| Arts
& Humanities
History
on the Move
“History is merely a list of surprises…It can only prepare
us to be surprised yet again.”
—Kurt Vonnegut, Slapstick
There was no phone call, no letter, not even an e-mail. The best
news of 2008, the biggest surprise of the year, was delivered
by yet another symbol that history is indeed on the move: a government
Web site.
With a few keystrokes and clicks of a mouse, the staff of the
Marquette County History Museum logged on to www.grants.gov to
check the status of a recent funding proposal.
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) was announcing
its latest round of grant awards, and the Marquette museum was
on the list. Jon Becker, the museum’s capital campaign manager,
said that fact was not a shock.
This was the surprise: of the 248 projects selected nationwide,
only four were larger than the $600,000 challenge grant awarded
to the history museum.
“It’s a tremendous honor
for our museum,” executive director Kaye Hiebel said. “[The
grant] is based on what you’ve done in the past and what
you’re going to do in the future. It speaks volumes about
our museum.”
Becker said the staff was hopeful about receiving a grant because
of an earlier rejection.
“We applied a year ago and were turned down,” he said.
“But they had some fantastic comments about our project.
They said, ‘Make a few revisions, get a few more dollars
in hand and come back.’ ”
The grant is part of the museum’s $4.75 million capital campaign
titled, “History on the Move.” The project involves
relocating to the former Marq-Tran bus garage at the southeast
corner of Third and Spring streets in downtown Marquette.
“NEH grants are highly competitive and involve a rigorous
review and selection process to ensure that the best of humanities
research, education, preservation and public programs is cultivated,”
wrote Bruce Cole, chairman of the NEH, in a letter to U.S. Representative
Bart Stupak (D-Michigan), who is in his ninth term representing
Michigan’s 1st Congressional District.
In Michigan, thirteen projects received NEH funds totaling $858,490.
“We received the bulk of the funding awarded in the state,”
Becker said. “The size of the funding speaks highly of our
programs and exhibits and service to the community.
“For the staff members who have been here awhile, it’s
a validation of what they’ve been doing.”
The NEH award is a three-to-one challenge grant. For every $3
the museum raises in its campaign over the next three years, it
will receive $1, up to $600,000.
“This grant is an opportunity and a challenge,” Becker
said. “The community can demonstrate its support for an organization
that for ninety years has been the keeper of our story and teller
of our story.”
“If you would understand anything, observe its beginning
and its development.”
—Aristotle
The history museum began life in 1918, when a group of interested
citizens formed the Marquette County Historical Society, believed
to be the first such organization in the Upper Peninsula. Society
members gathered at Peter White Public Library and began acquiring
items for a permanent collection.
One of the founding members of the society was Lansing native
John Munro Longyear, a surveyor, land baron and one-time mayor
of Marquette. The Longyear family’s fingerprints cover the
early pages of the society’s own history—and remain
to this day.
In 1925, three years after Longyear died, his estate donated his
extensive private library to the society. This collection of maps,
books and photographs became known as the J.M. Longyear Research
Library and has grown in size and reputation. Becker said the
15,000 items are regarded collectively as one of the best libraries
specializing in the Great Lakes region.
The Longyear family’s connection to the museum does not end
with the library. In 1937, the society was able to purchase its
current building on Front Street in Marquette through a bequest
from Longyear’s widow, Mary Beecher Longyear, who died in
1931.
After a major renovation of the building, the library and museum
opened twelve years later, occupying two rooms. Through the years,
the museum’s collection has grown along with demand for more
exhibits and programs.
Eventually, the museum’s mission and vision outgrew the structure,
which welcomes 15,000 visitors a year.
“The organization recognized the limitations in this building,”
Becker said. “It’s not up to standards in terms of displays
or accessibility. More than eighty percent of the collection is
in storage. That makes it hard to show the wonderful things we
have.”
Becker said the building has served the museum well for decades,
but the problems are evident: in addition to the access issues
and limited exhibit space, storage space is inadequate, parking
is almost nonexistent and the climate-control system—critical
in preserving artifacts and archival materials—is substandard.
This catalogue of concerns points to one solution: a new home.
“History teaches everything, including the future.”
—Alphonse de Lamartine
The future of the Marquette County History Museum entails transforming
a bus garage into a jewel of the downtown district. History is
on the move—one block west and about three and a half blocks
south. Becker said the museum plans to formally break ground at
its new location in early summer 2009 and open to the public in
July 2010.
After a substantial renovation, the former Marq-Tran bus garage
on Spring Street will be unrecognizable, offering six times the
exhibit space and four times the storage space of the current
building.
In addition, the new facility will feature state-of-the-art humidity
and temperature controls and fire protection equipment; an expanded
research library; full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act; a large reception area; sufficient space for lectures and
demonstrations; an outdoor exhibit area; and ample off-street
parking for automobiles, buses and RVs.
A special high-security exhibit space just inside the reception
area will enable the museum to host national traveling exhibits.
“These are great exhibits that we would not normally get
to see,” Becker said.
The History on the Move campaign has raised about $2 million,
even before the launch of its public phase. The museum is seeking
support from individuals as well as contributions from foundations,
the corporate sphere and government.
“The support of the community has been fantastic,” Becker
said. “Despite the current economic climate, there is a groundswell
of support for this project.”
In Marquette County, history has a bright future.
—Michael Murray
Art, snow highlight annual event
Teams of sled dogs will be tromping through the snow come the
weekend of February 20 through 22 and the U.P. 200, but they won’t
be the only ones.
The twenty-first annual Glacier Glide Outdoor Art Exhibit and
the Wintercharm Art Exhibit will give people plenty of chances
to do some tromping of their own, both through the snow and in
the warmth of the indoors. The events, which are hosted by the
Lake Superior Art Association (LSAA), will be held the same weekend
as the U.P. 200, a tradition that Glacier Glide has upheld for
the past twenty years.
