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Category: historic preservation
24th Covered Bridge Bike Tour
Cyclists head out on a perfect day
By Emma Palova
EW Emma’s Writings
Fallasburg, MI- On a perfect Sunday, more than 100 bicyclists headed out into the country side for their chosen tour route ranging from 12 to 100 miles.
“It’s been our best turnout yet,” said registrar Tracy Worthington
It was a mix of regulars and newcomers. They all had one thing in common; the love for the area and the charm of the Fallasburg pioneer village.
Also new to the bike tour was Fallasburg Historical Society (FHS) board member Mark Kuzee
“I love this place,” he said.
Follow us through the day to the grand spaghetti dinner finale at the Misner House. The dinner will be served until 3 p.m.
Like us on Facebook and Twitter.
Also for more info go to our blog Fallasburg Today @fallasburgtoday.com and our website http://www.fallasburg.com.
Also check out our brand new video “Guardians of Fallasburg History ” on YouTube at https://youtu.be/DKw3aEQrzS4
The next FHS event will be the Fallasburg Village Bazaar on Sept. 15 & 16.
We are looking for vendors. Don’t miss on this opportunity to shine. Contact Michelle Emaus.
Copyright (c) 2018. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
24th Annual Covered Bridge Bike Tour
Mark your calendars
Join us for the 24rd Annual Covered Bridge Bike Tour!
Pedal through the beautiful countryside at your own pace.
Date: Sunday, July 8, 2018
Fallasburg historic village is located three miles north of Lowell, Michigan.
Registration: At the school house from 7-9 a.m.
You can also register online by filling out the form below on the Fallasburg website:
For application and waiver go to: http://www.fallasburg.org/bike-tour/
Start location: 13944 Covered Bridge Road, Lowell, MI 49331
Tour options (in miles): 12, 28, 40, 50, 62, 78, 100
Registration fee: $25 for individuals / $35 for family
After deadline (July 2): $30 for individuals / $40 for family
More information: Ken Tamke 616-682-0785 kentamke@comcast.net
Directions to Fallasburg from Lowell:
North approximately 3 miles to Fallasburg Park Drive.
Right to entrance to park.
Angle right on Covered Bridge Road.
Over covered bridge to school house. Park in field across the street.
*Look for county signs alerting you to the Park/Bridge/Historic Village.
Bike Tour Release & Registration
- Name *
First
-
Last
- Address
Street
CityState / Province / RegionPostal / Zip Code
Email *
- Phone
- Please select:
-
Individual Rider
Family - Please list rider names & ages.
Riders in my party are: Registration form
Copyright (c) 2018. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Great finds at Fallasburg village
Historical team finds forgotten treasures, a historian’s dream
By Emma Palova
Fallasburg, MI – During the recent digital cataloging of Fallasburg artifacts, the historical team discovered forgotten treasures from Vergennes Township.
These included a remarkable collection of Women’s Committee for the National Council of Defense index cards filled out by women from Vergennes Township in support of World War I in 1917. The Vergennes Township Clerk/Registrar was responsible for undertaking this survey and completing the index cards from women in the community. The collection includes many recognizable names in the community.
Fallasburg Footprints
WWI support cards
Calvin College history intern Grace Bolt resumed the painstaking process of entering the data for Fallasburg artifacts at the Lowell Area Historical Museum (LAHM). She was working under the mentorship of Lisa Plank (LAHM) executive director and Ken Tamke, Fallasburg Historical Society (FHS) president for 14 weeks.
This was the third year of digital cataloging of Fallasburg artifacts in cooperation with the Calvin College History Department.
“I was familiar with the process of entering stuff like description, dimensions, pictures and saving it,” Bolt said.
Bolt got hands on experience doing museum work as she helped to get the collection organized and to be a part of preserving history.
“This is a historian’s dream out here,” she said about Fallasburg village. “Everything is digitally captured.”
“This will also make the collection accessible to the public,” said Tamke. “Many forgotten treasures were rediscovered in our schoolhouse files.”
The other great finds were Vergennes Women’s Cooperative yearbooks, Flaunting a forgotten era, old leather-bound property tax ledgers, accounting ledgers, and log books of school board minutes, some dating back to the late 1800s.
The Vergennes Women’s Cooperative archives of yearbooks go back to 1850.
“It’s a valuable cache of Vergennes Township history,” said Tamke.
These items were stored in the basement of the Misner House. They sat there until 2007 or 2008, safe, but not in a climate controlled environment.
“We noticed signs of deterioration,” he said. “We did retain some of the historical treasures in the schoolhouse.”
Now, the historical treasures will remain in a climate controlled environment stored in proper boxes.
