Sturgis Historical Museum - At the Depot

04/25/2025

Mike Mort with Kari Hatt.

04/22/2025

A+ The Story of Education in Sturgis will premiere at 3 p.m. April 27, at Sturges-Young Center for the Arts. Cost is $10 if you buy tickets at Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce, Willer's Shoes, Five Lakes Coffee or the Sturgis Historical Museum. Tickets are $12 at sturgesyoung.com box office or at the door.

04/18/2025

John Crookston of Up Right, and his team, along with Vandermay Construction Co., a masonry contractor, are restoring the time worn 1895 Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Depot.

04/14/2025

Mike Mort talks about his latest project "A+ The Story of Education in Sturgis." The premiere will be 3 p.m. April 27 at Sturges-Young. Ticket are $12 online at the Sturges-Young box office or $10 around town - Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce, Willer's Shoes, Five Lakes Coffee, Sturgis Historical Museum.

04/11/2025

Built in 1895 this depot was made to last. Now just a few repairs, considering the age, are necessary to keep the Sturgis Historical Museum ~ at the Depot in good shape for the next 130 years.

04/09/2025

The slate roof on the Sturgis Historical Museum ~ at the Depot needs some upkeep. After all, it has been in place for 130 years.

03/24/2025

Sturgis Schools a Long Time Ago

A Long Time Ago I’ve been exploring education in Sturgis from a long time ago. When the one-room schools were formed each was its own school district with its own school board. Town schools were also their own entity. Over time schools in town kept getting bigger and by the 1950s many

03/18/2025

Tools of the trade. Many trades have unique tools and the Sturgis Historical Museum has this one in our collection.

Dressmaker's Tool For several years, I’d ask myself, “What is it?” as I walked by this strange looking tool among the collection at the museum. I wondered about its purpose and value.

03/14/2025

Remembering Madeleine Murphy School of Ballet hosted by the Sturgis Historical Society March 9, 2025.

03/04/2025

Remembering Madeleine Murphy School of Ballet at 3 p.m. March 9 has limited seating. If you are planning to attend RSVP is required by calling 269-503-7440.
Some of these beautiful young dancers plan to bring their memories.

03/02/2025

Little cuties!
Tiny Madeleine Murphy ballerinas from across the decades.

02/28/2025

02/26/2025

Do you recognize anyone from these Madeleine Murphy School of Ballet productions?

02/25/2025

Miss Madeleine School of Ballet "Betrothal" on stage June 1991
Photos courtsey of Chris Horn

02/24/2025

Miss Madeleine School of Ballet
"Phantom of the Opera" on stage June 1990

02/21/2025

Madeleine Murphy School of Ballet was a Sturgis tradition for 50 years. In 1962 Madeleine took over the ballet school her mother started years earlier in their living room. Madeleine moved classes to the Sturges-Young Auditorium.

At that time athletic young ladies did not have many opportunities to use their natural abilities. Ballet class was a good option for Sturgis girls to develop athletic skill and strength.

Mary Gerow Sutter was one of those athletic girls. When she was five years old, Mary’s parents enrolled her and she stayed involved until Madeleine Murphy Parker retired in 1997.

Over the years hundreds of girls, and quite a few boys, would flood the halls of Sturges-Young for weeknight classes. Under the direction of the tireless Miss Madeleine they’d learn how to "do things right." It was a life lesson Miss Madeleine taught whether on or off the stage, Mary said. Strength and discipline are key to success in life.

Each year, after nine months of classes, Miss Madeleine held an annual ballet in June, Mary said.

Going to “The Nutcracker” in the summer might seem unusual but Sturges-Young was always packed for the one-night Miss Madeleine performance. Other years the ballet might be “Swan Lake” and a variety of other classics. Towards the end of her career, Madeleine began to write her own ballets.

The Sturgis Historical Society is hosting, “Remembering Madeleine Murphy School of Ballet.” It will be 3 p.m. March 9, at Oak Enrichment Center on Franks Ave., Sturgis. The cost is $15 and reservations are required by calling the museum at (269) 503-7440.

Last year the historical society held a Laura Lewis Hat Shop event. This will be similar, but punch will replace tea on the menu, more in line with ballet refreshments.

Mary Sutter, who played the role of Madeleine Murphy Parker in the 2024 Cemetery Tours will be part of the program.

Judy Bogen, another long-time ballerina and supporter of the school, will share a few memories. Also in the plans are young ballerinas on the dance floor and photos or footage from some Madeleine Murphy ballets. Costumes worn by students and photos will be on display.

02/11/2025

February is Black History Month. The Sturgis Historical Society will honor African Americans who lived in Sturgis over the decades. It will be 3 p.m. Feb. 16, at the museum. The event will have three parts: “Dark Lake” documentary by Mike Mort.
Wallace Weatherly portrayed by Jeff Mullins in the 2021 Oak Lawn Cemetery Tour. The rest of the story by Karen Yoder.

Dark Lake: While Sturgis traditionally never had large groups of African Americans, it had more than some local communities.

One reason is probably because Nathaniel Hatchel, a free black man, owned property on a secluded lake in Fawn River Township in 1850.

“Dark Lake” is Mike Mort’s documentary telling the story of Nathaniel Hatchel and others who grew up in Sturgis.

Wallace Weatherly: We will play the segment of his story as portrayed in the 2021 Oak Lawn Cemetery Tour by Jeff Mullins.

Wallace Weatherly lived in Sturgis after serving with the Michigan 19th Infantry. He graduated from Sturgis Union High School in the 1870s and after college, returned to Sturgis as a lawyer.

The rest of the story

Karen Yoder did extensive research for the “Dark Lake” documentary. She will share stories not included in the movie. Not all paint a pretty picture. Life was difficult for those of color during that time. Karen doesn’t want their struggle to be forgotten, especially after spending hours gathering the stories and the facts.

Mort called Karen “the pit bull of research.” She left no stone unturned in her quest.

Karen took the search personally because as a kindergarten student at Wenzel Elementary one of her classmates was Sara Perkins.

“My mother told me to be friends with Sara because others might not be so nice to her,” Karen said. “I couldn’t figure out why my mom could tell by looking at someone that kids might not be nice to her.”

Sara was an African American but Karen didn’t notice and obediently invited Sara to come home with her after the first day of school.

Later while preparing for the movie they reconnected. Sara said she never really had friends in Sturgis.

“I was your friend,” Karen protested.

Sara replied, “Did you ever invite me over for a slumber party?’

Karen admitted she had been “nice” to Sara but not really a friend.

We will also welcome those who attend to share their memories and experiences.