Jim Chamberlain, president of Mackinaw Trolley Company in Mackinaw City, and Judy Engle, a genealogist, talked about their history projects at the Michilimackinac Historical Society Thursday, March 10, at the Mackinac Grille restaurant in St. Ignace.

Mrs. Engle told the small gathering she would like to research family surnames common to this area, and create booklets to file for public use in the public library. She distributed a 41-page booklet she had prepared on the Martineau name, tracing the family back to the 1600s.

“I have a passion about this,” she said. “So many people don’t know who they are and what their family did.”

She hoped her project would be particularly interesting to area children.

Mr. Chamberlain said that last year he brought 4,000 people across the Mackinac Bridge on his St. Ignace history tour.

“I get excited with St. Ignace because there is so much history over here,” he told the group.

He said the Trolley is working with the Museum of Ojibwa Culture and Marquette Mission Park and with Bay Mills Community College to develop a history tour for fourth grade students. The program, to be available this year, is being written by a student at the college and gives an overview of area history from 1670 to present.

Those interested in joining the Michilimackinac Historical Society can contact Jennifer McGraw at 643-9613.