Santa Visiting Port Sanilac this Saturday

Santa will be visiting Port Sanilac this coming Saturday, December 7th.  Children of any age may visit him in The Museum Church at the Sanilac County Historic Village & Museum.

Santa will be visiting between 1:00 and 3:00 PM.

There is no admission charge for this event.  Donations are welcomed.  You may take as many pictures as you would like.  Please bring your own camera.

Haunted Village and Spook Walk

Come to this year's Haunted Village and meet the unexpected residents of our creaky old buildings.  See what’s in our Halloweeny woods, warm your cold tootsies at the bonfire, and sample our goodies at the food boooooth.   You can meet the “Wicked Witch and Snow White,” the "Mad Doctor" and others.  You might meet the “Grim Reaper” as you walk through our cemetery in the woods.

The event will be held twice, once on Saturday, October 19th and again on Saturday, October 26th.  This is a family event suitable for all ages.  Admission is $3.00 for adults and children.  Both evenings begin at 7:00 PM

BooFest Returns

BooFest will be held in front of the Mansion again this year.  The event will be held on Saturday, October 19th between 11 AM and 2 PM on the front lawn.  Younger children and their families can assemble scarecrows from materials provided by the museum.  There is no charge for this event.   Hope to see you and your scarecrow there!

Ruby Hill to be Musical Guests at Museum Church

On Sunday, October 13th, Ruby Hill will be musical guests at the Museum Church.  Micki LePla, Ron McPhail and Jim WiLliams are three musicians who “would rather sing and harmonize than almost anything!”

Jim & Ron are also members of the acoustic quartet Lost Cuzzins; Micki has been performing as a lead singer in bands, as an actor and as choir director of her church.

The combination of folk-flavored instrumentation, precise harmonies and exquisite arrangements of old and new favorites inspired one listener to comment, “It’s like the sun comes out from the clouds when you play and sing!”

Their choice of songs is an eclectic blend including tunes by Claire Lynch, Alison Krauss, Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton and Rod Stewart (yes, that Rod Stewart!), as well as originals. 

The concert starts at 3:00 PM.  Admission is $10.  Light refreshments will be served at intermission.

Annual Meeting

The annual membership meeting will be held Sunday, Sept. 29th at 2:00 PM in the Museum Church.  Hope to see you there.

Bringing the Citizens of Gettysburg to Life

One of the participants in our Civil War Days has posted over 50 photos from this year's event on his blog, Passion for the Past.

The photos are posted under the title, Bringing the Citizens of Gettysburg to Life.  Well worth a visit!

House in Mourning and Cemetery Walk

This Saturday, September 21st, visit Sanilac County Historic Village and Museum and learn how funerals were conducted in Victorian times.  Comfort the grieving family, see an old horse-drawn hearse, and visit the cemetery where you can meet Dr. Loop, his daughter Ada and other early pioneers of Port Sanilac.

The event runs from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM
A shuttle bus runs from the Museum Mansion to the cemetery at 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students and includes the shuttle bus.

Blue Water Ramblers Play at the Museum Church

The Blue Water Ramblers will perform at The Museum Church on Sunday, September 22nd at 3:00 PM.  Admission is $10 for adults.  There will be refreshments and coffee available at intermission.  Hope to see you there.  You can listen to The Blue Water Ramblers at our YouTube page.  

The Historical Society is working with Parrott's Tours to provide an opportunity to visit Soaring Eagle Casino and see the Moscow Ballet perform their Great Russian Nutcracker.  Tickets are only $35 for members or $40 for non-members.  Space is limited, so please reserve your seats early.  Details as follows:

Date: Monday, December 9th

Depart Port Sanilac, St. Mary's Church parking lot, 8:30 AM.  Depart Sandusky, K Mart parking lot behind Burger King, 8:50 AM.  Arrive at Soaring Eagle Aprox. 11 AM.  Departing Casino Aprox. 6 PM with arrival back in Sandusky aprox. 8:10 and Port Sanilac about 8:30.

All guests must be 21 years of age or older and must carry a drivers license or other legal identification.

Please contact Dave Blaine to register or for any additional information.

davidblaine@gmail.com or 810-404-5018

The Museum Wine Tasting, Get Your Tickets Now!

This year's Wine Tasting may be our best one yet.  On Sunday, August 18th we will be charmed by our Master of Ceremonies, Channel 4 news anchor Devin Scillian, as well as Chateau Chantal winemaker Mark Johnson.  We will be sampling fine wines from around the world and right next door, including our local Blue Water Winery.  Gourmet hors d'oeuvres and supper will be prepared by chef Andy Fabian of The Van Camp House, and we will be entertained by musical guests Nuclassica.  The always popular silent and live auctions promise to also provide fun for everyone.

Tickets for this event are $60 with a discounted price of $55 for members.  Reserve your seat now.  Tickets are available in Port Sanilac at Raymond Hardware, at Weekends locations in Lexington and Port Huron, or by contacting the Museum.

2nd Annual Pow Wow at the Museum August 24th & 25th

If you missed last year's Pow Wow, don't make the same mistake again!  This year the Pow Wow will be held on Saturday, August 24th and Sunday, August 25th.  The Grand Entry ceremonies will be held at
1:00 P.M & 6:00 P.M on Saturday, and at 12:00 Noon on Sunday.  These are ceremonies that you don't want to miss, so plan to be here at one of those times if at all possible.

