Here’s the latest issue of the... Ionia County Historical Society Ionia County Historical Society CHRONICLE CHRONICLE Ionia County Historical Society www.ioniahistory.org P.O. Box 1776 The Almost Monthly Publication of the Ionia County Historical Society — Janurary 2007 Ionia, MI 48846 It’s The Law Hereabouts Ionia County Court- Minutes of the January Meeting. house - seat of local President Linda Ciangi called the meeting to order at the justice since 1885. Blanchard House at 7:00 p.,m. on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007 with a “Happy New Year.” Secretary David McCord appologized for the lack of a December Chronicle, but noted that (thanks to stand- in note-takers) the minutes of recent meetings could be copied if anyone requested them. Hank Knoop delivered a Treasurer’s report, most significantly that $200 was col- lected as donation through December visits to the Blanchard House, and $600 was generated from the “Indoor Yard Sale.” With thanks to Bob Nixon’s grant-writing and membership drives, and various committeepersons, he reported that income from fundraisers, memberships, and interest have kept the organization “solvent.” President Ciangi commented on the recent passing and The guest at the January 2007 meeting was Patrick funeral of Gerald R. Ford, and members shared a few stories Duff, Attorney at Law. (Introduced by ICHS Treasurer Hank of the former President. (At least 6 local Eagle Scouts partici- Knoop as a fellow distance runner, Mr. Duff noted that he pated in the ceremony, including ICHS Vice President Gerry was always challenged to keep up with Hank.) Perry. See story on page 2.) ! Our guest began with a memorial tale about the recently BECOME A MEMBER AVAILABLE AT THE Thanks to all who helped out with the Christmas open departed Gerald R. Ford, his fellow alumnus from U of M. It If you’d like to help us preserve the area’s heritage, please fill in house, decorations and so on. The decorations will come BLANCHARD HOUSE “GIFT SHOP” seems Mr. Ford was commencement speaker at Mr. Duff’s the form below and send it, with check or money order, to the down on January 8 at 10:00 a.m. and everyone is invited graduation ceremony - but Mr. Duff opted not to attend. to help. ICHS Treasurer, care of Box 1776, Ionia, MI 48846. Mr. Duff was a teacher for some years before pursu- ing his law career. Some time ago he opened an office in A Home Tour meeting is planned for January 11 at noon A FEW OF THE ITEMS ON SALE Name: Portland, and most recently merged his practice with long- at the Commission on Aging. Bring a sack lunch and your and suggested donation for each: time Ionia lawers McNamara, O’Keeffe and Chadwick. ideas for the event. (See story on page 3.) Address: History of Ionia and Montcalm Counties From his many friends in the local law business, he col- Under “new business,” due to the success of the recent by John S. Schenck, 1881 (over 500 lected some stories to share, and (stemming from his class- “Indoor Yard Sale,” dates for another are being considered, City, St, Zip: pages!)...$52 room experience) he came well supplied with hand-outs for probably in the spring. Member suggestions are always wel- Phone: Meredyth Jones Lithograph, everyone. These hand-outs included a reproduction of a come. “Ionia County Court House”...$10 tableau of portraits and signatures of the members of the The Board is committed to recording of gifts to the “Ionia Bar - 1874.” Many familiar names were seen there, E-mail: VHS Videos of Ionia Historical Subjects...$10 Society, and of careful consideration of artifacts offered. That not the least of which was John C. Blanchard. is - not to accept items into the collection which we are not Please Check Your Please Share a Headlight Flashes 1896 (a publication of the Pat also related some information about Allan B. Morse, prepared to take care of. Case in point is the crystal collec- Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad featuring local attorney from Ionia, once Michigan Supreme Court tion, for which we have not yet prepared a suitable display. Membership Type: Little Information: 28 pages of Ionia information)...$10 Justice and U.S. Ambassador to Scotland in the 1890s. He Bob Nixon reported that he expects progress soon with also had a list of all the Circuit Court Judges that served the Regular = $20 Renewing Member Ionia, 1907 Souvenir Book reprints...$10 the grant he’s applied for to help purchase materials for the Ionia County area beginning in 1833 - the year Ionia was preservation of clothes in the house. Sustaining = $35 New Member City of Ionia Centennial booklet...