Downriver Genealogical Society

Tattletale Sounds: The Edmund Fitzgerald Investigations with Ric Mixter
2023-10-18 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Detroit) | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Tattletale Sounds is the latest book on the Great Lakes most famous shipwreck. Diver/historian Ric Mixter has interviewed dozens of men who built, sailed and explored the wrecksite, visiting the Fitzgerald himself in the Delta submersible in 1994. His book separates legend from fact with 300 pages of photos, diagrams and first person accounts of the largest ship ever lost on the inland seas.

Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan 45th Annual Genealogy Seminar – Day 1
2023-10-14 11:00 - 15:00 | Zoom webinar – registration required
Includes live presentations with Q&A, a syllabus, and door prizes. Attend either day or both days — Open to the public.
Day 1 is Webinar Only.
Polish DNA: Stories It Reveals and the Ways to Use It for Genealogical Purposes by Eryk Jan Grzeszkowiak
Changing Places, Changing Borders: Overcoming Geographic Challenges by David Obee
For an informational flyer and online registration, visit the society website.
Registrations paid by check must be postmarked by October 5.
Online registration closes on October 10.

Civil War Women: Soldiers, Spies, and Suffragettes with Joann Kotcher
2023-09-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Join us for a special program commemorating Women’s History in the Civil War. Joann Puffer Kotcher, Vietnam War Donut Dolly, one of the first women allowed in a combat zone, will discuss the riveting stories of women in the Civil War. The crash of cannons tore these brave young women out of their China-doll, domestic rolls. Hundreds served incognito as soldiers, and spies. Hundreds more managed businesses and plantations, nursed the wounded and dying, collected donations for soldier relief, and thousands fled the advancing armies. The Civil War brought destruction and upheaval to women’s lives, and, ironically, astounding progress. Come meet these women. From chaos came the seeds of today’s emancipation of women, from the right to vote, to ownership of property, to today’s battlefield and boardroom. Never say, “No good can come from war.” History gives us the power to see the future.

Fundraising Dinner Monguagon Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution
2023-08-10 15:00 - 22:00 | Texas Roadhouse Restaurant, 14660 Pardee Road, Taylor, MI, 48180
Enjoy a great dinner while supporting the Monguagon Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.
Your support allows us to continue our mission of honoring and supporting those who serve our nation, preserving our history, educating children, and making a difference in our communities.
Please share and encourage your family and friends to share as well.
Download the flyer for use on Donation Night.

War of 1812 with Ken Shepherd
2023-06-21 19:30 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Ken’s presentation on the War of 1812 in the Michigan theatre looks at the Downriver area before and after the surrender of Detroit. There are a couple of battles in the area, and troops passed through what is now Wyandotte, to try to open communications between Detroit and the American-held lands in Ohio. His concentration, however, is usually on the politics; General Hull, the commandant at Detroit, was court martialed for surrendering the city, and a lot of people who were at Detroit spoke up in that trial.

DRGS Annual Potluck Dinner
2023-06-21 17:30 - 19:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Dinner will be at 6:00 pm, Program and meeting will follow at 7:00 pm.
Doors open at 5:30 pm.

Vintage Baseball
2023-06-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Thorn Park, 23555 King Rd, Brownstown Charter Twp, MI
The Brownstown DDA and Brownstown Historical Society will present a vintage baseball match between the Brownstown Volunteers vx. the Detroit Franklins, on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 1:00 pm. The match will take place at Thorn Park, 23555 King Rd, Brownstown Charter Twp, Michigan.

The Works Progress Administration with Elizabeth Clemens
2023-05-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Elizabeth Clemens, audiovisual archivist at the Walter P. Reuther Library, will discuss the legacy of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Southeastern Michigan, a revolutionary facet of the New Deal that sought to positively impact lives both physically and intellectually through the creation of work relief programs. Topics discussed will include the cultural programs of the Federal Arts Project; literacy, health and education initiatives; and improvements to local infrastructure through a massive public building initiatives.

