"The Ladies' Soldiers Aid Society and the 1864 Michigan Sanitary Fair in Kalamazoo" In 1864, the Kalamazoo Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society sponsored a Sanitary Fair to raise funds for the soldiers. This group was largely an outgrowth of the Ladies' Library Association. Sharon Carlson will talk about why this group formed and what they accomplished.
Join us on October 6, 2025 7pm
Our Speaker will be Sharon Wolbers Pendola Author of "Centre Street"
Sharon will share humerous heart-touching memories of growing up in a supermarket family during the 50s and 60s Sharon invites you to journey back to the 1950’s and 60’s, to a small Southwest Michigan town “on the grow” seen through the eyes of a child whose family owns the local supermarket. Written for middle grade to adult readers “Centre Street” is a collection of humorous and heartfelt memories chronicling family adventures and quirky childhood escapades as Sharon comes to realize important values in life
Tom Dietz Retired curator of local history from the Kalamazoo Valley Museum will present "The Sins of Kalamazoo" In his poem, The Sins of Kalamazoo, Carl Sandburg writes that the sinners of Kalamazoo are drab and gray, not scarlet or crimson. Was this characterization accurate or did Sandburg underestimate Kalamazoo’s sinners and their sins? This program will explore several examples of notorious murders and infamous brothels. Murders of butchers, priests, and witches? Was there a “red light district”? At the end of the program, participants may wish Sandburg had re-evaluated Kalamazoo’s sinners.
Steve Rossio presented the Development of Southwest Michigan One Room Schools, Myths and Facts
Steve is the Portage City Historian and head of the Heritage Room at the Portage District Library. He has served on the Michigan One Room Schoolhouse board and as president.
The Orphan Train Presented by Mary Ellen Agar What was the Orphan Train? Why did Michigan play such an important part at the start of this historic event? Mary Ellen will share the history of this often-untold story.
Lynn Houghton Portage District Library February 5, 2024 7:00 pm The closing of the Kalamazoo County Courthouse on Michigan Avenue and the opening of the Judge Charles A. Pratt Justice Center on Eleanor Street marked the end of an era. Since 1837, the County’s courthouse had been located on the Michigan Avenue location, next to Bronson Park. The recently vacated 1937 Courthouse was the third on the site and also the longest used of the three earliest court buildings. Historian and WMU Regional History Curator, Lynn Houghton, will talk about these courthouses and how some of the functions changed over time, including the location of the county jail, in this interesting and timely presentation.
Sharon Carlson Will Present Andrew Carnegie's Michigan Libraries Michigan communities were the recipients of $1,655,950 awarded by the Carnegie Corporation from 1900 to 1918, resulting in 61 funded Carnegie libraries. There were eight grant applications that failed. Interestingly, there are no Carnegie libraries in Kalamazoo County and the possible reason will be revealed during this program! Sharon Carlson will provide an overview of the Carnegie program and describe how it evolved in Michigan. Sharon retired as head of the Zhang Legacy Collection Center at Western Michigan University. Her research interests include the role of women’s organizations in supporting public libraries.
In Search of Princess Red Feather: Plainwell’s Herbal Healer Presented by Sharon Carlson Native American healer, entrepreneur, entertainer, or master of self-invention? Princess Red Feather was a known healer and “medicine man” who earned a living with her medicinal products and operated a tourist camp and restaurant in Cooper Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, near Plainwell from about 1926 to 1939. She also appeared in various Western themed shows and pageants throughout the United States with her husband Wild Horse Pete. Who was Princess Red Feather? Was her actual story more interesting than the legend she created? Sharon Carlson will discuss her recent research on Princess Red Feather.