December was an important month for the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society and for the Harbor Springs History Museum which celebrated its fifth birthday on December 7! An open house was held in celebration of this special day with a chance for visitors to see both the permanent and temporary exhibits downstairs and Christmas crafts and refreshments upstairs. Over one hundred guests attended the open house and helped us end 2013 on a high note.

In preparation for the open house, several new elements were installed in the permanent exhibit gallery. Dick Babcock volunteered his time to install two large artifacts in the local history section of the exhibit. First was a crosscut saw that now hangs just above the panels on logging. The second artifact is a large metal Texaco sign, loaned to the museum by Tim Tippett, which hangs above the section on the post-war era.

The local history galley also got four new flip books that were installed on special pedestals spaced throughout the different sections of the exhibit. These flip books expand on the information already provided in the exhibit and allow visitors to gain more in-depth knowledge on various topics from logging to resort life. HSAHS’s newest staff member Beth Sylak took on this project in collaboration with board member Eric Hemenway and director Mary Cummings.

Stay tuned for more exciting exhibits and events in 2014! From all of us here at the historical society, have a happy holiday season and we hope to see you here soon!