Monday, March 9, 2026 “Trees” — Wally Ewing

In Trees, four local authors turned their curiosity and expertise to trees in and around Northwest Ottawa County. William Martinus, Larry Romanelli, Wallace Ewing and Lawrence Burns explored the intersection of the history of trees with narratives about their appeal, nature, and in calculable value. They study how deeply connected the realm of trees is with human history and the sustainable relationship we have with them. Ewing’s talk will focus on the history of trees in West Michigan, particularly along the lakeshore.

About Wally Ewing— Wally Ewing has dedicated more than 30 years to researching, writing, and talking about the history of Northwest Ottawa County. The result has been the publication of more than 30 books, 21 PowerPoint presentations, several articles in Michigan History among other periodicals, and “Remembering Our Past,” a look at local history that he has written for the Grand Haven Tribune and Facebook since 1998.

Monday, April 13, 2026 “The House of David Blues” —Keith Howard. “Gee! but ain’t it grand to hear that band, play the House of David Blues.” Keith will explore the fascinating story of Elmer Schoebel’s 1923 jazz dance parody that went on to become a Depression-era fiddle tune, a country swing standard, and a smooth swingin’ big band hit. Through a collection of rare photos and recordings, we’ll see and hear how this tune came about and what made it so unique.

About Keith Howard—Keith is a digital preservation specialist at the Kalamazoo Public Library, and a former instructor of business communication and information technology at Western Michigan University. He is a two-time WMU graduate with a passion for exploring and documenting local history. He’s a writer, a postcard collector, a bit of a foodie, and a self-confessed music junkie. Keith lives in Oshtemo with his dog, Benson.

Monday, May 11, 2026 “Shall We Dance? A look back at Michigan dance venues in the first half of the 20th Century” —Christine Byron

In the first half of the 20th Century Social dancing was a popular form of recreation across Michigan. Christine looks back at the era of dance halls and pavilions on the lakeshore, in amusement parks, resorts, hotels, night clubs, and other spots, including restaurants and taverns that featured “dining and dancing.” She will share dancing styles, from the stately waltzes of the 1900’s to 1920’s novelty dances, and popular 1930’s and 1940’s swing and big band music.

About Christine Byron—A retired Grand Rapids Public Library Local Historical Collections librarian, Christine is an avid reader of Michigan history. For over thirty years, she has amassed a collection of thousands of postcards, and vintage Michigan travel and tourist memorabilia. With her husband, Tom Wilson, Christine co-authored six books. In summer 2025, she authored a new book of Rebecca Richmond’s diaries—A Perfect Omena Day, published by Leelanau Press.