Ecorse Echoes from Kathy Warnes
2023-04-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Kathy’s Power Point Presentation featuring photographs by John Duguay and Sandy Blakeman, two Ecorse photographers who recorded Ecorse History and the history of Ecorse. Ecorse People Power. Photos of Ecorse people and their contributions to the city. Ecorse, Downriver and the World. How Ecorse fits into the cosmic scheme of things. Her books include – A Brief History of Ecorse, Ecorse Along the Detroit River, Downriver Prohibition, Downriver Back in the Days, and Granny Godfroy Grows Up. Her email address will be available if anyone wants to buy them she will either send them an email link or mail them a print copy.

Golden Ridge Cemetery Restoration, Taylor Michigan with Krysten Lange & The Taylor Historical Society
2023-03-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Taylor Historical Society Cemetery committee members will present on their current preservation project in Taylor’s Goldenridge Cemetery (AKA Taylor Township Cemetery), including their many discoveries, headstone preservation efforts, cemetery record revitalization, and their future plans for Goldenridge, as well as the other two municipal cemeteries in Taylor. Those attending will have the opportunity to learn more about Taylor’s historic cemeteries and how they can participate in future preservation plans.

The Chautauqua Movement: It’s Origins, Impact & Presence in Michigan with Jim Craft
2023-02-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
The Chautauqua Movement began at Lake Chautauqua in western New York in 1874. Initially, it was a two-week encampment for training Sunday school teachers. Within a few years, it had evolved into a summer long resort community providing the American Protestant Middle Class with a wholesome option for using the emerging phenomenon of summer vacation.
Emulating the “mother” Chautauqua in New York, similar communities spread across the United States. By the 1890s over 100 permanent Chautauquas had been established. While each Chautauqua was unique, they were all modeled after the New York Chautauqua and emphasized religion, education, recreation and the arts.
In addition to the permanent Chautauqua sites, a traveling version of Chautauqua began in 1904 and lasted until the Great Depression. While a pale imitation of the original concept, the “tent” Chautauquas visited thousands of American communities every year for over twenty-five years to bring culture to small communities all across the country.
Inevitably, the educational and religious themes of Chautauqua led them to play an important role as a forum for discussion of public issues. In particular, Chautauqua helped promote the political debates surrounding Progressive Era reforms ranging from women’s suffrage to trust busting to child labor.

How to date your Historic House/Building with Tyler Moll
2023-01-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Architectural historian Tyler Moll will present on techniques to use when trying to figure out how old your house or building is. This includes using stylistic evidence, deeds, tax records, maps, and many other available resources to try and nail down a date. Attendees will learn all the places to look and how fun and interesting it can be to research a building

Sears Kit Houses with Andrew & Wendy Mutch
2022-11-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
In the early 20th Century, kit houses were the ultimate “Do It Yourself” project for thousands of homeowners. While Sears Roebuck is the best known of the manufacturers of kit houses, Michigan was the home for three of the largest kit house companies in the country. Join Andrew and Wendy Mutch, Sears house owners and kit house researchers, as they present the fascinating history of kit houses. From first-hand accounts of customers, you’ll learn how they ordered, financed and in many cases, built their own homes. Their presentation will include a photographic tour of kit houses from companies like Sears and Aladdin that still stand in Downriver communities.

Michigan True Crime–Murder Mayhem Michigan with Tobin Buhk
2022-10-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Come face to face with the malefactors who stained the pages of Michigan history with blood spatter: The Killer Dentist, a Grand Rapids native who tried to poison his way into his wife’s inheritance; The Detroit Bluebeard, who prowled matrimonial ads for victims; The Michigan Borgia, who removed an entire branch of her family tree with Strychnine; The Lonely Hearts Killers, whose mail-order fraud business became felonious on the southwest side of Grand Rapids. Andrew Kehoe, who engineered the bloodiest school day in history. Serial killers John Norman Collins and Coral Watts, whose crimes terrorized southeastern Michigan’s co-eds. And others. Join crime historian and author Tobin T. Buhk as he unveils the truth behind some of Michigan’s most fiendish crimes. He has written 14 books and many will be available for purchase at the meeting. He will be selling his book “Murder, Mayhem, Michigan” for $20. He has also written many other books that he will have available. Go to his website tobinbuhk.com and select “presentations” to see many of his book titles and programs. He is coming all the way from Grand Rapids to do this presentation!!!

