Museum memo July/August 2013 Vintage Base Ball: Honoring the Origins of Our National Pastime The Eclipse Base Ball Club of Northville is a group of baseball enthusiasts who play other vintage teams using the rules and gentlemanly conduct of the 1860s. Image of the box score of the baseball match played between the Plymouth Lone Stars and the Northville Eclipse as published in September 1869 in the Wayne County Record (later renamed the Northville Record). Northville defeated Plymouth, 53 36. After the victory, the Eclipse ball club was never heard from again until 2003 when enthusiasts of vintage baseball recreated the team. L ocal historian and national award-winning librarian, Al Smitley, and members of the Northville Eclipse Base Ball Club, will discuss the early days of baseball and today's passion to recreate the history of the vintage teams, at the Friends of the Plymouth Historical Museum meeting on Thursday, September 12, at 7:30 PM. The presentation will include an overview of baseball's origins and the sport s rise in popularity, and the history of baseball in the Plymouth and Northville areas, with an explanation of the differences between the early rules and customs of baseball as compared to the modern day rules. The evening discussion will conclude with a few baseball songs as performed by the Eclipse team. The Eclipse matches are family-friendly and coincide with historic reenactments and festivals. All Eclipse home games are played on Ford Field in Northville, Michigan, adjacent to Historic Mill Race Village. Friends of the Plymouth Historical Museum Meeting Thursday, September 12, 2013 7:30 PM Guest Speaker, Al Smitley Vintage Base Ball: Honoring the Origins of Our National Pastime Open to the public & Admission is free
Plymouth Historical Museum 155 South Main Street Plymouth, Michigan 48170 http://www.plymouthhistory.org http://www.facebook.com/plymouthhistory 734-455-8940 Fax: 734-455-7797 Hours Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 1-4 PM all days Open year round (except some holidays) Board of s Pam Yockey Mike Pappas Aaron Frank Jim Burroughs Bee Friedlander Jeff Ashton Margaret Dunning Sally Fedus Wes Graff Dan Packer Jim Vermeulen Staff President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Past President Madelyne Beddoes Cashier/Scheduler Janet Burns Office Manager Elizabeth England Administrative Assistant Paula Holmes Museum Store Manager Donna Keough Exhibits Coordinator Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens Executive Ralph Moote Facility Manager Heidi Nielsen Archivist Allen Odell Program Chair Barb Peterson Hospitality Chair Leslie Ryder Education Coordinator Museum Memo Editor Gerry Sabatini <gsabatin@comcast.net> Proofreaders Bill Keough, Elizabeth Kerstens The Museum Memo is printed six times a year. Friends of the Plymouth Historical Museum meetings are open to members, their guests, and the public and are held on the second Thursday of each month, September through May, at 7:30 PM, unless otherwise scheduled. Please enter on the Church Street side of the building. Monthly Drawing Laura Hoehner and Paul Guerard are the winners of the July and August drawings for a $25 gift certificate. President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, a U.S. Marshal, and several Civil War soldiers helped make the Museum s 2nd annual History Kids Kamp a success. Twenty-seven children participated in the camp, with ages ranging from 6 to 12. They were introduced to a variety of activities, including marching and eating hard tack. Thanks to everyone who made the camp a success, especially the camp coordinator Leslie Ryder. Reenactors pictured in back row (lr): Lyle Malaski, Sophia Farquar, Dan Webb, Fred and Bonnie Priebe, and Guy Purdue. Photo by Ken Garner. New Members Welcome! Vivian Austin, Northville Pat Carroll, Plymouth Joe Cislo, Plymouth Susan Crites, Plymouth Nina Lemponen, Livonia Edie Wysocki, Plymouth Plymouth Historical Museum Wish List The Plymouth Historical Museum has an ongoing need for the following items. If you choose to donate for one of these items, please let us know on your check which item you are donating for, so we use the money appropriately. Thank you for your continuing generosity that helps keep the Plymouth Historical Museum one of the best museums in the area! 1 Roll Postage Stamps $46 each 1/2 month heating bill $375 1/2 month electric bill $475 1 month employee's salary $500 To donate online for these items and other items, please visit the Museum website at http:// www.plymouthhistory.org/support-us/donate.html 2 MUSEUM MEMO
