Berrien County Historical Association Press Releases

Contact:

Leo J. Goodsell, Director
Berrien County Historical Association
P.O. Box 261
Berrien Springs, MI 49103

Tele: (269) 471-1202

Berrien County Historical Assn. annual meeting

“The Italian Experience in Berrien County” is the theme for the Berrien County Historical Association’s 2005 annual meeting. The BCHA will host its meeting and program at Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center on Tuesday, April 26. The evening will begin with a reception at 6:30 pm, followed by a buffet dinner at 7:00 pm and a brief business meeting. Karen Heyn, a member of the Sons of Italy, will then present the evening’s program, Fede Famiglia e Amici (Faith, Family and Friends). The dinner and meeting are open to the public. Dinner will follow traditional Italian themes, featuring Chicken Marsala, Mushroom Ravioli, Focaccia bread and Spumoni ice cream. Reservations at $22 per person can be made through April 19 by calling the Historical Association at (269) 471-1202.

Ms. Heyn’s program caps a two-year project to study the lives of Italian immigrants in Berrien County. Funded in part by the Michigan Humanities Council (an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities) and conducted by the Historical Association and the Sempre Amici Lodge # 2636 of the Order Sons of Italy in America, the project sought to reveal the story of Berrien County’s Italian heritage. The project culminated in the publication of the illustrated booklet “Fede Famiglia e Amici: the Italian Experience in Berrien County, 1900-2004.”

Oral history interviews with many local Italian immigrant families helped piece together the story of the families’ voyages to America and their travels to Berrien County. The family members also described where they lived and how they earned a living. Over the years, their many contributions created an enduring legacy for the regional community. Families loaned scores of photographs for the project and booklet, many of which Ms. Heyn used to create a PowerPoint presentation for the Historical Association’s program.

For more information about the 2005 annual meeting or the Italian Experience in Berrien County project, call the Historical Association at (269) 471-1202.

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PHOTO CAPTIONS (Click on image to view a low resolution, full size version.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 07 April, 2005 Contact: Leo J. Goodsell, Director Berrien County Historical Association P.O. Box 261 Berrien Springs, MI 49103 Tele: (269) 471-1202 Berrien County Historical Assn. annual meeting “The Italian Experience in Berrien County” is the theme for the Berrien County Historical Association’s 2005 annual meeting. The BCHA will host its meeting and program at Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center on Tuesday, April 26. The evening will begin with a reception at 6:30 pm, followed by a buffet dinner at 7:00 pm and a brief business meeting. Karen Heyn, a member of the Sons of Italy, will then present the evening’s program, Fede Famiglia e Amici (Faith, Family and Friends). The dinner and meeting are open to the public. Dinner will follow traditional Italian themes, featuring Chicken Marsala, Mushroom Ravioli, Focaccia bread and Spumoni ice cream. Reservations at $22 per person can be made through April 19 by calling the Historical Association at (269) 471-1202. Ms. Heyn’s program caps a two-year project to study the lives of Italian immigrants in Berrien County. Funded in part by the Michigan Humanities Council (an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities) and conducted by the Historical Association and the Sempre Amici Lodge # 2636 of the Order Sons of Italy in America, the project sought to reveal the story of Berrien County’s Italian heritage. The project culminated in the publication of the illustrated booklet “Fede Famiglia e Amici: the Italian Experience in Berrien County, 1900-2004.” Oral history interviews with many local Italian immigrant families helped piece together the story of the families’ voyages to America and their travels to Berrien County. The family members also described where they lived and how they earned a living. Over the years, their many contributions created an enduring legacy for the regional community. Families loaned scores of photographs for the project and booklet, many of which Ms. Heyn used to create a PowerPoint presentation for the Historical Association’s program. For more information about the 2005 annual meeting or the Italian Experience in Berrien County project, call the Historical Association at (269) 471-1202. ### PHOTO CAPTIONS (Click on image to view a low resolution, full size version.)

Members of the American-Italian Voluntier Club, c. 1920. This mutual aid society was formed in 1915 to assist in the funeral arrangements for participating members of the Italian community. Click here for high resolution, 828 kb image

Ben Mammina’s Chicago-Benton Harbor Truck Service loaded with 600 bushels of peaches destined for the Chicago market, 1923.. Click here for high resolution, 572 kb image

Click here for 2.3 MB PDF file of the illustrated booklet “Fede Famiglia e Amici: the Italian Experience in Berrien County, 1900-2004.”