Harbor Light News

Historical Society looks to create “historic district” with addition of Shay’s Aha boat on display in park

Renovation of Shay House, exhibits, outreach efforts keeps group busy



This photo of Ephraim Shay’s boat Aha is from the 1892 edition of Northwest Lumberman – which ran an entire spread on Shay and talked about his new house (the Shay hexagon house) and his locomotive. The Harbor Springs Historical Society and Moran Iron Works’ Industrial Arts Institute are restoring the historic vessel with hopes of displaying it in Shay Park. (Courtesy photo/Harbor Springs Area Historical Society)

This photo of Ephraim Shay’s boat Aha is from the 1892 edition of Northwest Lumberman – which ran an entire spread on Shay and talked about his new house (the Shay hexagon house) and his locomotive. The Harbor Springs Historical Society and Moran Iron Works’ Industrial Arts Institute are restoring the historic vessel with hopes of displaying it in Shay Park. (Courtesy photo/Harbor Springs Area Historical Society)

The Harbor Springs Area Historical Society is very busy this summer as it juggles some large restoration projects, new exhibits, and reaches out to the community in creative ways.

At the City Council meeting Monday night, Aug. 17, Kristyn Balog, HSAHS Executive Director, along with Tom Moran, of Moran Ironworks and Ashil Brooks, lead welder and instructor at the Industrial Arts Institute, presented an update on the restoration and ideas for a permanent display for the vessel Aha.

The Aha is the boat that Ephram Shay built in 1891 and continued to modify through the years. In the 1930s, the Aha was beached and abandoned after an unsuccessful attempt to move it to a storage facility on Cecil Bay. The boat was later rescued by the State of Michigan and taken to a maritime park. It ended up in a Mackinaw City storage facility until 2003 when it came back to Harbor Springs, where it is now under the care of the Historical Society.

Plans are in motion to find the right permanent place for the Aha once its restoration is complete. Preliminary plans are for it to become a fixture in Shay Park, in hopes it will create a destination “historic district” or “cultural corridor” with the Shay Hexagon House and the Museum. City Council has shown agreeability with this plan as the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society asks for city Council and community input to help achieve this larger vision. (Rendering courtesy Harbor Springs Area Historical Society; Harbor Light photo by Mark Flemming)

Plans are in motion to find the right permanent place for the Aha once its restoration is complete. Preliminary plans are for it to become a fixture in Shay Park, in hopes it will create a destination “historic district” or “cultural corridor” with the Shay Hexagon House and the Museum. City Council has shown agreeability with this plan as the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society asks for city Council and community input to help achieve this larger vision. (Rendering courtesy Harbor Springs Area Historical Society; Harbor Light photo by Mark Flemming)

“As a tool for education and for attracting and holding the attention of visitors, the Aha is unmatched,” Balog said. “This vessel will help tell the story of Ephraim Shay, of our waterfront community, of invention and engineering, and so much more.”

So far restoration costs have reached $10,000, with over $3,000 in-kind donations from Moran Ironworks and Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry.

The Aha was in quite poor shape when the Historical Society took on this project. Rust, bullet holes, and 125 years of decay are being stripped away and repaired in order to allow for this historical artifact to act as a visual display of the story of Shay and Harbor Springs.

Balog presented the idea for the Aha to be permanently displayed in Shay Park, the park adjacent to the Shay House, ultimately connecting the history of the Shay Hexagon House and Shay Park creating a “cultural corridor” or “historic district”.

 

 

“The idea is to create a historic complex and educational site to explore Ephraim Shay’s impact on Harbor Springs, which occurred on these sites, including E. Shay Water Works, Blacksmith Shop, Railroad Engine House, Machine Shop, and Auto Houses,” Balog said.

City Council complimented Balog on the presentation and, based on further planning and photos, were agreeable with the idea.

“I really want City Council and the community to be a part of the discussion about where the Aha display should be,” Balog said. “I want to hear any concerns or ideas now before we get too far into the planning. This should be a community decision.”

Based on last night’s meeting, the project and permanent placement has a lot of support.

“The council and Parks and Recreation director, Dennis McDermott, were very supportive,” Balog said. “Dennis agreed that having a historic park, as a destination attraction for town, could be very beneficial.”

