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Historical society to launch genealogy database, historic homes program
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
LUDINGTON — The Mason County Historical Society will host its first of several Ludington Sesquicentennial Celebration events Thursday, April 20. The event will include a presentation from Mike Nagle, West Shore Community College professor of history and political science, on the history of Mason County’s lumbering industry. It will also include the unveiling of two new services offered by the historical society, a new genealogy database and the new Mason County Historical Homes Program.
Nagle has authored the book “Justus S. Stearns: Michigan Pine King and Kentucky Coal Baron, (1845-1933),” a biography on Ludington-based lumber baron and philanthropist Justus Stearns. He also recently released the book “The Forgotten Iron King of the Great Lakes: Eber Brock Ward, (1811-1875),” a biography on industrialist Eber Ward, Stearns’ brother-in-law, who was also a lumber baron and one of the most successful industrialist of the 19th century.
The genealogy database will allow local families to digitally input their information into the historical society’s computer system, building a locally-based archive on Mason County families.
The Mason County Historical Home designation will recognize local homes that are 100 years old and older. The purpose of the program is to create recognition to home owners and also to develop a historical record of the homes at the historical society.
The event will take place at the Mason County Research Center, 130 E. Ludington Ave.
The Mason County Historical Society is a private non-profit organization that owns and operates the Mason County Research Center, Historic White Pine Village and the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. The historical society has several events planned for this year celebrating the 150th anniversary of Ludington including a historic homes tour, Scottville Clown Band concert, cemetery walks, re-creation of a 19th century trial, maritime history tour and the Sesquicentennial Ball, to be held in the fall.
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