Schoolcraft County Historical Society

08/29/2026

Help Schoolcraft County Historical Society reach their goal by donating or sharing with your friends.

08/28/2026

To the thousands of Manistique Highschool graduates of past—we need your help. Can you help with a donation of $10, $25 or more?

In 1922 the graduating class of MHS wanted to ensure that their community never forgot the relief of global peace after World War 1. They pooled their resources to purchase Urania ( estimated at $100+), a replica of the sculpture that stood in the very room where the Treaty of Versailles was signed. The original stood in the Hall of Mirrors.
For decades, Urania watched over generations of students walking the halls. It's our time to watch over her.
With necessary funding and your help, Urania will soon be restored to her original lustre as we "bring back the marble" and conserve this living peace monument (Urania full story below on August 12th)

Donate

PayPal:
https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=KRAMPKUL2KV5W
“Project Urania Restoration Fund”

Drop off: At the Water Tower

Mail: SCHS PO Box 284, Manistique, MI 49854 "note Urania”

SCHS board members can also pick up your donation--please reach out to Jane Kopecky, Kay Hinkson, or Sherri Krause to schedule a time.

Help Schoolcraft County Historical Society reach their goal by donating or sharing with your friends.

08/26/2026

Can you help?! Did you or your family have any history of the Stone Residence at the Hatchery, any old photographs of the residence? Please share here or reach out to the Society.


I'm a historian, contracted by the DNR, working on a project to document
the history of the Superintendent's Residence (sometimes called the
Stone Residence) at the Thompson State Fish Hatchery. It's located south
of the current hatchery operations along M-149. I'm looking for any
historical photos of the building and any information about the managers
or other hatchery staff that may have lived there. Thanks!

Thanks for all your help,

Michael

08/23/2026

The Michigan Historic Marker for the Marblehead Lime Kilns is officially back in place! Thank you to Stan Zellar & Sons for making the restoration possible. Located in Schoolcraft County near the intersection of US 2 and Garapee Road, six miles east of Manistique. Please enjoy the site safely — do not enter or approach the kilns.

08/20/2026

08/20/2026

To help celebrate 250 years of America, Tim and Robin Derwin have loaned the Schoolcraft County Historical Society some of their Native American Collection. Schoolcraft County was not yet founded 250 years ago; however, the Ojibwe (Chippewa) tribes had settled here in the l400s and 1500s as part of a historic western migration from the northeastern coast. The 1400s saw the ancestral Anishinaabe reached the eastern end of Lake Superior and Sault Ste. Marie. By the 1500s bands moved deeper into the Lake Superior basin and the Upper Peninsula to find maanoomin (wild rice). Come see the interesting articles that the Derwins have loaned us and find out more about the first settlers in Schoolcraft County.
Water Tower hours are Wednesday-Saturday 11am-3pm.

08/18/2026

Join us today at 5pm at Indian Lake Golf Club as Bill Banzhaf presents extensive history on his father George Banzhaf who spearheaded UP Forestry in Hiawatha Township including the Indian Lake Golf Club, the Fox Farm, and the Mint Farm just south of Jack Pine Lodge. Bill's book is available for purchase at the event. See you at the Club!

08/14/2026

Thank you to all of our supporters who have purchased a granite tile. The Class of 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965 and 1972 would like to "challenge" the remaining classes to get their orders in too and be included on the museum wall! Granite Tile Order Forms are at the Water Tower, on our website, or email [email protected] for a copy.

08/12/2026

The Schoolcraft Historical Society has been challenged. An anonymous donor has pledged $5,000 to the Urania Restoration Campaign Fund, provided we raise the matching amount for a total of $10,000, the cost of restoration work.

For countless years, Urania graced the halls of Manistique High School, serving as a cherished fixture. The MHS graduating Class of 1922 presented her as a gift to MHS to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919), officially ending World War I. Urania is badly in need of repair and restoration. Over the years she's been chipped in several places and her right hand which held the scroll has been broken off and lost. The statue needs cleaning, an entire artistic repainting to her original white marble tone, repairs, and a sculpting/creation of an entire hand and its reattachment.

Late Spring the Society hosted Renata Palubinskas of Decorative Objects Restoration. Renata, a Detroit-based Conservator and Preservationist thoroughly examined Urania and rendered her expertise on a plan for her restoration. Urania's restoration will be performed at the Manistique Water Tower in late September and is expected to take ten days. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to witness Urania’s transformation in real time

Funding will be necessary for Urania’s restoration, and the communities support will make a meaningful difference. Every dollar counts. To contribute, a special PayPal campaign has been created at https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=KRAMPKUL2KV5W (select “Project Urania Restoration Fund”). Donations may be dropped off at the Manistique Water Tower during open hours, or mailed to SCHS PO Box 284, Manistique, MI 49854 with “Project Urania” noted. The Society is dedicated to preserving, protecting and perpetuating our county artifacts and history. Please help the Society with this amazing restoration of history.

As an added bonus, anyone who donates $250.00 or more will have their name placed in a jar to win this beautiful 3' x 3 1/2' quilt. The drawing will be held at the Manistique Water Tower in Pioneer Park on September 26, 2026 at 3pm. Michigan Raffle License permit # X16301.