A $24,000 grant will certainly go a long way in helping the Niles History Center uncover the history of Niles African-Americans, but in order for the exhibit to truly shine, local historians will need the help from an even more valuable asset: the people of Niles.

How many of you have boxes of old photographs tucked away in an attic somewhere? What about letters written years ago, or maybe maps and postcards hidden between the pages of old books?

Maybe you have held onto these items for sentimental purposes. Perhaps they clutter your basement simply because you are afraid to get rid of them. Maybe you yourself are a historian or genealogist, and have carefully preserved the items in an organized space.

As the Niles History Center was recently reminded, if people know what to look for, they often have more valuable treasures than they may have thought. This was the case when Pat Gresham realized the historical significance of a book she had had for some time, “The Michigan Manual of Freedom’s Progress,” which documents black landowners and professionals dating back to 1915.

For a long time, Gresham thought it was just another book on her shelf, but when she heard about the History Center’s mission to uncover black history in Niles, she thought she would take another look.

No matter what the reason or condition your own items are in, we encourage you to take advantage of an opportunity to help the History Center tell an important piece of Niles history. Think of it as a sort of scavenger hunt: What do those items hidden away have to tell about our history?

Take a peek in those old boxes. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find the piece of the puzzle our local historians did not even know they were missing.

 

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