Historical Society calendars now available

The Manchester Area Historical Society’s 2021 calendar fund-raiser has begun. Get your copy at a local business!

Since 1984, the Manchester Area Historical Society (MAHS) has published an annual calendar, celebrating the history of the Manchester community in a variety of ways. Some included original drawings by local artists; some years have had more written historical content than others; more recently the format has used a combination of photographs and shorter stories to illustrate the richness of Manchester’s traditions and all that this community has had to offer over the years.

This year’s issue is full of photos and stories of unusual and perhaps little-known places and local treasures in Manchester, both past and present. “Scenes from the Museum,” “Cemented in the Past,” and “Pure Refreshment” are just a few of the 14 major topics you’ll find in the 2021 MAHS calendar. Did you know there was once a shoe repair shop along the riverbank? What about a factory near Kirk Park that once made baseball bats for the American Baseball League? Have you heard rumors of enormous cement foundations hidden in a long-forgotten vacant lot in the village? Learn about these Manchester mysteries and more while keeping track of the days of 2021.

Thanks to the generosity of calendar sponsors and friends, this project is a major fundraiser for the Society’s mission and activities each year. The calendar is just $10 per copy, so it’s an affordable gift as well as a great keepsake for the coming year and into the future. Don’t miss your opportunity to obtain a copy from one of the following locations–the KJ House and Blacksmith Shop; River Raisin Antiques; Linda’s Diner; True Value Hardware; Bridgewater Sales and Service; Andrews Chiropractic; Marti’s Salon; Reed Barbershop “Keith’s”; and the Fredonia Grocery.

If you would like a copy (or copies!) mailed to you, please contact Ray Berg at rayberg@att.net. Let him know how many you need, and where to send them.

For as little as $1 a month, you can keep Manchester-focused news coverage alive.

by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.