News from the Historic Miller Farm

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1 May 2013 News from the Historic Miller Farm Eaton Rapids Area Historical Society 635 State Street, Eaton Rapids, Michigan Upcoming Events at the Miller Farm On Thursday, May 30th, we hope you ll join us for an Italian Dinner Night 5-7pm $9 Make sure you save June 11 for another special historical program at the farm. Rick Brown will present Little-Known Facts About the Lincolns and the Civil War. The public is invited to this free event. It will be held in the Community Room in the Ice Cream Factory at 7pm. The Dam Festival is cancelled for this year. A new event will be at the end of July Murder at the Miller Farm! Two nights of murder and mystery with a wonderful dinner planned by Chef Denene Vincent of Le Chat Gourmet here in Eaton Rapids. The guests will be charged with figuring out WHODUNNIT and why! Tickets will be on sale as we get closer to the date, and are limited due to the limited seating in the Miller House. ERAHS members will receive a discount on the ticket price. Harold John Bud McGeachy March 6, 1922 April 18, 2013 Bud was one of our star volunteers at the Miller Farm, and will surely be missed! Bud will be included on our future Wall of Fame for the ERAHS and was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Plaque. Thank you to Catherine Ottarson for the wonderful photo of Bud. Grant Success! The ERAHS recently was awarded a $1000 grant from the Eaton County Historical Commission for archival purposes and preservation of document purposes. Many needed supplies will be purchased from this grant, along with the transfer of more Miller films from VHS to DVD so they can be viewed. Miller Farm 1940 s Ice Cream Parlor Hours: Fri 3-8 Sat 3-8 Sun 1-5 Book your next party with us! We re hoping to apply for a grant to cover some or all of the cost of re-roofing the factory due to leaks there. View this newsletter online at 1 Find us on Facebook!

2 Bryce Thomson Our condolences to the Bryce Thomson family. Bryce was a huge part of the Miller Dairy, and his creative and innovative talents helped make it into the success it was. Bryce started with Miller s in 1940, left for WWII, and returned to the business after the war. in Bryce was the creator of the political ice cream polls, the themed menus that were so popular, and other innovative marketing ideas. In 1973, he installed a small ice cream parlor in the Special Education Classroom at Eaton Rapids High School. There students with learning disabilities served ice cream during the noon hour and learned employment skills. Thomson finished his 40 year career with the Miller Dairy as president and CEO of the company, retiring in We were honored to receive many historical documents and artifacts from Mr. Thomson s estate, including the original deed to the Miller Farm between John and Rebecca Miller and Joel Latson, who built the house. As the executor of George Miller s estate, Bryce retained all the final documents, along with information about the final days of the Miller Dairy business. The documents present a fascinating look back into local history, and serve to help us to fill In the details of the history of Miller Farm and family. Several community members purchased items from Mr. Thomson s estate sale and then donated them to the ERAHS! Former Mayor Jamie Davidson donated a city map dating to the mid 1800 s. Gary and Karen Masarik donated a 33 1/3 record of a snippet of the Arthur Godfrey show as they discussed a 1970 s Psychedelic/Hippie menu created by Thomson. Chris Allan was kind enough to save the recording to a CD for us. Thank you all for thinking of us! Mr. Thomson s family is planning a memorial at the Miller Farm in June. Thanks to Bev and Barry McKessy for all the lawn work they ve done at the farm this spring! It look GREAT! The Skinner Victorian Parlor/Undertaker gallery in the Jean Kline Building. The lovely pump organ was donated last fall by the Buckingham family and adds such a nice touch to the room! The photo above the fireplace is believed to be L.A. Dauby, from Jackson. A silver tray below it, which came with the photo, is an award he received from The Friends of Eaton Rapids. With more research we may fill in the missing details and find out why Mr. Dauby received this award! Listen to Arthur Godfrey in the 1970 s read and chat about the Miller Psychedelic Menu that Bryce Thomson sent in.click on the Victrola, if you are reading this online Or, type this URL into your browser: To Join the ERAHS!