Some of the celebrants this year include Head Veteran Wayne Hardwick, Arena Director Rick Schotz, Master of Ceremonies Cecil Issac, and Head Dancers Rob. W. and Felica C.  Drummers include the Weengushk Singers and the Back Settlement Boys.

For more information contact the museum, or call Rob Wanageshik at (616)648-6935.

Everyone is welcome.

Remembering the Storm of 1913

Natives, Voyageurs & Settler Days

Children's Days

You're Invited to

at the Sanilac County

Historic Village and Museum

Mondays at 1 PM in July and August

July 8th: Introduction to Your County Museum.  

Take a walking tour of the village, meet Dr. and Mrs. Loop and Join us for an archaeological dig!

July 15th: A Day at the Deckerville Depot.  

Join conductor Gaylord Fill as he shows how the Depot operated daily.

July 22nd: Learning About Native American Culture.

Chief Joseph of the Black River PowWow shares stories and history of his culture.

July 29th: School's In Session at the Huckins Schoolhouse.

Join schoolmarm Judy Hudson for a lesson in the schoolhouse.

August 5th: Old-Fashioned Children's Games

Come learn how to play hopscotch, jacks, and other games children played 100 years ago!

August 12th: The Michigan Wilderness.

Learn about the native plants and animals found in Michigan at the Village's Hunting Cabin.

The admission fee for each event is $3 per participant.  Reservations can be made by calling 810-622-9946.

Kohler Sisters Concert

The next concert slated for The Museum Church will be on Sunday, May 19th at 3:00 PM when The Kohler Sisters play for us.  If you attended the museum Christmas party last year you may have heard these young women play for us then.  One is a violinist and the other a keyboardist, and they accompanied Bob with several carols that night.  As usual, tickets for members are only $10 and are available at the door.  Snacks and refreshments will be served at intermission.




UPDATE: May 19, 2013- 3:00 PM in the Museum Church

Blaire and Tess DeWilde Kohler came to our attention when they attended the Museum Christmas Open House in November 2010.  Blaire, now 18, was carrying a violin case. It seemed unusual and I thought she had just come from a practice or a recital someplace else.  She astonished everyone there when she opened it and accompanied Bob Stasiuk by ear, no music. Then, Bob found out that Tess, now 13, played the piano so he had her play while he took a break.

They returned again for the 2011 and 2012 Open House.  We asked their mother if they were ready for a Concert and this spring she said they are ready! So, this is it.

Blaire has been playing the violin since age 6 at the Suzuki Royal Oak Institute of Music She has toured Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands with SRO’s Camerata ensemble.   She has performed with them at Carnegie Hall.  She was Royal Oak High School Concertmaster of the Symphony all four years.  Last year she was a member of the DSO Youth Orchestra.  She is currently attending Wayne State on a Presidential Scholarship and is a violin performance major.

Blaire’s, “baby sister” Tess, began playing the piano at age 5, studying the Suzuki method.  In sixth grade she began playing the trumpet at Royal Oak Middle School.  This last January she played in the Michigan All State Middle School Band at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids.  She has just been nominated to the DSO Civic Youth Ensemble Honor’s Band.

Also, you will not believe everything the girls do in their spare time, for that you will have to read about it in the Concert program.

You don’t want to miss this Concert, because in a year or two they will be out of our league and you will have to pay dearly to see them at someplace like Carnegie Hall.

 Tickets $10.00 adults, $5.00 Students, at the Door

Sunday, April 14, 2013- 3:00 PM in the Museum Church

CadillacPhoenix Blues Band consists of Dale Ryeinhart on Harmonica, Terry Conklin on Drums, Clare Frederick on Bass and Gary Frederick on Guitar.  All are from the Thumb and All are long time music veterans with extensive backgrounds.  Each brings his or her own style to the mix.

The Band will play a mixture of electric blues ranging from early Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, ZZ Top etc.  They mix Chicago style blues with Texas blues as well as some blues rock thrown in.

The Band is playing this concert as a benefit with all proceeds going to the Museum, so your attendance will be entertaining, interesting and an extra help to the Museum.  Please share this info with your friends!

Children's Days

Children's Days activities are as follows:

July 8th, Introduction to the Museum and  archaeological dig.

July 15th, Day at the Train Depot

July 22nd, Native American day with Chief Joseph

July 29th, Day at the One Room Schoolhouse.

August 5th, Old Fashion Children's Games.

August 12th, TBA.  Check with the museum after May 1st for activity.

Coming March 17, 2013 3:00 PM in the Museum Church.  Who better to have on St. Pat’s Day than our own great Irish group “Ourselves” and with names like Schlichting you know they have to be Irish! As usual, they are always a fun “foot stomping” group. You can’t help but get in a festive mood when they play.

In addition we will be serving corn beef sandwiches with Beer or rootBEER, not sure it will be green, but if you miss this you will be green with envy!

Tickets $20.00 adults, $10.00 Students

Note as this group is popular you may want to make reservations by calling the Museum. Seating and Standing room limited to the first 500 people. (110 inside seating, 390 standing outside [dress warm]).

Next Mosaic Concert

Award winning singer/songwriter Jim Bizer will be the next musical guest in the Mosaic Concert series at The Museum Church.  Jim will be entertaining us on Sunday, February 10th at 3 PM.  Admission is $10 for adults and just $5 for students.  Refreshments will be served.