Central Michigan University

Prestigious grant funds CMU prof's preservation project

Monday, April 21, 2008

Topics in this story: Arts and entertainment, College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, History

Saugatuck's Douglas Union schoolhouse

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Media Contact(s):

Heather Smith
989-774-1702

Program Contact(s):

Jim Schmiechen
989-774-2668

Central Michigan University history professor Jim Schmiechen teaches his students how places and spaces of the past give meaning to people who live in the present, and he utilizes what he teaches to preserve one of Michigan's most historic areas.

Schmiechen, who has served as chairman of the Saugatuck-Douglas Museum for the past 15 years, submitted a project proposal to the National Park Service for the expansion of the area surrounding the Douglas Union School. His project, "Back in Time: Tales of the Village," was one of 43 proposals from 23 states selected by the NPS to receive a Preserve America Grant. The federally funded grant worth nearly $24,000 will be matched by state, local and private donors to double its worth.

"The Saugatuck-Douglas area is a historical gem, and the schoolhouse is one of the most significant of its kind in America," said Schmiechen. "The project will be an ideal opportunity for local residents and tourists alike to become engaged in the city's heritage."

The grant will support the creation of a historical walking trail through the grounds surrounding the 1866 schoolhouse, including interactive story stops where visitors can learn more about the area's rich history. Examples of station exhibits include an original Civil War-era lifesaving boat, the history of schoolyard games, the famous Mount Baldhead dune on the nearby shore of Lake Michigan, and the architecture and function of the Douglas Union schoolhouse. The trail is set to open in spring 2009.

Preserve America is a White House initiative that began in 2005. First lady Laura Bush serves as the honorary chairwoman of the initiative, which is designed to protect, manage and support important historical sites throughout America. For more information about Preserve America visit http://www.preserveamerica.org.

Schmiechen has authored a number of books on the Saugatuck region. His most recent, "Raising the Roof: A History of the Buildings and Architecture in the Saugatuck and Douglas Area," contributed to the Saugatuck area being selected as a 2007 Society of Architectural Historians study tour, along with Tokyo, New York City and Palm Springs. For more information about the project and other historical highlights, visit the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society's Web site at http://www.sdhistoricalsociety.org.