Visitors and residents in St. Ignace will have the opportunity to explore the history of the Straits area Saturday, August 1, during History on the Bay, which will include an author open house, walking tours, and a presentation from Captain Luke Clyburn of the Noble Odyssey Foundation (NOF). The history weekend is one in a series of Saturday festivals culminating in fireworks displays this summer in St. Ignace.

The author open house will run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Great Waters Center downtown at 4 North State Street. About 10 authors who either live in or write about Michigan and the area surrounding the Straits of Mackinac will be there to sign and sell books and chat about Michigan history.

"We're trying to get a group of authors who represent a number of different genres," said Jennifer McGraw of the Michilimackinac Historical Society. "Almost all have a little bit of history run through what they're doing."

Authors range from Donna Winters of Fayette, who has written more than 15 books, many of them romances set in historic Michigan, to Tim LaJoice of St. Ignace, who is showcasing two of his children's books about beavers. Mrs. Winters will showcase her book, "Mackinac," a romance set at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in 1895. Mr. LaJoice's books are titled "Woodaline the Beaver" and its sequel, "Kit Trouble."

Also featured at the event are non-fiction historic books like "Before the Bridge" by Emerson Smith. Larry Rubin of St. Ignace, the author of "Mighty Mac" and "Bridging the Straits," will be there with his books.

Books by both Tom Pfeiffelmann and John Welcher feature memories of growing up on Mackinac Island. Mr. Pfeiffelmann will be bringing "Letters to my Sisters: A Civil War Account" and "Mackinac Adventures and Island Memories: Growing Up on Mackinac." Mr Welcher's tale of life on the island is titled "Growing Up on Mackinac Island in the 30s and 40s."

Also present will be Tyler Tichelaar, author of "The Marquette Trilogy," "The Only Thing That Lasts," "Narrow Lives," and "Iron Pioneers." Jane Young specializes in reinactment research and will bring her expertise and books on the subject. Patricia McCreary will bring "The Company and the Community," and Moira Wilson will bring two books, "Ogehmawahbee, Chippewa Warrior; And His Incredible Journey During the Time of Relocation," and "Revolutionary Fires - A Tale of Indian Eve, Volume 1, 1777- 1779."

The St. Ignace Public Library will bring in "Images of America, St. Ignace," the Kiwanis Club will bring "Before the Bridge," and the Museum of Ojibwe Culture will also bring some of the history books available there.

In addition to authors, the event is expected to draw book sellers, publishers, and those who research and collect historical material, particularly those interested in Michigan history. Some publishers will be present who specialize in taking old, outof print books and republishing them.

The event is a good opportunity to meet favorite authors or find new ones, said Mrs. McGraw.

The Michilimackinac Historical Society is co-sponsoring the author open house with the Great Waters Center for Lifelong Learning.

"You can come and look around and talk to people and meet the authors," she said. "It may be an opportunity that a lot of people don't get."

Refreshments will be served, and the open house is free to the public.

Carrying on the weekend's historic theme, the Great Waters Center is offering a presentation by Captain Luke Clyburn, president of the Noble Odyssey Foundation, who is currently in St. Ignace with a team of divers researching the ancient geological formations beneath the Straits of Mackinac.

The presentation, entitled "An Ancient History of the Straits Area and Drowned Rivers," will begin at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, August 1, at the Great Waters Center. Captain Clyburn and his Naval Sea Cadets will discuss their latest find of the remains of an underground forest in Thunder Bay, as well as their lives and work on the Great Lakes, which they refer to as the "inland seas."

The presentation is free of charge; donations to NOF will be accepted. Some refreshments will be served, and the presentation may be briefly interrupted to take in the St. Ignace weekly fireworks at dusk.

During the time between the two events Saturday, visitors are encouraged to take part in either guided or unguided history walking tours around downtown St. Ignace. Recently published walking tour booklets, which contain a map for use on the self-guided tours and more than 30 pages of historic photographs and information, will be available at the Great Waters Center as well as the Chamber of Commerce, Museum of Ojibwe Culture, and Fort de Buade museum.

A special guided tour, "History on the Bay" hosted by Jim Couling, will take place Saturday, August 1, and will include a different theme from Mr. Couling's weekly Tuesday tours. A scavenger hunt and an auction will benefit the budget for future walking tours.

Another event connected to the historic theme of the weekend is the genealogy research meeting Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, at the St. Ignace Middle School cafeteria. It is free and open to the public. (See related story, page 3. )