Contact:

Robert C. Myers, Curator
Berrien County Historical Association
P.O. Box 261
Berrien Springs, MI 49103
Tele: (269) 471-1202

Berrien County history book published

BERRIEN SPRINGS. The Berrien County Historical Association has announced the publication of its latest book, The Great Pere Marquette Train Wreck. Written by Berrien County Historical Association curator Robert C. Myers, the book combines a series of 84 short stories about Berrien County history from two earlier books Historical Sketches of Berrien County, Vols. 1 and 2.

The new 146-page book includes 48 photographs and illustrations, an index and bibliography. The book also includes a new foreword, written by William F. “Rick” Ast III, columnist for the Herald-Palladium newspaper.

The first two volumes of Historical Sketches of Berrien County are long out of print. According to Leo Goodsell, executive director of the Berrien County Historical Association, the museum elected to republish the stories in an entirely new book rather than simply reprint the earlier volumes.

“We wanted to give the book a new look and take advantage of some great photographs that we've acquired in the years since we published the original volumes,” Goodsell said. “Besides, it also gave us the opportunity to revise and update some of the stories.”

Myers drew the stories for the book from his weekly “Art Talk” program on WAUS Radio (90.7 FM) at Andrews University. Topics range from the county's prehistory through the colonial era and into the late 20th century. The book's geographic reach covers all of Berrien County, from the cities of Niles, Buchanan, St. Joseph and Benton Harbor to small towns like Sodus and Hill's Corners.

“The stories are simply based on whatever I happened to be researching at the time,” Myers said. “Berrien County has such a rich and varied history that the supply of stories is almost limitless.”

The book's title comes from a story in the book's “Transportation” chapter. William Granzow, an engineer on the Pere Marquette Railroad, became Berrien County's own version of the legendary Casey Jones. In 1914, Granzow was at the controls of a passenger train that derailed near the St. Joseph depot. He, like Casey Jones, had a chance to leap from his locomotive, but chose to stay in the cab until the end. Granzow died in the wreck but saved the lives of his passengers and crew.

Other book chapters include stories on prehistory, the colonial era, the early settlement period, businesses, towns, military history, and more.

The Great Pere Marquette Train Wreck is $14.95. Copies are available at the 1839 Courthouse Museum giftshop in Berrien Springs. The book can also be purchased through mail order with a $3.00 shipping fee. Call the museum at (269) 471-1202 for ordering information. All proceeds from the book's sale benefit the Berrien County Historical Association.

For more information call (269) 471-1202.

The Berrien County Historical Association is located at the 1839 Courthouse Complex, 313 N. Cass Street (old US 31), Berrien Springs, Michigan.