Plank said it was an opportunity for Fallasburg to get their collections organized.
“It benefited all sides,” said Plank. “Fallasburg will have proper archival storage.”
Both FHS and LAHM with digital cataloging have more resources available now.
The largest collection of the WWI support cards is at the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council.
For more info go to https://www.ggrwhc.org/projects/wwi/
or
Grand Rapids Public Library
https://grpl.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16055coll5
The Fallasburg Historical Museum, the one-room schoolhouse opens for the season on June 3rd from 2 to 4 p.m. Plan your visit today.
Copyright (c) 2018. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
FHS annual meeting
Mark your calendars for the Annual General Meeting of the Fallasburg Historical Society (FHS) on Monday, June 18th.
The meeting will be held at the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce at 7 p.m.
The purpose of the Annual General Meeting is to identify and to present to the general membership, a slate of candidates for election to the FHS board.
“Additionally, it is a forum for our membership to lend its voice and to get involved,” Ken Tamke, FHS president said. “Please join us to help preserve historic Fallasburg Village.”
The one-room schoolhouse museum opens for the season on June 3rd from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. It will be open every Sunday through September. Plan your visit with us this summer and fall.
Copyright (c) 2018. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Spring into the Past museum tour
Visit Fallasburg pioneer village during your museum tour
Fallasburg, MI – As you plot your museum tour this weekend, stop by in the Fallasburg pioneer village just three miles north of Lowell.
Just cross the Covered Bridge into the 1837 village founded by John W. Fallas. You will have stepped back in time.
You will marvel at the historic treasures like the one-room schoolhouse, the Misner House, the John W. Fallas House and the Tower Farm & barn, all preserved under the auspices of the Fallasburg Historical Society (FHS).
“Spring Into the Past” is a tour of the museums of the Tri-River Historical Museum Network in Barry, Eaton, Ionia, Kent and Montcalm counties.
“We’re continuing last year’s theme of “Fashions through the Ages” with many new displays as our member museums or historical societies roll out their red carpet to show off the unique history of their communities during this annual event,” said Tri-River Museums Network spokesperson Judy Gager.
Get a descriptive booklet at any of the museums or plan your tour beforehand by downloading a copy of a map at http://www.commoncorners.com
Visit TriRiver on Facebook, too.
Beach wear, bustles and bridal gowns – a variety of timeless “Fashions Through the Ages” will be visible in the museums of the Tri-River Historical Museum Network during the annual museum tour.
The quaint museums are as versatile as the fashions, located in former vintage homes, meeting halls, stores and depots in small communities throughout the Tri-River Network.
“They all are eager to share the history of their community both past and present,” said Gager.
Museum hours are usually also varied, but during this annual event all museums are open the same days and hours so visitors can tour several the same day: Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm and Sunday from noon to 5 pm.
“Fallasburg always Partakes in this annual tour,” said FHS spokesperson Emma Palova.
Get an informational booklet at any museum. Museums are free, but donations are certainly appreciated!
Copyright (c) 2018. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
FHS President’s spring message
Remembering Mr. Edwin Roth
It is with heavy heart that I write my spring message. Charter member of the West Central Michigan Historical Society, former President of the succeeding Fallasburg Historical Society, and lifetime champion of the cause of preservation, Edwin Roth passed away March 8Th at 98 years old. To say Ed lived life to the fullest would be a vast understatement. His spirit will of course live on, his legacy, one of many, Fallasburg Village today.
Everyone who knew Ed Roth has a story. His easy-going, self-effacing manner made you comfortable when you were around him, his sense of humor ever-present. I believe we all marveled at his longevity in our individual quests to find the fountain of youth. Ed’s answer was simple, eat right, live clean, and another nugget he shared with me last Christmas with a large smile, “Don’t go to Doctors”! That was Ed.
I wasn’t around when Ed Roth staked the National Historic Site Marker at the John Wesley Fallas house which was undergoing a major restoration in the 1990’s. I was around when Ed accepted the award from the Michigan Barn Preservation Network for “Barn of the Year,” 2014, recognizing the Fallasburg Historical Society’s work on the Tower Barn. These projects, amongst so many others, we’re the labor of Ed Roth’s love, and he maintained a strong and steady hand in all of them. Thank you, Edwin Roth! You are irreplaceable!
The clipping is from the FHS scrapbook’ circa 1990.
“I ran across some really great stuff,” said FHS president Ken Tamke. “Pretty much all newspaper clippings that chronicle the history of the West Central Michigan Historical Society from the mid-60s and then FHS through the late 90s.”
The historic district status was awarded in 1999.
