Book Cover -- Janis Stein

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HISTORY AWARDS: Book on Huron County One Room Schools Honored

September 28, 2014
By: Dave Rogers

A book on one room schools in Huron County was among Historical Society of Michigan (HSM) 15 top honors awarded during its annual State History Conference, which was held last weekend in Big Rapids.

As the second volume in a series, this well-researched book focuses on rural one-room schools in Bingham, Paris and Sheridan Townships of Huron County; the first volume covered the histories of schoolhouses in Sand Beach and Sherman Townships.

At one point, there were 7,000 one-room schools in Michigan, and about 100 of them were in Huron County. Today, there are 18 across Michigan, six of which are in Huron County.

The Society presents the State History Awards every year to individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the appreciation, collection, preservation and/or promotion of state and local history. The awards are the highest recognition presented by the Historical Society of Michigan, the state's official historical society and oldest cultural organization.

The winners are:

Lifetime Achievement Award - Kaye Hiebel from Marquette

Distinguished Volunteer Service - Marge Sawruk from White Lake

Books: University & Commercial Press - "Arsenal of Democracy: The American Automobile Industry in World War II" by Charles K. Hyde, Wayne State University Press.

"Cholera in Detroit: A History" by Richard Adler, McFarland & Company, Inc.

"Detroit: Race Riots, Racial Conflicts, and Efforts to Bridge the Racial Divide" by Joe T. Darden and Richard Thomas, Michigan State University Press

"Holland, Michigan: From Dutch Colony to Dynamic City" by Robert P. Swierenga, Van Raalte Press, in partnership with William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

"Old Slow Town": Detroit During the Civil War - by Paul Taylor, Wayne State University Press - Books: Private Printing

"Perry Hannah's Gifts: Then and Now" by Peg Jonkhoff and Fred Hoisington

"Schools of Yesteryear Volume II" by Janis Stein

Books: Children & Youth - "Hunter's Quest: Finding Heritage and Friendship in Southwest Michigan" by author Mara MacKay (aka Mara Mae) and illustrator Dan Smith

Communications: Newsletters and Websites - The Ford Legend, newsletter produced by the Henry Ford Heritage Association

Education: Educator - Kelly Eddy from Ann Arbor, teacher at Churchill High School in Livonia

Local Societies - Leelanau Historical Society

Special Programs/Events -

Best Article in Michigan History magazine - "A Weed Goes to War" by Gerald Wykes

This year also marks the 140th anniversary of the Historical Society of Michigan's State History Conference. The Society is celebrating this milestone in conjunction with the 130th anniversary of Ferris State University, a statewide sponsor for the conference. Other sponsors and supporters for this year?s conference are Chemical Bank, City of Big Rapids, Mecosta County Historical Society, Ice Mountain, Schuberg Insurance Agency and Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital.

The State History Conference explores significant people, places and events in Michigan's past through a diverse offering of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, workshops and tours. Each year, the conference moves to a different location within the Lower Peninsula to feature the local history of that area and to address notable statewide historical matters. The Historical Society of Michigan also hosts the Upper Peninsula History Conference, which focuses on the history of the U.P., and Michigan in Perspective: The Local History Conference, which concentrates on Southeast Michigan and statewide history. ###