Donations Received June July 2013 The Plymouth Historical Museum would like to thank the following donors for the generous contributions they made in June and July 2013: The Dunning ($2,500 and above) Plymouth Lions Club The Starkweather ($500 $999) Magformers The Kellogg ($100 $249) Arlene Callahan Cynthia Hartsig Richard Jones Bill & Donna Keough Marty & Liz Kerstens Charles McIlhargey Lynn Pierce Roy Pilkington Doug & Lila Vincent Up to $100 Deborah Adams Betty Barbour Bruce Baxter Michele Brave Jim Burroughs Eugenia Calaschi Clark Chapin Rachel Churches Mary Jo Cunningham Bob Deady Melba Dodson Margaret Dunning Bits N Pieces By Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens, executive director Marie Eskridge Sally Fedus Marjorie Fraser Joe & Marie Gentilcore Clyde Godin Beverly Green David Hoffmeister Patricia Jones Jerry & Ann Leland Ralph Moote Jill Neal Kurt Olson N ext time you visit the Museum, be sure to check out the updated Fiscal Year 2012 13 Donor Wall. We had a great year for donations and everyone who was incredibly generous has been recognized on our donor wall. Many of those generous donations (along with our anonymous matching donor).made our new outside digital marquee (right) possible. The sign was recently installed and will be up and running by the time you read this. Gregg & Carol Packard Ed & Michaelyn Page Barbara Peterson Patricia Phillips Shirley Pullion Vince Randazzo Dean Reuschle Walt & Vera Scott Peggy & Earl Stiner Carole Sweet Doug Tomayko Gloria Zeli Volunteers Make a Difference Plymouth historical museum 3
The Museum Store is online! http://www.plymouthhistorystore.org/ Original Mayflower Hotel Brick Plymouth, Michigan Friends of the Plymouth Historical Museum Meeting Thursday, October 10, 2013 7:30 PM Guest Speaker, Jim Salamay Plymouth Discoveries Take a photographic tour of historically intriguing structures in Plymouth with Museum Guide Jim Salamay as you learn some interesting history of places in town you may not have known. Open to the public & Admission is free $9.95 per brick The Mayflower Hotel in Plymouth was demolished in 1999. The Plymouth Historical Museum has saved several of the bricks from the hotel. Own a piece of Plymouth history with a Mayflower Hotel Brick. Shipping weight is 11 lbs per brick. Available at the Museum Store 29 Units in Stock Coming this Fall 4 PLYMOUTH HISTORICAL MUSEUM
The Plymouth Old Village Restaurant Crawl Monday, August 19, 2013 5:30 to 8:30 PM T he Plymouth Old Village Restaurant Crawl will be Monday, August 19 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. This event provides the opportunity to enjoy a good meal by sampling great food from some of Old Village s well established restaurants. Each of the stops on the trip provides a good portion of food and/or drink to sample, and by the time you re done, you have had a great meal with hopefully a few new favorite dishes. Participating this year are Hermann's Olde Town Grille, JoJo's Treats & Sweets, Liberty Street Brewing Co., Plymouth Fish & Seafood, Jeff Zak Catering, and Station 885. A portion of this year s proceeds will go to the Plymouth Historical Museum to support its efforts. If you wish to support the Museum with your ticket purchase please indicate so at the time of purchase. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, and can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce Office at 850 W. Ann Arbor Tr., the Plymouth Historical Museum, or at participating locations. If you have any questions or want to reserve tickets please call 734-453-1540. Nostalgia Sale Fall Festival Weekend September 5, 6 & 7, 2013 Where: 345 Sunset Street, Plymouth, MI Come buy some treasures and support the Plymouth Historical Museum. This sale is NOT at the Museum, but rather is located at 345 Sunset Street, about a half mile from the Museum, during Plymouth's Fall Festival. Items for sale include donations and vintage collectibles no longer needed by the Museum. Vintage donations are welcome (no junk please)! MUSEUM MEMO 5
