The Dowagiac Area History Museum experienced another busy day Wednesday.

First, the grounds of the building, located downtown on Railroad Street, was occupied by the stalls and tents of several local farmers and crafters, as the Dowagiac Farm and Artisan Market kicked off its 2016 season.

As Dowagiac customers have come to expect, the market featured a vast assortment of different goods, from fresh produce to baked goods to even pet treats.

Later that morning, a group of fifth graders from Justus Gage Elementary School walked down to the museum to watch a program on Potawatomi traditions and culture from the Pokagon Band’s Jason Wesaw. Following their visit, a church group from Cassopolis visited the museum as well.

Finally, the day was capped off by the final program in the museum’s spring lecture series, a presentation on the history of the Heddon family by Dowagiac Mayor and Heddon Museum Curator Don Lyons. According to a post on the museum’s website, Lyons’ talk drew a standing room only crowd to the building that night.

This massive day was one of several major days the institution has seen in recent months.

In April, a lecture from the Ruthmere museum’s Karen Nicholson about the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, hosted in conjunction with the 2016 One Story program, also drew a packed house to the museum, with 105 people learning about the history of the famous world fair and the infamous white city it occupied.

The next month, another massive crowd attended the final event of the 2016 Dogwood Festival, when famed aviation artist and Dowagiac native Rick Herter gave a presentation about his career. Following his talk, attendees were invited to the opening of a temporary art gallery featuring Herter’s artwork, also located at the museum.

Since its relocation from Southwestern Michigan College to the former Behnke Paint Store in 2013, the Dowagiac Area History Museum has become a treasured part of our community’s downtown.

The building doesn’t just serve as repository for local history and artifacts — it’s a real hub for people to gather, to learn about our region’s rich past and to enjoy the company of fellow history buffs.

Through its participation in the farmers market and with various festivals, the museum is also a great venue that organizations like the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority can lean on for support as well.

It is becoming harder and harder for us to see where our downtown would be without the presence of the museum, which speaks volumes of its importance to our city’s prosperity.

We want to thank Director Steve Arseneau, his staff of tireless volunteers and our local officials for their efforts these last few years to facilitate the continued growth Dowagiac Area History Museum. Their passion for preserving our area’s history has kindled a fire in many local minds, young and old alike, which sure to only continue in the years to come.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.