o r y D a y s C e l e b r a t i o n M a y 1 8, The celebration was created to promote awareness of the history of Howell, educate each generation of the importance of preserving historical buildings and personal heritage. Event hours run from 10am - 4pm. Babies from "Just kidding around" goat farm will arrive just in time to share the day along with Chamberlin's calves, ponies, pigs, donkeys, sheep and other friends from the farm. The Ladies of the United Daughters of the Confederacy Thomas Ryan Chapter will be on hand again this year with their butter churns looking for young helpers to turn cream into luscious spread and share samples. The ladies will also display the " Ancestry Clothesline" from the Livingston County Genealogical Society. Join Dennis Vesper from the Beekeepers Association to Learn about beekeeping and see them work first hand in the observation hive where honey combs are formed and where this sweet treat comes from. Who doesn t love explosions, bubbling potions, chemical reactions? Charlie Wiz, the science guy adds to the fun. Dr. and Mrs. Gatling as portrayed by Mr. And Mrs. Edward Vitez, will return to the Depot Museum with Mrs. Gatling sharing toys and games of an early time. Johnny Gary, local ventriloquist and his friends will join the festivities. Visit with living historians, experience the evolution of fashion on display in the Meabon Room in the lower level of the Howell Carnegie Library. New to the tours this year will be a chance to visit the 1882 Greenaway home. Craft and Vendor Alley will be on Wetmore Street between Walnut Street and Center Street. Please consider coming to the event dressed in your favorite era in history. D a t e s t o R e m e m b e r April 3rd & 17th 7pm May 1st & 15th 7pm May 18th 10am - 4pm Howell Area Historical Society presents 10th Annual Howell History Days Celebration May 27th Memorial Day Parade Lakeview Cemetery Ceremony parade starts at 10am at the Howell Carnegie District Library June 5th & 19th 7pm July 3rd & 17th 7pm August 7th & 21st 7pm August 16-18th Howell Melon Festival The Society s Classic Car show will take place on Sunday, August 18th September 4st & 18th 7pm October 2nd & 23rd 7pm November 5th & 19th 7pm December 4th 7pm End of the year wrap up

V o l u m e 2 0 1 3, I s s u e 2 P a g e 5 S e e m s l i k e Y e s t e r d a y Livingston County Press 1970 D o c e n t t r a i n i n g H H D C L i s t o f s o - c i e t

Amos Winegar who was a respected Howell Veterinarian. He and his wife lived on N. Court Street just north of the railroad tracks.

5 V o l u m e , I s s u e 2 P a g e 5 S e e m s l i k e Y e s t e r d a y Livingston County Press 1970 D o c e n t t r a i n i n g H H D C L i s t o f s o - c i e t i e s a n d p e o p l e I n c l u d e d d a, l i b r a r i e s, D i d y o u k n o w.... The Carriage Step located to the east of the sidewalk at the museum belonged to Mr. Amos Winegar who was a respected Howell Veterinarian. He and his wife lived on N. Court Street just north of the railroad tracks. A carriage step is a block of stone placed near the edge of the street usually in line with the front doorway of a home, it served as a stepping stone to help passengers as they climbed in and out of carriages.

6 Howell Area Historical Society P.O. Box 154 Howell, Michigan Museum location: 128 Wetmore St Howell, MI Mailing address: P.O. Box 154 Howell, MI Phone: B o a r d V a c a n c i e s The Society is looking to fill the following board vacancies: Vice President Secretary If you would be interested in supporting the Society with your services, please let us know. Support the Society, Join today!

Howell Area Historical Society

Volume 2013, Issue 4 Fall Winter 2013 Howell Area Historical Society 2013-2014 Board of Directors President - Vacant Vice President David Nagel 517.375.9159 Treasurer Bruce Powelson 517.331.3560 Secretary