Beaver Island Historical Society Welcomes You to Our Past
The Beaver Island Historical Society was founded in 1957 to collect and share the fascinating history of Beaver Island. A remote island in Lake Michigan, it has witnessed many interesting and unique historical events, and has been home to various groups including Native Americans, a Mormon branch known as the Strangites, Irish immigrants, fisherman, lumberjacks, and many more.
King Strang
The Historical Society currently operates two museums on the Island, the Print Shop Museum and the Marine Museum, as well as two additional historical sites: Heritage Park and the Protar Home. We offer several resources and services to our visitors, including genealogical research, copies of archival photos, and a series of historical journals and other books for purchase. Additionally, we host many events throughout the year to promote the Island’s history.
Explore our history, find out about the king, fishing, shipwrecks, island life, natural history, our Irish heritage, and much more.
For an overview of Beaver Island History please visit: http://www.beaverisland.net/beaver-island-history
Museum Hours
Closed for the season and will reopen May 2019. Please call 231.448.2254 for more information.
Construction Update
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that a legacy benefactor, George Bisbee of Jackson MI, provided the Society just over $500,000, which will be used for financing the Print Shop Addition, including some of the exhibits. The Board is also grateful to the many Island benefactors who have supported the expansion concept and contributed to the capital campaign already and to those future benefactors who will continue to support the Society in fulfilling the vision to share the unique historical stories of the Archipelago through the renovated and expanded museum.
Architectural services are being provided pro-bono by Ebersoldt + Associates Architects, and its owner, Vince Ebersoldt, a long-time Island visitor, Island property owner and benefactor, as well as a BIHS Trustee. The Board of Trustees are extremely grateful to Vince and his team for the work they are doing on behalf of the Society, helping to keep Island History Alive!
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From Our Facebook Page
View the most recent updates at https://www.facebook.com/BeaverIslandHistoricalSociety/
File caption "Don and Lil Cole," no date noted.
Paul Cole Brian Cole Rob Cole Ray Cole Pam Moxham
This photo was taken (possibly by my mother's close friend and bridesmaid Marie Boyle McCauley) on my parent's wedding day, August 11, 1954, at my maternal grandmother's home on the harbor.
They had a nice party in the yard and then moved to the hall for dancing. My Dad thought the wedding was quite "extravagant " and wanted something smaller....but he was smitten and Mom got her way.
Beautiful wedding picture!
Sure looks like me! I have a vague recollection of being at their wedding. I would have been 6 1/2–looks like about the right age. Mary Janice might know for sure—she is out of town right now, but I’ll tag her with this so she sees it for sure. Mary J. Supernaw O'Brien
Wow! Who would the kids be?
And I wish that cabin was still there!
Linda Supernaw Warner is this you...
File noted as, "Harbor, Horse Round-up for High Island.
A freelance journalist in Boyne City is interested in an event from 1951 involving Archie LaFreniere and Ed Byrne. LIFE magazine sent a photographer to the island to document the delivery of about a dozen horses (?) to High island where they would live and breed. If any of our followers would like to be interviewed about this story please note so in your comments and I will message you about contact information.
How long did they make it on High Island...I know they no longer are on the island.
Brian Gallagher and Roland Cull were on that trip! My Dad too but no help there.
Can you provide more detail to this story? Why were they sending horses over there?
Call my mom, Loretta LaFreniere Slater. She remembers this. We were just talking about it. She’s got some stories.
Richard Gillespie
Aaron Engel
Interesting
Paying homage to the past BIHS director for many many years. File caption "Bill Cashman at Wojan's Bait Shop," date not noted. Enjoy!
Miss him too
Miss his visits, miss him
I have half a dozen major experiences and varied impressions of Bill, but all told, he left impressions, and I so admire him for that.
Great picture!
Let the sunshine in. Welcome Spring! Beaver Island Historical Society Photograph Collection #634
Remember the quote " I don't do windows ". well there you go...men do with a little prodding by those who don't. 🙂
Beaver Island Historical Society Photograph Collection #133
The former Arnold ferry Mackinac Islander right in front of her. Was used as a package freighter on the lakes and then sold to a west coast company who used her as a crabbing boat until she sank with all lives lost mid 1980s.
O I remember that boat
Russell Green on the bottom right.
I know who set it on fire! Joe McPillips saw it!
South shore?
Photography by Frank Solle / Stillpoint Photography