Bay City to Make Pitch to Host 2006 State History Conference
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Dr. Larry Wagenaar, executive director of the Historical Society of Michigan, speaks at a local civic meeting.
Local civic leaders indicated Bay City definitely will be making a pitch to host the State History Conference in 2006, noting that the new Doubletree Hotel-Conference Center will be up and running, providing an outstanding venue for such conferences.
Tim Shelton, manager of the new facility, was on hand as guest of Hratch Basmadjian, manager of the Bay City Holiday Inn, as the possibility of a local bid was raised in remarks by Dr. Larry Wagenaar, executive director of the Historical Society of Michigan, at a meeting of the Rotary Club of Bay City.
Dr. Wagenaar toured the community's historical attractions and facilities with Eric Jylha, WNEM-TV weather and news reporter, and Dr. Ben Pederson, secretary of the board of the State Historical Society.
This year's 129th annual state history conference will be Oct. 3-5 in Port Huron, said Dr. Wagenaar, and will feature a presentation from Dennis Hale, the only survivor of the sinking of the freighter Daniel J. Morrell in 1966, Native Americans, a photo workshop and a river boat tour. The keynote will be by Hank Meijer, CEO of Meijer, Inc., on "Depression, Detroit and the New Deal of Senator Arthur Vandenberg."
"It's important that every citizen be engaged in history," said the executive director, a former Hope College professor. He urged local residents to join the society and be active in local preservation activities.
He noted that businesses 50 years or older may qualify for a Michigan Milestone Business plaque celebrating the half century, centennial or sesquicentennial of a business and that the historical society is now making awards in a variety of categories.
Bay City Rotarians got a pat on the back for work in historic preservation.
Dr. Wagenaar heads the oldest cultural-historical organization in Michigan, founded in 1828 by Gov. Lewis Cass and explorer Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. Schoolcraft and Stevens T. Mason, first governor of Michigan, were founders of the original Saginaw Bay Company which first organized Bay City in the 1830s.
Dr. Wagenaar said he "applauds Rotarians for the historical preservation work you're doing."
That praise comes as a result of Rotary's sponsorship of the Pere Marquette depot and downtownhistorical kiosks, to which the club has pledged $250,000 over the next five years. The club also recently donated $3,750 to the historical society toward acquisition of the dress sword of Capt. James G. Birney IV, Civil War hero, and in the 1970s was active in preservation of Trombley House, the first frame house in the community dating to 1837.
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