NEWS from SAUGATUCK/DOUGLAS HISTORICAL SOCIETY

HISTORICAL SOCIETY STARTS HOLIDAY BOOK SALE
WITH OLD SCHOOL HOUSE OPEN-HOUSE ON NOV. 22
 

Historical Society's Old School House notecards present 10 interpretations of the Douglas-Union School contributed by local artists to benefit the new Discovery Center.

NOV. 14, 2008 -- The Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society combines its Holiday Book Sale with a free tour of its Old School House Discovery Center, at 130 Center St. in Douglas, on Saturday, Nov. 22 from 6 to 9 p.m., during the Douglas Holiday Preview. Offered for holiday gift-giving, with some at discounted prices, the Society's publications provide nostalgic images of and insights into life in the early days of our community. Its collections of locally created artworks, postcards, commemorative notecards and other gift-appropriate items also will be available, along with free refreshments and gift wrap, with shipping offered for $5. The open-house and book sale will repeat the following Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28-29, from 1 to 5 p.m. both days. Proceeds from all sales benefit the Society's many volunteer-driven programs.

Among the publications available are the Society's popular books that accompanied its past Museum Exhibitions, including: "Raising The Roof, Second Story", a second-edition expanded history of buildings and architecture in our area; "Lincoln's Ready-Made Soldiers", a tribute to Saugatuck's men in the Civil War; "Storm, Fire and Ice", recalling shipwrecks of the Saugatuck area; and "Painting The Town", a history of art in Saugatuck and Douglas.

Also featured are its newest publications: "History By Camera", photographs of Saugatuck and Douglas from 1870 to 1970; and rare resurrections of "The History of Western Allegan County" (known locally as "The Big Black Book") and May Francis Heath's "Early Memories of Saugatuck, Michigan, 1830-1930".

Highlighting other items for sale, the Society also brings back its 2006 set of notecards celebrating the Old School House in seven colorful paintings plus four ink drawings, individually reproduced on the covers of single-fold white cards measuring 5-1/2" by 4-1/4", folded. Each card carries a brief explanatory tribute on the back panel and offers two blank inside panels for written messages. Eleven size-matched envelopes are included. The art was contributed to benefit the Discovery Center project by area artists Judy Bowman Anthrop, Peggy Boyce, Renette Glass, Kathy Kingsley, John Leben, Diane Lenters, Johnn Malloy, Margaret McDermott (two images), Collette Snydacker and Kathy Van Tubbergen.

The Old School House Discovery Center renovation was set in motion on November 2, 2006, when the Historical Society purchased this landmark building with the proceeds of an initial 12-month fundraising campaign. Now nearly finished, its main floor space soon will house a Welcome Center for visitor orientation to our community and the Center's resources, with a Discovery Room where visitors can access the Historical Society's extensive collections and local genealogy research plus local/state history materials from the District Library. It also will offer an Exhibition Room for scheduled exhibits, with a "Creation Station" where anyone can create and present public displays using their own private collections and memorabilia. Additional community-oriented programs are anticipated through the Center's partnership with the Library and Saugatuck Public Schools.

More information about the Old School House Discovery Center is available on-line at www.sdhistoricalsociety.org , including floor plans and a photo diary of renovation done to date.

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