The Omena Historical Society (OHS) opens its 2024 season this coming Monday evening with a celebration of two big events. Monday is the 20th anniversary of the move of the Putnam Cloud Tower House from its original location on what is now Villa Marquette property to downtown Omena. It is now the home of the OHS Museum. The building was built as the home of one of Omena’s earliest farmers, Rinaldo Putnam. Many of his descendants are still in the area.
In the fall of 2003, Mary Hallett Stanton, whose father and brother had been caretakers at the Villa, learned that the Tower House was going to be demolished. Over the years, it had fallen into disrepair. The Jesuits agreed to donate the building and made a contribution to help with the cost of the move.
A committee consisting of Mary Stanton, Marsha Buehler, David and Sally Viskochil, Jim Centner, Joey Bensley, who was then president of OHS, and then County Commissioner Mary Tonneberger began the task of researching how to move a house of this size. An agreement was reached with the Omena Village Preservation Association (OVPA) to lease a portion of their property in downtown Omena.
June 24, 2004, the Village was crowded with spectators, who were treated to an exciting spectacle of a house perched on top of a mammoth trailer. It was skillfully backed into a portion of land that looked like it would never accommodate the size of the structure. But it did, and comfortably.
The project would not have been possible without the hard work and generosity of many including grants from Rotary Charities, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Leelanau Township Community Foundation, and the Oleson Foundation. The support of Sally Viskochil and her late husband David was key to the project’s success. Joey Bensley and her later husband Larry, as well as many other volunteers, worked tirelessly on the restoration.
This year is also the 30th anniversary of the OHS itself. The opening reception will be at the OHS on Monday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
The reception also marks the kick-off of Omena’s Mayoral election season. Applications will be available at the reception and at the OHS Museum and the Omena Post Office after that. Any non-human residents, seasonal and year-round, of the greater Omena area are eligible to run. An exciting addition to this year’s election is that the Mary Ann Vick will paint a portrait of the Mayor.
Past elections have included dogs, cats, horses, a chicken, and a goat.
The opening reception for the Northport Art Association’s Members Art Exhibit Friday was a huge success. There are over 280 stunning pieces crafted by 55 talented Northport Arts Association members. They include paintings in many media, pottery, photography, and fiber arts. The exhibit runs through July 5, daily from noon to 4 p.m. It is well worth seeing.
The DeeGees DJ Trivia team went to the Championships this past weekend. There were 20 teams that competed. While the DeeGees, who were the defending champions, did not place this time, they won a Pit Spitters box for a night in the raffle. Congratulations to Nancy and Terry Groesser, and Chrysti, Dan and Emaleigh Duffiney for representing Omena!
The Leelanau Township Library in Northport is holding its Summer Writers Series on Tuesdays in July. The first author is Omena’s own Don Lystra who will be discussing his latest book, Searching for Van Gogh.
This coming Monday is Northport’s mobile blood drive, sponsored by the Northport-Omena Chamber of Commerce. It goes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the marina parking lot. Be sure to go to Versiti.org to register for a time to donate.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Bruce Cunningham at the Omena Traverse Yacht Club in Omena next Thursday, June 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Bruce was a minister by calling and vocation, but also loved history, and enjoyed writing and drawing. He spent a number of years teaching history, particularly Chinese and Russian history, and then returned to the ministry. He became interested in Interim Ministry and met his wife Carla at a training class in Madison. He and Carla were among the first interim ministers in the country, helping to strengthen congregations.
Everyone is welcome to attend worship at Omena Presbyterian Church this Sunday. Rev. Dr. Homer Nye will be preaching. Baritone Jim Seidel will provide the special music along with a handbell quartet. The service begins at 10 a.m.
Happy Birthday this week to Kelli Scarlett, Jenny Smith, Trish Van Dusen, Landon Browning, Betty Edwards, Evan Morgan, Lindsey Fox, Sandy Colling, Jesse Fox, and Peg Deal.
You can tell that it’s June — it’s a big anniversary week! Dale and Joan Blount celebrate their 65th anniversary today, and Bill and Paula McMenamy celebrate 60 years, also today. Happy Anniversary also this week to Don and Doni Lystra, Dave and Jacquie Johnson, and to Bryan and Meghan Morgan.
Joan and Dale – 65 years. McMenamy – 60 years