3 The G.A.R. in Eaton Rapids The Eaton Rapids J.B. Brainerd Post #111 Grand Army of the Republic Hall (red circle) as it originally looked in the late 1800 s, next to J. Hartson s Furniture Store. Built in 1886, it is now 234 S. Main, and is the former location of Island City Dance Studio. The G.A.R. stands for the Grand Army of the Republic. Similar to the VFW of today, the GAR was a veterans group formed after the Civil War. Membership at that time was limited to honorable discharged veterans of the Union Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or the Revenue Cutter Services who had served between April 12, 1861 and April 9, There was also a Women s auxiliary, the W.R.C. (Women s Relief Corps). In Eaton Rapids, the James B. Brainerd Post of the G.A.R. was organized in Originally they met in the Red Ribbon Hall, and later moved into the building downtown at 224 S. Main in Their meetings were held upstairs. The building was owned by the Grange, an agricultural advocacy group also formed after the Civil War. In 1908, the G.A.R. requested of the City that the Island be used for the annual encampment of the Eaton County Battalion of the G.A.R. This request was granted and the battalion erected a tent city on the Island for one week every August until 1929 when their advancing ages forced them to discontinue the encampments. These veterans were responsible for bringing the two authentic Civil War cannons, known as Parrott rifles, to the Island. Who was James Brainerd? The post was named after this young man from Eaton Rapids who served in the Civil War, along with his brother, Lt. William D. Brainerd. Lt. James Brainerd, of the 6th Infantry, Company H, was killed on June 3, 1864 in New Orleans. He was 24 years old. < - James Brainerd *At one time Boice s Bazaar was located in the G.A.R. building

4 The Kids are Coming! The Kids are Coming! Yes, it s that time of year again, when we have lots of small visitors to the Farm. Students walk from the schools to the farm, tour all the buildings and then end their visit with a treat in the ice cream parlor. Many add to their time travel experience by donning mustaches, as you can see with Mrs. Ditmer s class here!! Mrs. Ditmer s class in Boice s Bazaar, a general store, at the Miller Farm As always, we could use more volunteers to help! Each building needs a docent in it. Can you help? If so, call (517) or info@eatonrapidshistory.com. Rental at the Miller Farm Plains Bible Church seats about 80 The Miller Farm is perfect for parties, receptions, weddings, birthdays, retirements, open houses, meetings, and other gatherings! Contact us for rates and availability at (517) or info@eatonrapidshistory.com Miller Houseseats about 28. Some catering available. The Ice Cream Parlor the perfect spot for birthday and retirement parties or family get-togethers! Seats about 50.

5 Homemade Pies for Sale $10 Pies Pumpkin $12 Pies Cherry, Apple, Dutch Apple, Peach, ABC (Apple-Berry- Cherry), and Blueberry $14 Pies Pecan Coming Soon Rhubarb and Strawberry Rhubarb Our pies are made from fresh, not canned, fruit, and are prepared In large 10 pans! Pies are generally sold frozen so for you to bake at home when needed. To Order, call (517) THANK YOU! Just a note to thank everyone who has donated a family artifact, something they ve collected, items for our rummage sales, cash donations, historical information, a photo, a story about growing up in Eaton Rapids or about their recollections of the Miller Farm. We can t forget those who ve helped us at events and dinners and programs, who have mowed lawns and planted gardens, who have lead tours through the property, who ve washed dishes and cleaned buildings; who ve built and/or repaired things, who ve sold a hotdog or a bowl of soup, or who have just said Thank you guys for all you do. That means a lot to us! 96 A special Happy Birthday to Grace Pierson, who turns 96 this year! Grace has been a wonderful part of the ERAHS over the years and we wish her all the best! ERAHS Community Dinners are Back May 30th! The wait is over! We will be serving Italian-style on the last Thursday in May, 5-7 pm. Our chef for the evening will be Paul Malewski, and homemade lasagna is on the menu, along with a chopped antipasto salad and more. Hope you will join us for a wonderful Italian feast! Come early we usually run out! Anything look familiar about this photo? We know it s in front of the Horner Mill, and that s Mr. Davidson on the left holding the banner. But what is the banner for? Thursday May pm $9 per person

6 Eaton Rapids Area Historical Society 635 State Street, Eaton Rapids, Michigan ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Join the Eaton Rapids Area Historical Society or renew your membership TODAY! Name Address Home Phone Cell Phone Address Individual Please select your level of giving: Businesses $25-$99 Explorer Silver $ One newsletter ad $100-$499 Historian Gold $500--$999 +Two newsletter ads $500-$999 Patron Platinum $ Three newsletter ads $1000+ Benefactor I would like to make a monetary donation Please indicate your volunteer interest: History (Research, Docent) Property maintenance Special Events Crafts Baking Fundraising Other The ERAHS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Thank you for your support for our programs and activities Scan to visit our website Please mail your application and payment to: Eaton Rapids Area Historical Society, 635 State St., Eaton Rapids, Mi info@eatonrapidshistory.com