“It’s been the same weekend for as far as I can remember,”
said Jack Deo, LSSA president. “People are already here in
town and this gives them something to do until the dogs come back
in on Sunday—and it’s a lot of fun.”
Glacier Glide is scheduled from noon to 5:00 p.m. on February
21. The outdoor art exhibit is held at Presque Isle Park, although
which side of the park depends on the weather for the day.
“Whichever side isn’t as windy is the side we put the
art out on,” Deo said. “A lot of fun things happen and
you never know what’s going to be out. One year, we had someone
hang long johns from a tree. Another year, someone put out a barbecue
pit and lawn chairs.”
The outdoor exhibit is viewable by walking groomed trails, snowshoeing
or skiing, and there will be youth art on display in the park’s
pavilion.
The indoor art exhibit, Deo said, is a big draw for the younger
crowd.
“The kids really show up in droves for that indoor art show,”
he said.
There is no admission fee for the exhibit, and refreshments—including
hot chocolate and cookies from the local Boy Scouts—will
be available. Ribbons and cash prizes are awarded to participants,
and visitors will vote for a “Best of Snow” entry.
Visitors to Glacier Glide will see original artwork from regional
artists and won’t see work that has been posted in past Glacier
Glide shows thanks to an entry rule banning repeated works.
While the U.P. 200 and Glacier Glide have walked hand-in-hand
for the past two decades, the art show boasts a year experience
on the dog race.
“It’s just a great time of year to have an event like
this,” Deo said. “I remember sitting in the first meeting
just wondering what it was we were thinking about doing. Here
it is, still going strong.”
For those who are looking for a warmer way to view the artistic
styling of area residents, Wintercharm offers a viewing of artwork
embodying this year’s theme of “Renew and Rejoice.”
The nonjuried art show, which has free admission and will be held
at Peter White Public Library in the Huron Mountain Club Gallery
from February 2 through 28, features all forms of media. Each
artist was allowed to enter up to three pieces.
This year marks the ninth for the Wintercharm show, which began
the winter following the reopening of the Peter White Public Library
in late October 2000.
“It’s an extremely varied art show,” said Nikke
Nason, the arts and culture coordinator for the city of Marquette.
“The nice thing about this show is that it’s open to
everyone and every medium, which makes it a pretty unique show.
People will have a chance to see artists that they wouldn’t
normally see in a gallery.”
That doesn’t mean less quality, said Nason. Instead, she
said it gives those in attendance a chance to see artists who
are “up-and-coming” as well as those who fancy themselves
too amateur to try their hand at professional showings.
“There are going to be plenty of quality artists,” she
said. “It’s a really nice way to view the winter climate
in a warm environment.”
The show is open during the same hours as the library: Monday
through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Friday, 9:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 1:00
p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
In addition to the show, a reception will be held from 6:00 p.m.
to 8:00 p.m. on February 5 and artists and the public are welcome
to attend.
“With the dog race, the Glacier Glide and Wintercharm, there’s
going to be plenty for everyone to do here in Marquette,”
Nason said.
For more information about Wintercharm, stop by the City of Marquette
Arts and Culture Center, located in the lower level of the Peter
White Public Library at 217 North Front Street or call 228-0472.
For details about Glacier Glide, call Deo at 225-1952 or visit
www.artontherocks.org
—Sam Eggleston
Cast of fifty brings Cinderella to life
Tickets are available for the Forest Roberts Theatre’s production
of Cinderella. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s enchanting musical
will be presented February 17 through 22 at 7:30 p.m., with a
special 1:00 p.m. matinee on February 22.
Cinderella was first presented on television in 1957. By this
time, the partnership of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein
II was fourteen years old and had produced hits in every medium.
Of their sev en
Broadway collaborations up to that point, four had been blockbusters,
and they also had found major success as stage producers with
such hits as I Remember Mama and Annie Get Your Gun.
Among the classics of musical theater, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s
Cinderella starred Julie Andrews and featured a cast including
Kaye Ballard, Alice Ghostley and Edie Adams. Rodgers and Hammerstein
stayed faithful to the original Charles Perrault tale and worked
on their adaptation for eight months.
The final CBS production, which premiered on March 31, 1957, cost
a princely $375,000 and a cast album, recorded only two weeks
earlier, was released to coincide with the broadcast.
107 million viewers tuned in to Cinderella. As Andrews recalls,
someone told her that the musical she was starring in at the time,
My Fair Lady, would have to run 100 years to reach the number
of people likely to see her on television that night.
Heading the NMU cast is Randi Chandler, a senior from Cooks, in
the title role; Jordayn Fisher, a sophomore from Chicago Heights,
as the Prince; and Treasure King from Marquette as the Fairy Godmother.
Featured performers include Jennifer Skogman (an Escanaba sophomore)
as the Stepmother; Amanda Boone (a Fairbanks [Alaska] junior)
as Portia; and Ashley Stein (a Mt. Prospect [Illinois] junior)
as Joy.
Cinderella is directed by Shelley Russell, with musical direction
by Robert Engelhart. Victor G. Holliday is the scenic designer
and Kimberly Hegmegee is the lighting and special effects designer.
Guest costumer is Melissa Owen from Akron (Ohio). James A. Panowski
is the producer.
Tickets can be purchased at the Forest Roberts Theatre box office
weekdays between noon and 5:00 p.m.
Other ticket outlets include the TCF Bank in the University Center,
the Superior Dome or the Vista Theater Thrift Shop. Tickets are
$14 for the general public and $9 for NMU students.
For details, call 227-2082 during regular box office hours.
—James A. Panowski
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