Ken Teysen of the Mackinaw Area Historical Society in front of the Pest House before it was moved to the 40-acre parcel used by the society. Restoration work on the house was completed in 2006. (Photograph courtesy of Mackinaw Area Historical Society) Presidents from the Mackinaw Area Historical Society's past and present spoke of the society's and historic village's history and its potential during the society's annual meeting Monday, October 12, at Mackinaw City High School. Speakers included Sandy Planisek, who filled in for her husband and the society's first president, R.J. Planisek (1996 to 1997), Ken Teysen (1997 to 1999), Dorothy Krueger (1999 to 2002), Kurt Grebe (2002 to 2007), and president Ray Roth. Vice president Bill Marvin and Mackinaw City Manager Jeff Lawson also spoke.

Mrs. Planisek began by briefly describing the activities of the society when it was established in 1996. Much of the time during Mr. Planisek's time as president was spent organizing the society, electing board members, and defining the purpose of the society itself. In addition to establishing the group as a nonprofit organization, the members worked on monthly programs for the public's enjoyment, Mrs. Planisek said. The programs focused on historical aspects of Mackinaw City, including an October program detailing the Halloween celebrations of the past.

In 1997 Mr. Teysen became president of the 70-member society. Monthly programming continued, and residents spoke at the programs about historical events in Mackinaw City.

"We had ordinary people talking about extraordinary events," Mr. Teysen said.

The members also thought about creating a time capsule containing historical information that would be buried for the year 2100, but did not act on the idea at that time.

The Mackinaw City time capsule was created in 1999 during Mrs. Krueger's time as president. Volunteers took pictures of the streets and buildings along Central Avenue, Huron Avenue, and Nicolet Street as well as any old buildings they thought may not exist in the future. The color and black and white photos were put into a clear plastic capsule, and members added messages and mementos to the container. Others placed coins, stamps, and children's drawings in the capsule. The air was drawn out of the capsule before it was sealed and buried in the northeast corner of the Mackinaw City cemetery.

The society expanded again during Mr. Grebe's term as president in 2002. The society located a pest house, a building where contagious people were quarantined in the 1900s, and once again spoke with Mr. Lawson about obtaining a piece of land to place the building on. A 12- acre landfill site was initially considered, along with a parcel on the Headlands.

Placing the buildings on the Headlands seemed far-fetched at the time, Mr. Grebe said, but the society partnered with Mackinaw City and was granted use of the land. The Headlands was owned by Emmet County, and when a proposal was brought to the Emmet County Board of Commissioners, its members were receptive to the idea of deeding a 40-acre parcel to Mackinaw City to be used by the historical society, Mr. Lawson said.

Rapid development occurred from 2004 to 2007. In 2004 the pest house was moved to the 40-acre parcel and a storage building for the society's historical artifacts was built. Restoration of the pest house using volunteer labor began in 2005, and in 2006 architect Rick Neumann developed a conceptual drawing of the historic village. The Freedom School House was obtained and moved to the site in 2006, along with the completion of restoration work on the pest house, Mr. Grebe said.

In 2007 the society completed the "tunnel of trees." Trees were planted on both sides of the road leading from the Central Avenue entrance to the historic village, and once the trees are fully grown they will create a tunnel. The tunnel consists of memorial trees, trees purchased by individuals in honor of someone, and have numbered stakes placed by each one. A plaque at the entrance to the tunnel details where each tree is and to whom each is dedicated.

The historic village continues to grow. The society recently obtained a two-story log house and is restoring it, Mr. Roth said, and a new building has been completed to contain a saw from the Soo Locks. The saw has a five-foot-blade and was used to cut the timbers that line the locks. A pavilion floor has been added to the village and will be completed in the spring of 2010, and the grounds beautification project is in its second year.

A garden plot in the village was also developed and has produced vegetables this year.

Mr. Marvin detailed some of the plans for the village in the future. The society is negotiating for an 1895 German reformed church, and is working on developing a vintage base ball league. Vintage base ball is experiencing a surge of popularity, Mr. Marvin said, and the historic village may be able to host regular games.

Plans are also in place to build a full-size replica of the Stimpson family home at the historic village. The Stimpsons were among early settlers of Mackinaw City.

The society's Web site will be updated soon and visitors will be able to schedule visits from it.

Visitors were treated to soft drinks, coffee, and snacks at the meeting and were able to examine the conceptual drawing of the historic village and the Stimpson family house diagrams.

The Mackinaw Area Historical Society hosts programs at the Mackinaw Area Public Library the second Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The programs are free and open to the public. Additional information about the society can be requested from the society at P O Box 999, Mackinaw City, 49701. Membership to the society costs $20 for an individual and $35 for a family.