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Crew members inspect rail cars on the SS City of Midland 41
LUDINGTON — The Mason County Historical Society is making plans to expand its Ludington car ferries exhibit at the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and it needs help from the public. The expanded exhibit will include an interactive kiosk that will tell the stories of those who have worked on the Ludington car ferries through a combination of text, audio, video, and photography.
In order to accomplish this task, the Society is in need of volunteers to help gather these stories and related materials.
Those wishing to volunteer on this project are asked to attend a meeting on Wednesday, June 11 at the Mason County Historical Society, 130 E. Ludington Ave. in downtown Ludington.
The exhibit will feature stories and memorabilia of past and present employees of the car ferry service through oral interviews, journals, scrapbooks, or family lore, along with photographs and other media. These may be long-time employees or those who just worked for a short-time, at any job, for Flint & Pere Marquette Railway, Pere Marquette Railway, Chesapeake & Ohio/Chessie System, Michigan-Wisconsin Transportation or Lake Michigan Carferry.
The Society has the ability to digitize most any type of documents or media: Books, journals, individual pieces of paper, scrapbooks, photographs, negatives, slides, video tapes, and audio tapes.
The Society’s goal is to debut the exhibit in 2027, in celebration of the museum’s 10th year.
Those who may have material are asked to contact Amber Valentine, Collections/Archivist Manager, amber@mchshistory.org, or 231-843-4808.
Those who would like to be involved with the project but are unable to attend the June 11 meeting may contact project chair Rob Alway at editor@mediagroup31.com or 231-757-3202.
The Mason County Historical Society is a non-profit charitable organization that was founded in 1937 that does not receive any governmental funding. It owns and operates the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, Historic White Pine Village, The Rose Hawley Archives and the Mason County Emporium and Sweet Shop.
For more information about donating to and/or joining the Mason County Historical Society, visit masoncountymihistory.org.
The engine room of the SS City of Midland 41
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