History of the Wyandot Tribe with Grand Chief Ted Roll of the Wyandot of Anderdon Nation
2022-09-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
History of the Wyandot Tribe with Grand Chief Ted Roll of the Wyandot of Anderdon Nation.
This session replaces a previously scheduled presentation. Suffragists Almost here with Gary Rembixz will be rescheduled.

Prohibition’s Proving Ground: Cops, Cars and Rumrunners in the Toledo-Detroit-Windsor Corridor with Joseph Boggs
2022-06-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Do you like stories about booze, cars, cops, and crime? Then join Joe Boggs, the author of a new book called Prohibition’s Proving Ground, as he shares how prohibition enforcement and automobile culture collided on the Toledo-Detroit-Windsor corridor. With a special emphasis on the Downriver area, the presentation will focus on how our region’s automobile boom significantly aided local rumrunners but challenged those responsible for enforcing dry laws.

Joseph Boggs will bring his book to sell & sign for a discounted price of $20.

DRGS Annual Pot Luck Dinner
2022-06-15 17:15 - 19:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Setup at 5:15 pm
Doors open at 5:30 pm
Dinner starts at 6:00 pm
The meeting and program (below) begin at 7:00 pm

The DGS Annual Pot Luck Dinner returns on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, before our evening presentation. Sign-up sheets will be available at our meetings before the pot-luck to track each member’s bringing so we do not end up with all desserts! The society will provide chicken, and we ask members to bring a dish to pass.

DRGS Used Book Sale
2022-06-07 13:00 - 2022-06-09 18:00 | DRGS Library, 28639 Division St., Flat Rock, MI, 48134, United States
June 7, 8, and 9, 2022, from 1 PM to 6 PM each day.
At DRGS Library and hallway, inside Flat Rock Schools Admin Building.

Hardcover and softcover books and pamphlets
Research volumes and DRGS publications
Local city, county, and church histories
Local Cemetery books
Free will donation

28639 Division St. at Gibraltar Rd.
Flat Rock, MI 48134
Enter from the north door by the gym.

Polar Bears of WWI with Mike Grobbel
2022-05-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
One hundred and four years ago during the winter of 1918-1919, 5,200 U.S. soldiers – the majority of them from Michigan – were stranded in a sub-arctic region of North Russia, engaged in bitter combat with the Bolshevik Red Army. They had arrived in Archangel, Russia on September 4, 1918, and their battles continued long after the Armistice was signed on November 11th. Eventually, they were withdrawn from this obscure military intervention in June of 1919, but not before 230 men lost their lives. Today the “Polar Bears” are no longer with us, but they and their service to our country have not been forgotten. Their war dead are memorialized with a monument at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy, MI, where they are remembered annually with a Memorial Day service conducted by the Polar Bear Memorial Association. Mike Grobbel, president of the Polar Bear Memorial Association, tells the story of the men of the American North Russia Expeditionary Force. Mike is the grandson of a “Polar Bear” and his presentation will draw on the historical records and experiences of veterans of that campaign, plus his own experiences during a 2018 visit to the former front lines in northern Russia.
This presentation was originally scheduled for October.

Wyandotte at War – A Michigan Town Fights Back in WWII with Alana Paluszewski
2022-04-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Her book was released in July 2021. It is a non-fiction account of the activities of Wyandotte residents before, during, and after WWII. Over 2,200 of our citizens served in the military and thousands more fought the battle on the home front. Wyandotte lost at least 143 men during the war, and this book chronicles the sacrifice of Wyandotte’s warriors along with the challenges of our hometown heroes.
She will bring her book to sell and sign.