$5 first settled by the Dexter party - and Probate Judges from 3 Blocks of Historic Downtown Ionia...$3 1837. To this he added a definition of each Court’s role in It was also noted that a computer will soon be donated If you’re a new member, how to the Society capable of many tasks, and that Jerry Adams Corporate = $250 The NEW Family Histories of Ionia the judgement of legal cases. did you hear about us? of Grand Rapids has promised to donate some software for County...$58.30 Mr. Duff received many stories and anecdotes for his Life = $1000 presentation, and noted that it was difficult to pare them cataloging the Historical Society collections, etc. ... and more souvenirs and information! down to a select few. He did succeed in sharing stories from Gift = $_________ Finally, it was announced that Barb Ehlert will be assum- John MacNamara and Rex O’Connor. He said also that he’d ing a position on the Board vacated by Hank Knoop, who Free Honorary Membership for Students under 18 had a very good story from Bill Davis, but he somehow mis- wishes to dedicate his time solely to the Treasurer’s office. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT! placed it. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:45, with If you are already a member (thank you!), please Our thanks to Mr. Duff for his lighthearted story telling pass this membership form on to a friend. thanks to the Knoop’s for their contribution of refreshments and historical accounts! for the evening. ICHS Chronicle - January 2007 Upcoming Programs and Events Gerald R. Ford, Minutes of the Historical Depot. It was sug- January Board gested that the bricks we U.S. President Wednesday, February 7, 6:30 p.m. Meeting. have from the old Main Street might be used for the base of and Eagle Scout. Regular Meeting will be held at The January Board it. Hank has received word the Blanchard House Meeting was held ot Ionia from Ionia Lowe’s that they 1913-2006 Program: “Civil War Weapons & Tactics” Burger King on January 18 will be happy to help with presented by Henry Knoop. at 10:00 a.m. projects we may plan. President Linda Ciangi Barb Ehlert, Doni Knoop Wednesday, March 7, 6:30 p.m. reported that the Blanchard and Doni’s sister-in-law, Regular Meeting will be held at House had been undecorated Judy Fedewa have under- the WION Radio Station (Haynor Road) and decorations taken care taken the job of photograph- of inside the house. There ing the Quilt Collection at was a report of plans for next the Blanchard House. These Wednesday, March 21, 5 to 9 p.m. Christmas decorating. The pictures will be put on a disk THE APPRAISAL ROADSHOW Committee took great advan- for the record. tage of the sale at Hobby comes to Ionia again at the Commission on Aging! Home Tour report was Left are fellow Eagle Scouts Lobby in Grand Rapids for updated. The next meeting (See ad, this page, for details) some new things. The theme for all of those interested in from the Ionia area, Joe for 2007 Christmas will be helping on this “Community McCord and Joe Bignell, at Wednesday, April 4, 6:30 p.m. Santa Claus. We are hoping Event” is February 8th, at the DeVos Center for Scout- Regular Meeting at the Blanchard House to have a Christmas Tea in noon at the Commission on ing the day of the Funeral. Program: “Prehistoric Settlers of this Area” 2007. Tentative date for the Aging. Things are beginning presented by Gary Schlueter. Tea is December 8th. to take shape for the Event. We did experience some Joan McCord is Chairman Ionia Historical Society Vice President Gerard Perry vandalism in the yard at the on Advertising. was there, standing proudly with over 400 other Eagle Wednesday, May 2, 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting at the Blanchard House Blanchard House. Someone The Society received a Scouts to honor one of their comrades. Gerry Perry, a turned the flag upside down, Program: Farrel Beach speaks on his experiences check for $1,000.00 from “Scouter” since the 1930s, summed up the day with turned over the sleigh and Ionia WalMart due to the as interpretter at the Neurenberg War Trials. tried to remove the fence efforts of Bob Nixon. one word: “Awesome.” He recounted the day’s activi- garlands. There was slight Three of the prints of ties for the ICHS members at the January 3rd meeting. damage to the sleigh. Dennis Spud Jones’ sketch of the Ehlert and Hank Knoop took “They really wanted me there,” he said. “So after three Courthouse were sold to the care of putting things right. Board of Commissioners for calls, I conceeded...and I’m glad I did.” The Scouters Joe McCord called the City the retiring Commissioners.