The Ephraim Shay Hexagon House (above and below) is one of the restoration projects currently under the supervision of the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society. The Shay Hexagon House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The HSAHS has plans for the Shay house to be used in a variety of ways from an updated, interactive gallery to an event space. Beginning stages of restoration were delayed this spring. But preliminary preparations will begin in September, as the area around the foundation is excavated in order to seal the foundation of the building and prepare for interior renovations. (Harbor Light photos/Mark Flemming)

The Ephraim Shay Hexagon House (above and below) is one of the restoration projects currently under the supervision of the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society. The Shay Hexagon House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The HSAHS has plans for the Shay house to be used in a variety of ways from an updated, interactive gallery to an event space. Beginning stages of restoration were delayed this spring. But preliminary preparations will begin in September, as the area around the foundation is excavated in order to seal the foundation of the building and prepare for interior renovations. (Harbor Light photos/Mark Flemming)

Shay House renovation

The Ephraim Shay Hexagon House is another project under the supervision of the HSAHS. In 2017, the Historical Society was gifted the historic building from Mary Cay Bartush Jones. The Shay Hexagon House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The HSAHS has plans for the Shay house to be used in a variety of ways.

“We’d like to expand exhibits to include updated and interactive displays using new technology in order to enhance the local history gallery located in the History Museum,” Balog said. “We look forward to using the space for special exhibits, traveling exhibits, and events like the indoor market (which occurs in November). Once updated, it will also include a catering kitchen for events and public rental.”

 

 

Beginning stages of restoration were delayed this spring. But preliminary preparations will begin in September, as the area around the foundation is excavated in order to seal the foundation of the building and prepare for interior renovations.

Community outreach

Community outreach has become a priority for the HSAHS as so many events have been cancelled in the area. They are still looking at ways to bring monthly history talks to people at outside venues. And, in the meantime, they have created packets for residents at Bay Bluffs.

Each resident will receive the wonderful hardback book, In All The World, No Place Like This.

First published in 2005, the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society’s first book remains a chronicle of the history of Harbor Springs told through postcards. Postcards have been used to capture views of Harbor Springs since the late 1800s. The Historical Society’s book features postcards from these early years when photographers, such as W. S. Darling, captured little moments of everyday life and picturesque views of the area. These tourist novelties have become today’s visual record, a visual history of what life was once like in the area. The book, which drew exclusively from the Graham Family Postcard Collection, contains about six hundred postcards with thirty-two pages in full color.

 

 

Along with this book, residents will each receive a copy of the history journal, Northern Origins, printed in conjunction with the Harbor Light Newspaper.

Exhibits open

As summer continues on its speedy transition towards fall, the HSAHS continues to remain busy both in future planning and day-to-day activity. Current exhibits include: “Don’t Miss the Boat”, a look at the history of the importance of watercraft, ferries, lumber schooners, steamers, sailboats, yachts, and various others, played on the development of the area. This exhibit features artifacts and images from the Historical Society’s archives as well as original artwork by local artist, Bill Hall.

The Aha was in rough shape when the Historical Society took on this project. It is making its journey from being beached in Cecil Bay (above right) to storage in Harbor Springs (above) and now to the Industrial Arts Institute where it is being restored. Rust, bullet holes, and 125 years of decay are being stripped away and repaired in order to allow for this historical artifact to act as a visual display of the story of Ephraim Shay and Harbor Springs. The Historical Society hopes the Aha will become part of a destination history lesson for visitors. (Photos courtesy Harbor Springs Area Historical Society)

The Aha was in rough shape when the Historical Society took on this project. It is making its journey from being beached in Cecil Bay (above right) to storage in Harbor Springs (above) and now to the Industrial Arts Institute where it is being restored. Rust, bullet holes, and 125 years of decay are being stripped away and repaired in order to allow for this historical artifact to act as a visual display of the story of Ephraim Shay and Harbor Springs. The Historical Society hopes the Aha will become part of a destination history lesson for visitors. (Photos courtesy Harbor Springs Area Historical Society)

The exhibit, “History Matters” is an interactive exhibit currently on display at the Shay House.

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Those who feel more comfortable making an appointment can do so Monday through Saturday.

“We haven’t had to reduce hours,” Balog said. “If anything, we’ve extended them in order to accommodate appointments. We’re air-conditioned and safe. Museums are not usually crowded venues anyway. So we continue to see a nice steady flow of people showing interest in the history of our area.”

For appointments or more information about current projects and exhibits call 231- 526-9771 or visit the website at www.harborspringshistory.org