On a Saturday, September 29, 2001, there was a special symposium held at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, Michigan. A combination of informational panels, spoken remarks, and a jazz performance made for a robust and engaging event. The grand interior of the Graystone Ballroom, was once located at 4237 … Read more
First held in 1982, the Detroit Festival of the Arts was a three‑day arts festival held annually on the second weekend of June in Detroit, Michigan, featuring free musical performances, art exhibitions, children’s activities, and local food. The 2001 edition would have followed the same weekend‑long format, though the dates were moved to the second weekend of September. Holding … Read more
While ostensibly our visit on June 20, 2001, to see the Detroit Tigers play the New York Yankees, a game which they won 5-2 with a rain delay. Given my curiosity about all things Detroit, I also used this as an opportunity to explore the surrounding neighborhood. In so doing I was able to capture … Read more
Site of the famous Stratford Festival, it all started in the festival tent. From there the festival grew to several permanent venues throughout Stratford. We visited in September 2000 to catch the end of the season. Fiddler on the Roof and Hamlet were the shows that we attended.
Alden is located on the southern end of Torch Lake. With a length of 19 miles and 42 miles of shoreline, this is among the largest freshwater lakes in Michigan outside of the Great Lakes. The dept of 297 feet also makes it among the deepest of lakes. Slideshow of Torch Lake from the shoreline … Read more
A short distance from our cabin on Torch Lake, I visited this pasture with horses grazing in the sandy soil. Sunset on Torch Lake, August 3, 2000. The City Opera House, is a beautifully preserved historical gem located at 106 East Front Street in downtown Traverse City. Affectionately referred to by locals as “The Grand … Read more
Improved over the year prior, we met the bus at the main gate this year. A group of us waved to them as they pulled on to the main road leading to camp. A group of alumni gathered together beneath the Stewart Bandshell. Protected beneath Stewart Shell, we waited for the concert. Some of the … Read more
In the summer of 1999, with only a few days notice, I had an opportunity to host a youth choir from Hungary. At the time I was a student at Albion College and it was the middle of the summer term. The visit started with an official welcome at the Albion City Hall. From here, … Read more
James Wadsworth Sheldon (1830-1894) was born August 25, 1830 in Parma, Monroe County, New York, and came to Michigan with his parents in 1836, where he worked on his fathers farm. His father, also by the name of James Sheldon was Albion Township’s first supervisor in 1837. He worked on his fathers farm by summer, … Read more
Three years after celebrating our own Homecoming Concert with the International Choral Ensemble, several of us were back to recognize the Blue Lake campers arriving by bus for their Homecoming Concert. We were prepared with flags on the back of a pickup truck to drive the two tour buses in. It was fun to see … Read more