68 / 230
2
Officers
Susan Hartz. ................................................President
Jack McCormick.............Vice President-Administration
Stuart Grigg..................... Vice President-Development
Susan Bologna. .....................Vice President-Education
Herman Mozer.................. Vice President-Preservation
Steve Vella. ................................................. Treasurer
Marlene Harle.............................................Secretary
The Grosse Pointe Historical Society
Headquarters, Provencal-Weir House, c. 1823,
376 Kercheval Ave., is open the second Saturday
of each month during special events, and by
appointment.
The Alfred B. and Ruth S. Moran Resource Center,
381 Kercheval Ave., is open Tuesday and
Wednesday, 10:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:30–4:00
p.m. for research. Telephone: (313) 884-7010.
Website: www.gphistorical.org
Kay Agney
Denis Bouchard
Susan Budrys
Carolyn Candler
James Conway
Doug Cordier
Valerie Dodenhoff
Doug Dossin
Debbie Graffius
Greg Jakub
Maud Lyon
Mary Lighton Shafer
Gail Sidlek
Paul J. Sloan
Elizabeth Soby
Scott Vandemergel
Elizabeth Vogel
Peggy Woodhouse
Director of Education
Izzy Donnelly
Administrator
Helga Liedtke
Parliamentarian
Andrea Weyhing
Curator Emeritus
Jean Dodenhoff
Webmaster
Jay Hunter
Moorings Editor
Ann Marie Aliotta
Not Yet a Member? Want to donate?
Visit
www.gphistorical.org
for
a convenient way to do both.
Select the link
“Join & Support GPHS.”
We need you!
Consider donating your time to help the Grosse
Pointe Historical Society. We have many volunteer
opportunities, including
Provencal-Weir House tour
guide, sales assistant in La Belle’s Country Store, office
assistant or archivist in the Moran Resource Center,
event assistant, gardener and handyperson.
This is an excellent way to learn about local history
and contribute to our Grosse Pointe heritage.
Call (313) 884-7010 to Volunteer.
Charles Berschback
Patricia R. Colett
Michael Farley
Lisa Mower Gandelot
Nancy Griffin
Stuart Grigg
Ronald C. Lamparter
Russell H. Peebles
Thomas E. Singelyn, DDS
Michael Skinner
Gail R. Stroh-Marentette
Honorary Board
View From The President
This has been a very busy and exciting fall for the
Grosse Pointe Historical Society. On September 10 and
12th
Talking Headstones
took place once again on the
grounds of St. Paul Cemetery located on Moross Rd.
The play was produced by Harry Burkey and directed by
his wife, Janie Burkey.This joint venture held by GPHS
and the Grosse Pointe Theatre brought in over 300 people. Brand
new scripts were written by Grosse Pointe Theatre members with the
assistance of local playwright Kim Carney. Much of the research was done at
the Alfred B. & Ruth S. Resource Center and some of the stories included
Josephine Alger, Miss Kitty Scanlon and the Legend of Windmill Pointe.
Saturday, September 25, View of Fairview was hosted by Nick Sinacore,
Kiki Herfert and Ken Schramm.The bus toured through the former Village
of Fairview, an area that encompassed Grosse Pointe Park and beyond.
There were three bus tours during the day and all were completely sold
out. Absopure’s Bill Young underwrote the bus and we told him we sold
out so quickly that we had to get a “bigger bus.”Mr. Young was more than
gracious to accommodate us with the larger bus.
On October 9th we celebrated Grosse Pointe Historical Society’s 65th
Anniversary with an open house at the Provencal-Weir House.This event
was full of Michigan made food products and music by Ben Steel (and his
Bare Hands).Tours of the PWH were given all afternoon and items were
purchased at La Belle’s Country Store.
The Library of Congress’ Gateway to Knowledge new traveling exhibition
comes through Grosse Pointe on Friday, December 17 and Saturday,
December 18.The GPHS is honored to sponsor this event to continue
“keeping history alive.”
Susan Hartz
Susan Hartz will present Her talk
“Glorious Gardens of Grosse Pointe” to
your organization or group. The Power-
Pointe presentation is filled with images
of historic properties and gardens of old
Grosse Pointe. Call the Grosse Pointe
Historical Soceity for information.
For countless members of our community, the Dr. Frank Bicknell Lectures provide
informative, insightful, and entertaining glimpses into a wide variety of subjects
having to do with our fascinating past. Since 1992, current GPHS Honorary Board
Member Mike Skinner has been involved in the lecture series committee, chairing it
for most of this time. He has also been a speaker on several occasions. Mike is a dedicated
volunteer whose passion for local history has benefitted the entire community.
Mike was asked to join the board in 1990 by Jean Dodenhoff, GPHS
curator from 1982-2000, after getting to know her over the previous few years
when he located and donated artifacts and Dodge and Ford related books for
the Society’s collection. He grew up in Detroit very close to Grosse Pointe and
has always loved Lake St. Clair and the great mansions and architecture found
in this beautiful community. His father worked for WJBK Radio and TV and
he passed his love for Detroit and area history to Mike, as did his mother and
her love of classical architecture.
GPHS Profile
:
Mike Skinner
Continued on page 7