Calvin College students tour Fallasburg pioneer village
Still in the firm grasp of winter cold, but on a bright and sunny day, the Calvin College History Department’s “Public History” class visited Fallasburg on January 17TH. Professor Kate VanLiere’s students, as part of a month-long intensive study course stopped first at the Lowell Area Historical Museum to get a look at the inside workings of a small museum and a grand tour from Executive Director, Lisa Plank. Then it was on to Fallasburg for a walking tour with yours truly and their outside look at our National Historic District. The group of 30 briefly popped their heads in the door of the Schoolhouse, Misner House, and Fallas House. With FHS’ small museums in hibernation for the winter, and each property unheated, it was actually colder inside than out. Our brisk walk was appreciated and gave our visitors an overview of the entire Village from Fallas Barn to Covered Bridge.
FHS gets intern to assist in digital cataloging
For the third consecutive year, the Calvin College History Department has provided a student intern for the Winter/Spring term to assist FHS with our digital cataloging of documents, photographs, and artifacts. Under the tutelage and mentorship of Lisa Plank at LAHM, this year’s intern, Grace Bolt, has focused on the treasures contained in the School. Most remarkable have been the handwritten Attendance Ledgers which chronicle Fallasburg School students, school year by school year, back to the early 1900’s, all completed by the teacher of the day. Grace has painstakingly recorded and photographed the logs. She could now tell you, if you went to Fallasburg School, when you were absent, and what ailed, lots of Chicken Pox, Mumps, and Measles. With a keen interest in Geography as well as History, tech-savvy Grace is working to create an online aerial view map of Fallasburg that highlights all its historic sites, buildings standing or not.
Pictured above Mr. Ed Roth at Lowell Expo 2017 with daughter Jeanne Vandersloot, and FHS members Tracy Worthington and Al Rumbaugh.
Say Hello:
Fallasburg Historical Society, Table #129, at the Lowell Community Expo, Saturday, March 24, from 9AM – 3PM, Lowell High School.
Come Visit:
Fallasburg Village comes out of hibernation, Saturday, 11AM – 5PM & Sunday, 12PM – 5PM, May 5 & 6, the first weekend in May! We’ll participate in the Tri-Rivers Museum Network’s, “Spring into the Past” event. 41 small local museums team up and open up-free of charge!
Sincerely,
Ken
About the feature photo: Mr. Ed Roth with Randy Mouw, Barncats Contractor who fixed the Tower Barn, accepting Barn of the Year award for 2014 from the Michigan Barn Preservation Network.
Copyright (c) 2018. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Christmas in Fallasburg 2017 was the most successful ever
Christmas in Fallasburg party enjoys huge turnout
By Emma Palova
Fallasburg, MI – It was a night to remember. After much anticipation and preparation, the “Christmas in Fallasburg” party rolled in with fanfare last Saturday on Dec. 9. Snow was on the ground and we didn’t get the promised arctic blast by the local weatherman.
The Covered Bridge was all lit up and created a great photo opportunity at night. Just driving across the bridge in the silence of the night was an experience in itself. Of course the bridge allows only One-Way traffic at the speed of walking under the fine of $5.
I always feel nervous before each event, including my own, after all the marketing and promotions. The Christmas party is a premier event for the Fallasburg Historical Society (FHS).
“We never know how many people will come out,” said FHS president Ken Tamke.
However, the party turned out to be the most successful party ever with 75 people in attendance.
“The fire was magnificent,” said Tamke. “Villager Craig Wood spent the whole year building it.”
The party started in 2006 and it is Tamke’s brainchild. Previously the FHS hosted a “wild game” dinner at the Fallas House. The Fallas House is small and not too many people could attend.
“We never made any money on it,” Tamke said. “The caterer did.”
Tamke lobbied to use the one-room schoolhouse instead, get a band, serve beer and wine, and to have a potluck.
“There was a brush pile in the field that first year, so we lit it,” Tamke said. “Craig Wood took over the fire. We’ve been going with the same formula ever since.”
The FHS volunteers put a lot of work into getting the old one-room schoolhouse ready for the annual event. This includes decorations, large round tables and a buffet style dinner, while making sure everything works including the heater and electricity.
In other words, it was a true old-fashioned Christmas.
It is also the favorite FHS event considering the atmosphere in the historic pioneer village of Fallasburg all decorated for Christmas.
People packed out the schoolhouse like never before. There was standing room only between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. This year, we enjoyed newcomers and a younger crowd as well. There were families with children.
It was heartwarming to see the oldest member of the FHS Edwin Roth, 97, come in with his daughter Jeanne Roth Vandersloot. Roth never misses out on an FHS event.
