By Sue Moore
In conjunction with the announcement of programs and events in 2008, the Historical Society is launching its yearly drive for membership.
Membership dues provide funds necessary to bring in outside speakers for the group’s monthly programs. Dues also support the management of the society’s collection of local historic information and memorabilia, much of which is available to the public for viewing or research in the buildings located in the Historic Village Park.
A membership form is located on the inside pages of the Commercial-Express for people to clip out and send with a check that fits the level of donation they wish to give for 2008, according to Ron Smith, treasurer of the organization. He urges anyone with an interest in the Historical Society’s work, to become a member.
Besides the monthly programs that the Society presents, this year it has two new events to announce that it hopes will become community-wide celebrations.
A Historic Homes tour of five or six special houses in the village will be presented in September. The kick-off to this tour will feature Dr. Lynn Houghton, an expert on architecture in Kalamazoo County, giving a walking tour of the exterior of the village buildings in August.
In December, a very unique offering has been scheduled for Saturday, December 27, called “Christmas Past” from 6 to 8 p.m. Using only candles and kerosene lanternsfor light and fire pits to keep people warm, Historic Village guests will be transported back to a not-so-distant by-gone era before electricity was used in homes and along village streets.
The community will be able to experience through its own eyes what the world at night looked like without the advantage of electricity and abundant heat. “If our guests say that they can’t see things well or complain they are cold, we will have succeeded,” according to Bonnie Holmes who is spearheading the planning for “Christmas Past”. No flashlights, cell phones, or other modern day appliances will be utilized. “We want to create a world of calm and appreciation for the silence that prevailed at the turn of the century”, Holmes indicated.
Holmes points out that rural electrification did not come into being until 1932 in the out-lying areas of Vicksburg. Before this, the lighting of Christmas trees was with short-lived candles that had the potential to burn the house down if not carefully monitored.
Father Christmas in the person of Vicksburg’s own Garrard Macleod will be featured reading from Christmas stories for school children in the Depot. Strong School will feature an old-time play that children might have presented by candle-light in their one-room school house in years gone by. The farm house will have an old-time cooking demonstration and print shop will also have activities planned, all taking place without electricity.
To help the Historical Society present these many programs, it will need all the help it can get from members of the community, according to Holmes. She urges people to send in their membership form right now to help support these efforts, and perhaps volunteer to make all of these special programs succeed.