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Here’s a roundup of news and photos around the Old Mission Peninsula…
OMP Historical Society goes to Omena. The OMP Historical Society recently took a field trip to the Omena Presbyterian Church across the bay. Mark Smith, board member of the Omena Historical Society, gave a presentation on the efforts of Reverend Peter Dougherty to establish one of the first residential schools for Native Americans in the country in 1853. Check out Mark’s Powerpoint presentation here. A visit to the group’s Putnam-Cloud Tower House Museum followed, where a Dougherty family cradle is on display.
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A highlight for our group was seeing Laura Johnson (my sis-in-law and our resident bell expert) ring the bell that traveled with Peter Dougherty from Old Mission to Omena. While the bell is not visible in the church, we’re so glad Laura had a chance to ring it.
Click through these links to learn more about the OMP Historical Society and Omena Historical Society. Our group is always looking for new members, and I’m sure the same is probably true for the Omena group. Here are photos of Mark Smith and Laura Johnson.
Celebration of Kinship. Alice Lardie and Warren Lindsey aren’t siblings by blood, but they’ve always thought of each other as brother and sister. (A lot of us feel that way about the people we grew up with on the OMP – right, Rocko?!) So Pastor Andrea Johnson recently held a Celebration of Kinship at Old Mission Peninsula United Methodist Church – to commemorate Alice and Warren’s long friendship and connection. I love that.
Butterfly Nurse Continues Work. A few years ago, I wrote a story about my friend Connie Sargent, who nurtures tiny eggs into butterflies each year. Check out that story here, which also includes her heritage with the Gilmore family.
Connie sent me this photo of a female butterfly she released into her garden this summer (she’s also a master gardener). Thank you for your work in keeping the butterfly population going here on the OMP, Connie!
Kudos from the Fire Department. If you’re not following the Peninsula Twp. Fire Department’s Facebook page, here’s your public service announcement. They not only post safety tips, announcements and other info, but they always celebrate the crew that keeps us safe day after day.
“Congrats to Wolstano Paniagua for 3 years of service to the Peninsula Township Fire Department and our residents. Great job.” Great job, indeed, Tano! Also, don’t forget they have an open house coming up on October 15. More details here.
Alzheimer’s Walk coming up. Each year, Wendy Warren and her family participate in the “Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” and this year’s walk is scheduled for October 1. “I walk for my husband, Gary,” she says, “but I also walk for my friend Lorey, and his wife who has to go on without him. And I walk for all the other family members who have to learn a whole new way to live without their loved ones. I walk for the caregivers who don’t get a moment’s rest – who put in the hours because they love this person whose brain is being emptied of memories. I promised Gary I would work to find a cure for this horrific disease, but I need your help. It takes lots of money to cure a disease. Every donation will help fund important research, and programs to assist those afflicted with Alzheimer’s.”
She says folks jokingly used to call it Old Timer’s disease, but it is affecting people at a younger and younger age. Gary lived with it for 10 years before losing his battle at age 63. (And my sister Carol died from it at the age of 66.) While there is still no cure, scientists are making headway on developing a medicine that may help slow the progression of symptoms.
Click here to make a donation or join Wendy’s team. Here’s a pic of the Warren crew, aka “Gary’s Gang,” on a rainy “Walk to End Alz” day in 2020.
Pears! Steve Sobkowski says they are once again offering “the best pears in 87 counties for you to select, pick and buy at Pratt Farms.” He says the economy forces the price to be 95 cents/lb.; however, if you buy more than 160 lbs., the price is reduced to 93 cents/lb. Their address is 18367 Mission Road (on the left past the Old Mission General Store). If you need more info, call Steve or Nikki at (231) 223-4452 or (231) 499-0072.
Seeking someone to help with garden/barn chores. Molly Straebel has a hobby farm and is looking for occasional workers to help with gardening, horse chores, weeding, chopping wood, etc. She says it would be ideal for a high school-aged person or just someone looking for some occasional cash-based work. For more info, call her at (231) 645-3639. Here’s Molly’s Irish Draught Horse named “Irish.” More on Irish here.
Thank you, Chateau Chantal! Lighthouse Manager Ginger Schultz gives a big thank-you to the folks at Chateau Chantal who did the Autumn cleanup around Mission Point Lighthouse. “Everything looks great,” she says. “Thanks so much for your service!”
A few random photos from around the OMP…
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Laura Johnson shows pure joy on her face when ringing that wonderful bell.
Hi, Jane.
Actually the trip to Omena was part of an exchange program the Omena Historical Society and the Peter Dougherty Society which is made up of the Dougherty Mission House volunteers have undertaken this year.
Members of The Omena Historical Society toured the Dougherty House earlier.
Sitting in the Church Rev. Dougherty and Chief Agosa’s Tribe built was exciting for those of us who volunteer at the Dougherty House in Old Mission. As you know, that’s where the Village of Old Mission and the Peninsula earned their names. Mark Smith’s presentation was timely with the light deservedly being shown on Boarding Schools at the present time.
It was also great fun to watch Laura Johnson ring the Omena Presbyterian Church’s Bell that was funded by the Tribe and rung over the Old Mission Church before it went to Omena with the Tribe and Rev. Dougherty.
Our two Boards are historical cousins as we all are intent in sharing the rich history of Peter Dougherty and his relationship with Chief Agosa and his Tribe. We will be meeting in the future to explore ways we can work together.
Curious to know the relationship of Old Mission Historical Society and Peter Dougherty Society?
Some of the Peter Dougherty House volunteers are members of the OMPHS. I believe the OMPHS has donated funds in the past. The phone tours set up by OMPHS is posted at the Dougherty House. I’m not totally up to date on the relationship other than that. Chris Reiser would be better able to answer that.
We certainly would be happy to welcome volunteers for the Dougherty House in various postions.