Everybody enjoyed the music by live band Hawks & Owls. They played non-stop. The spirit of the night was in meeting new people as well as enjoying old friends. Even some people on snowmobiles stopped by. With new people involved also appeared new dishes like the delicious French green bean casserole, as well as the mainstay meatballs in two different versions, turkey and stuffing.
We headed out to the bonfire, that warmed up the night in a large radius around it. People gathered in a circle around the bonfire for great conversation and to enjoy the warmth of the fire.
As we came back, the bell rang in the belfry announcing the end of the festivities.
I feel honored to be a part of the FHS preservation efforts including the Christmas magic in Fallasburg.
Thank you for a great year. Looking forward to 2018. Happy holidays.
Copyright (c) 2017. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Christmas magic in Fallasburg
Christmases of the past
By Emma Palova
Fallasburg, MI – The weather outside is frightful with an arctic invasion coming our way, but I am definitely looking forward to tomorrow’s Christmas party in Fallasburg.
It has become a tradition much like baking, shopping and writing Christmas cards. It’s like recapturing part of the past magic of Christmas that we all have experienced as kids.
It’s all the Christmases of the past coming together into one. We each have special memories of Christmas tied to our childhood past.
Every year we meet out there inside the old Fallasburg one-room schoolhouse to share camaraderie, to break bread and enjoy Christmas music.
First you have to cross the Covered Bridge at the speed of no more than a walk. And then you immerse yourself into the magic of the pioneer village.
I live three miles from the village, and I have discovered it early on after moving out into the northeast corner of Kent County. The village is located approximately three miles north of Lowell. It nestles on the banks of the Flat River.
The Patina of time has settled in on the historical buildings from the 1850s like the Tower Farm. It’s a bygone era of a simpler time in the village.
You can hear the horses and coaches cross the bridge. The party runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and it is capped off with a bonfire.
The Fallasburg Historical Society (FHS) has been managing the village since 1965. As with any historical preservation, the challenges are many. They range from funding to labor for the upkeep on the buildings.
Without a dedicated team of volunteers, none of the events throughout the year would be possible.
These include:
March Expo in Lowell
Spring into the Past Museum tour
Fallasburg Covered Bridge Bike Tour
Fallasburg Village Bazaar
Christmas in Fallasburg
As we wish you a peaceful holiday, we hope that you can join us in our historic preservation efforts by volunteering time or a money donation.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Fallasburg Today at http://fallasburgtoday.org
Fallasburg http://www.fallasburg.org
Thank you for your support.
Copyright (c) 2017. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
FHS president’s message
Dear friends,
Fall, in and around Fallasburg, is truly a very special and scenic place. Purists might say this hasn’t been an optimum year for fall color or its longevity, but it sure had me fooled, and the “Indian Summer” we enjoyed was exquisite! I hope you had a chance to visit and soak it all in.
2017 is almost up, and so is another year for FHS as steward of Fallasburg Village! The job of the preservationist is never done however, although finally weather says otherwise, at least for outdoor projects. I do believe volunteers would still be out prepping, repairing, and painting properties if we pitched a tent-well, maybe a heated tent.
Accession forms
I guess you really could call this the year of the volunteer! They have been amazing in the things they have accomplished maintaining our buildings and grounds, and so have they been in the preservation, and sharing of knowledge about our history. FHS’ cataloging project of “accession” pieces, the stuff people donate to us; pictures, documents, artifacts, old farm tools, our museum exhibits, has been kept on track by volunteers, and our events come off without a hitch thanks to volunteers, as well.
“Hall-of Famers” for fall include FHS members; Alan Rumbaugh, Tina & David Cadwallader, Mark Kuzee, Frank & Patty Brechbiel, Tracy Worthington, Addie Abel, Emma Palova, Michelle Emaus, and JoAnn Childs. You are tops. We couldn’t do it without you. The list of “cookie bakers,” and “foodies” that help us out from our membership is simply staggering. Thanks to all of you!
Special thanks should go out to Mitchell Tower. Mitchell recently completed his Eagle Scout Badge Project-the construction of a fenced “community garden” honoring his family’s heritage on the historic Tower Farm in Fallasburg. It looks beautiful! FHS can’t wait to get growing.
As the season of giving approaches we at FHS hope you might consider joining us as a volunteer. Please visit our website, www.fallasburg.org/contact/
And, don’t forget the Christmas Party, “Christmas in Fallasburg, A Community Celebration,” Saturday, December 9, 6 – 8PM at the Fallasburg Schoolhouse. www.fallasburg.org/events/
Happy Holidays & Seasons Greetings!
Ken
Copyright (c)2017. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.