Berrien County Historical Association Press Releases

Contact:

Anne Fairchild, Education Director

www.berrienhistory.org

The Berrien County Historical Association’s 1839 Courthouse Museum has announced its schedule of events for summer/fall 2002. Museum events include everything from a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit to 1850s base ball games to the annual Berrien Springs Jazz Festival.

The Smithsonian Institution’s exhibit We Shall Overcome: Photographs from the American Civil Rights Era opens on August 3 at Orchards Mall in Benton Township. The exhibit’s dynamic photographs highlight key elements and personalities of the Civil Rights Era in American history from 1954-1968. We Shall Overcome offers viewers an opportunity to consider our nation’s current struggles and divisions through the window of this critical phase in our not-so-distant past.

We Shall Overcome runs August 3 through September 29. Admission is free. The exhibit and associated programs are made possible in part by a grant from United Way of Southwest Michigan. This activity is also supported by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo and is a program of the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

July 18 (Thurs.) Pre-opening slide program We Shall Overcome. Leo J. Goodsell, BCHA Executive Director, at Cornerstone Alliance in Benton Harbor, 7:00 pm.

Aug. 3 (Sat.) Grand Opening of We Shall Overcome: Photographs from the American Civil Rights Era with the youth choir "Calling All Colors" at Orchards Mall in Benton Township, 4-6 pm.

Aug. 22 (Thurs.) "Healing Racism" program with George and Mary Wilson, Race Relations Consultants, at the Orchards Mall Community Room, Benton Township, 7:00 pm.

Sept. 19 (Thurs.) "Berrien County and the Civil Rights Movement" program with Georgia Boggs, Niles Chapter NAACP, at the Orchards Mall Community Room, Benton Township, 7:00 pm.

Other Historical Association programs begin with the home opener vintage base ball game for the Berrien County Cranberry Boggers on Saturday, June 1. The Cranberry Boggers play 1850s-style base ball with other old-fashioned ball clubs throughout the Midwest. The home opener begins with a double-header as the Boggers play the Israelite House of David Echoes and the Kent Base Ball Club of Grand Rapids.

June 1 (Sat.) Cranberry Boggers vs. House of David Echoes. 1850s base ball at Mary’s City of David in Benton Harbor. 1:00 pm.

June 16 (Sun.) Cranberry Boggers vs. Midland River Hogs. 1850s base ball at Mary’s City of David in Benton Harbor. 1:00 pm.

Aug. 4 (Sun.) Cranberry Boggers vs. Door County Prairie Dogs. 1850s base ball at Mary’s City of David in Benton Harbor. 1:00 pm.

Aug. 25 (Sun.) Cranberry Boggers vs. Chicago Salmon. 1850s base ball at Mary’s City of David in Benton Harbor. 1:00 pm.

Sept. 7 (Sat.) Cranberry Boggers vs. House of David Echoes. 1850s base ball in Baroda. 1:00 pm.

Sept. 15 (Sun.) Cranberry Boggers vs. Rochester Grangers. 1850s base ball at Mary’s City of David in Benton Harbor. 1:00 pm.

July 27 (Sat.) Buchanan Cemetery Tour 4-6 p.m. $2 adults, $1 children age 16 and under. Oak Ridge Cemetery, Buchanan.

Sept. 8 (Sun.) Second Annual Berrien Springs Family Jazz Festival. Afternoon. 1839 Courthouse lawn.

Oct. 10-11 (Thurs.-Fri.) "Pioneer Harvest Day" school program. 9:30 or 12:30 session. $3/students, 1 adult free for every 10 students.

Dec. 8 (Sun.) Christmas Music Program at the 1839 Courthouse Museum. Afternoon. Free admission.

Call (616) 471-1202 for information about adult and school tours, We Shall Overcome programs, log house birthday parties and Girl Scout programs. Visit the museum’s web site at www.berrienhistory.org.