The Potato Famine & The Coming of the Irish to America with Terence O'Leary
2022-03-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Ireland awoke to the beginning of the Great Hunger in 1845. Experience the heartbreaking stories of the Irish during the 5 long years of the Potato Famine. While it was a time of great injustice when more than 1 million Irish died, it also became a tragic blessing for over 1 million Irish who fled to America and survived. As an Irish storyteller, Mr. O’Leary’s quest is to keep the famine story alive and acquaint modern-day Irish-Americans with the tragic but also the triumphant history of our Irish ancestors.

Terence O’Leary will be bringing and signing his Irish Crossings books. The books are $12.99 each. Two books are $22.99 and the Irish Crossings Trilogy is $32.99.

New York’s Burned-over District: Revival, Reform and the Migration to Michigan with Jim Craft
2022-02-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
It is generally recognized by even casual students of Michigan history that many of the state’s early settlers came from western New York. It is rarely appreciated, however, that this region of New York, known as the Burned-over District, played a central role in the great religious revival that swept the country in the first half of the 19th Century. Nor is it recognized that this “Second Great Awakening”, particularly as it evolved in western New York, set the stage for social and political reforms that led directly to six Constitutional Amendments, the Civil War and shaped how much of the country responded to the industrialization and urbanization of America in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. From Jackson Prison to Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and the birth of the Republican Party, ante bellum Michigan was greatly impacted by the events which occurred in Burned-over District in the 1820s and 1830s. Jim Craft will discuss the causes and course of this significant but underappreciated aspect of Michigan and American history.
He will bring his book to sell for $10 and sign

Eloise with Tyler Moll
2022-01-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Eloise has a long and interesting history spanning more than 130 years. He will be covering the founding of the Wayne County poorhouse and seeing its evolution into an asylum, tuberculosis sanitarium, and general hospital among many other uses. The Wayne County house, later known as Eloise, would become one of the largest facilities of its type in the country. At its peak over 10,000 people lived and worked there, yet within 40 years of this, the Wayne county house would close completely and be abandoned. We will see the rise and fall of Eloise, the Wayne County Poorhouse and Asylum.

Weird Downriver - Curiosities and Little Known Stories from Downriver with Jakki Malnar
2021-11-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
Whether you are new to local history or an old pro, this program will have something for you. Join us to learn about Slocum’s “Island”, Death by Tuna, Wyandotte’s own DB Cooper and much more. While the Speaker, Jakki Malnar, is in the building she requires everyone to be masked. In order for everyone to hear her properly, she will be unmasked during her presentation. If you can’t or won’t wear a mask, you will not be allowed to attend this presentation.
While the Speaker, Jakki Malnar, is in the building, she requires everyone to be masked. In order for everyone to hear her properly, she will be unmasked during her presentation. If you can’t or won’t wear a mask, you will not be allowed to attend this presentation.
This program has been rescheduled from October 20.

DRGS Beginners Genealogy Workshop 101
2021-10-21 18:00 - 19:30 | Bacon Memorial District Library, 45 Vinewood, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
A class for beginners covering five-generation charts, family group sheets, research logs, vital records, and census records.
Space is limited. Please register by e-mailing Sherry at GENEGAL26@YAHOO.COM

The Erie Canal with Gary Rembisz
2021-10-20 19:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
The Erie Canal is America’s first superhighway, over 364 miles long. It was built without steam power and through the Adirondack Mountains, up and down hills, massive boulders, and uprooting giant trees. How did they get all the water to the canal and keep it in? How did they make water run uphill? It was built with picks and shovels and muscle and blood, and an American dream.

Membership sharing
2021-09-15 19:00 | Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth Street, Wyandotte, Michigan, 48192
We are back in person at Copeland Center! Our program invites members to speak on findings, research, relics, family stories, or any other genealogy-related story you would like to share with our group. It’s been a long year, and we are excited to see you again. Depending on the number of people who wish to speak, we may limit time at the podium to 5 minutes.