Plymouth Days Gone-bye Compiled by Gerry Sabatini from the newspaper archives at the Plymouth District Library 100 Years Ago (July 1913) Due to an increase in the number of severe dog attacks, all dogs in the Northville and Plymouth areas were placed under quarantine by the State Sanitary Committee. For an indefinite period, the state ordered local safety officials to shoot any threatening dog that was not safely chained or muzzled. A few vocal residents issued a complaint that the grass in the Penniman-Allen Park was not being kept green. The private park, owned by the Allen family, was considered the most beautiful spot in the village. The Allen family said the amount of water they used on the park had been limited because of a water supply shortage, and informed the complainants that they are at liberty to use their own water to improve the lawn. According to the Michigan Deputy Game Warden, the deer population in the state was decreasing at an alarming rate, and suggested that the legislature restrict hunters to only one deer. During the 1912 hunting season, hunters killed 12,000 deer and reduced the deer population to only 60,000. In addition, out of 60 counties reporting their hunting results, 20 counties reported that their entire deer population was eliminated. 50 Years Ago (July 1963) More than 10,000 spectators lined both sides of Main Street to witness the biggest Fourth of July parade in Plymouth s history. The parade lasted 90 minutes and included more than 60 parade units and vehicles and hundreds of waving and smiling participants. 100 Years Ago (August 1913) Plymouth-area dentists were concerned when a new law was enacted that stated if a dentist advertised teeth extractions without pain, and the patient experienced pain, the dentist would be charged with a misdemeanor for false advertising. 90-year-old Lucinda Yanson, who lived alone, put up a valiant fight to maintain control of her revolver against two burglars who had entered her home. The burglars eventually overpowered Yanson and escaped with $100 in valuables. Although the burglars ransacked her home, Yanson was thankful that she was not harmed. In order to help customers distinguish products from area farms with similar names, the state legislature passed a law that allowed farmers to trademark their farm name. The trademark was helpful to customers who preferred the products of a specific farm. The Plymouth Mail said it was a matter of courtesy to your guests to give their names to the newspaper for publication when the guests are visiting with you. 50 Years Ago (August 1963) The Plymouth Mail 6 PLYMOUTH HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Plymouth, Once Upon a Time In 1968, after 21 years in business, Margaret Dunning sold her department store on Forest Avenue to Minerva Chaiken. The store was renamed Minerva s Dunning s. It closed in 1997. Today the building is home to E. G. Nick s restaurant. Image from the Plymouth Historical Museum archives. MUSEUM MEMO 7
Friends of the Plymouth Historical Museum 155 S. Main Street Plymouth, MI 48170 Return Service Requested Non-Profit Org U. S. Postage PAID Plymouth, MI. Permit No. 111 Calendar of Events For a detailed list of events, please visit the Museum website at www.plymouthhistory.org/events.html. Special Museum Exhibit B4TV Exhibit on display until November 10, 2013. August 19 Plymouth Old Village Restaurant Crawl, 5:30 8:30 PM; tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Proceeds benefit Museum. September 5 7 Nostalgia sale at 345 Sunset Street, Plymouth; Vintage donations welcome (no junk please)! 12 Friends of the Plymouth Historical Museum Monthly Meeting, 7:30 PM, Vintage Base Ball: Honoring the Origins of Our National Pastime, with Al Smitley, free admission. 28 Genealogy Workshop, 9:30 AM 3:30 PM, at the Plymouth Historical Museum. Tickets are $40. October 10 Friends of the Plymouth Historical Museum Monthly Meeting, 7:30 PM, Plymouth Discoveries, with Jim Salamay, free admission. 26 Cemetery Walk, Riverside Cemetery; tours begin at 4 PM, Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at the cemetery. Special Museum Exhibit B4TV Exhibit on display until November 10, 2013 A nostalgic look at leisure activities before the advent of television, during a t i m e w h e n Americans had a s l o we r - p a c e d life style. The exhibit features the period 1900 to 1940, and highlights common family activities prior to television.