By Staff
About 120 people from all over the country gather in Dowagiac this weekend to swap tales and stoves, plus learn a little more about "Furnace City" – home of the Round Oak Stove Co., Rudy Furnace Co., Premier Furnace Co. and Dowagiac Steel Furnace Co.
Activities are scheduled for Friday, Saturday and for the members and will include a tour of the old Premier Furnace Co., a bus tour of Dowagiac, a visit to the Heddon museum, a tour of the Gardner house and a banquet.
The Antique Stove Association is holding its annual meeting in Dowagiac this year and part of the weekend's activities include giving free appraisals on antique stoves and stove parts to non-members and the general public.
After the appraisal session, an auction will be held.
Community residents are invited to buy and/or consign stoves to the auction.
No commissions will be charged for items sold and a reserve can be put on any item offered for sale.
In addition, there are a couple of activities at The Museum at Southwestern Michigan College that the general public is welcome to attend.
Friday and Saturday a special exhibit for "Furnace City" will be open, plus the history gallery and the Potawatomi exhibit.
On Saturday morning there will also be a PowerPoint presentation of some of the homes of employees of the four stove companies that were once located in Dowagiac.
There will also be directions available for a self-guided driving tour of the city for those interested in learning more about the history and sites of Dowagiac and the homes and buildings used by the stove companies and their personnel.