6:30 p.m. EST
1839 Courthouse/ Youtube Live
FREE w/ Refreshments available
January 20 We Stood Here: The Clark Equipment Company Speaker: Randy Hendrixson
February 24 Jobs Available: Clark Equipment Company & the Great Migration Speaker: John Urschel
March 17 Glass Ceilings Shattered: Michigan Women in Politics Speaker: Rhiannon Cizon
April 21 Bitter Battle: The 1894 Election that Changed Berrien County Speaker: John Moga
May 19 A Woman in the Court: A Michigan Legal First Speaker: Kathy Shaw
June 16 Splitting Logs: Michigan’s Lumber Industry Speaker: Jerry Burg
July 21 Out and Proud: LGBTQ+ History in West Michigan Speaker: Dr. Eric Gollannek
August 11 Sweet Sounds: House of David’s Musical History Speaker: Dr. Brian Carroll
September 15 Growing Wild: The Story of Liberty Hyde Bailey Speaker: TBA
October 20 Stories Among the Stones: Symbolism in Cemteries Speaker: Rhiannon Cizon (AT ROSEHILL CEMETERY)
November 17 Concientous Objectors: The House of David in WWII Speaker: Dr. Brian Carroll
December 15 Sew Many Stories: The Quilts of the DAR Speaker: Mary Ellen DroletSto
February 14 & December 31
10a to 5p @ 1839 Courthouse
$750.00 per package
Whether its your first wedding, your second, or simply a renewal of vows, the Berrien County Historical Association is the perfect backdrop for the intimate wedding of your dreams! And this Valentine’s Day, couples wanting to have the most romantic date for their anniversaries will get their chance with our Courthouse Wedding Packages: Valentine’s Edition! Even better? Our wedding packages are all-inclusive! In fact, each $750.00 package includes the following:
- Wedding Officiant
- Space for up to 10 guests/party members
- Bouquet for bride(s)*
- Photographer to record your special day and 1 free 8×10 photo of your choice courtesy of the BCHA
- All day reception for all bridal couples and their guests**
- Giftbox for the wedded couple
- Access to the most historic backdrop for any wedding in the county!
Wedding packages will begin every half hour starting at 10:00 a.m and each session is limited to one couple. This means all package times are first come, first serve and while there is a waitlist, please note that no time once taken is guaranteed to come available. The ceremonies will not last longer than fifteen (15) minutes and couples interested giving their own vows will be required to stay within a window of no more than 10 minutes to allow for the officiant to complete the ceremony. Once the wedding is finished, the couple will move on to the photographer and then are free to enjoy the grounds, partake in the reception table, or move on to their next order of business. All couples will receive a small gift box at the end of their wedding.
Registration for December 31 will open in August 2022.
March 26 & 27, 10a to 4p
Courthouse Square Grounds (see schedule)
FREE to the public
*Items in italics are still pending presenters or hosts. If you are interested in being either, please email info@berrienhistory.org
Saturday, March 26
Christopher Imler, MSU Extension
1839 Courthouse
Attendees who can’t host a traditional garden will learn how successfully create a garden in portable containers.
Paint Your Own: Birdhouse or Flower Pot
Bennett’s Forge
Perfect for both adults and children, choose to paint either a wooden birdhouse or a ceramic flower pot. The birdhouse option will come with a small bag of birdseed and the pot will come with a flower.
Creating a Pollinator-friendly Garden Space
Ryan Postema, Chickaming Open Lands
1839 Courthouse
Join Ryan as he talks about how to make your garden more friendly to native pollinators, including bees, birds, and other animals. From your containers to your flower beds, you have the power to support the natural world of Berrien County right in your own backyard!
How to Start Your Garden from Seeds Workshop
Melissa Stokes, Indian Hills Garden Club
Bennett’s Forge
Attendees interested in learning how to start their garden from seeds. The materials required for this workshop will be provided and attendees will be able to take their new starter pots home!
Companion Planting – Let the Garden Work for You
Christopher Imler, MSU Extension Office
1839 Courthouse
Learn how pairing certain plants can make gardening easier and reduce your dependence on insecticides.
Sunday, March 27
Avoiding the Bad: How to ID and Remove Invasive Species
Derek Pelc, Love Creek Nature Center
1839 Courthouse
Invasive species are a serious concern and can impact our ecology. Attendees will learn how to spot and remove these plants to ensure your garden is safe and supportive!
Paint Your Own: Birdhouse or Flower Pot
Bennett’s Forge
Perfect for both adults and children, choose to paint either a wooden birdhouse or a ceramic flower pot. The birdhouse option will come with a small bag of birdseed and the pot will come with a flower.
Herb-a-licious: Starting an Herb Garden
Marianne Kordas, Berrien Springs Garden Club
Bennett’s Forge
If you’ve ever wanted to know how to start and grow a successful herb garden for your kitchen, Marianne will lead you through the basics. From a container to a raised bed, there are different ways to bring a bit of freshness to your next meal year-round!
How to Start Your Garden from Seeds Workshop
Fabio Siniscarchario, Berrien Springs Garden Club
Bennett’s Forge
Attendees interested in learning how to start their garden from seeds. The materials required for this workshop will be provided and attendees will be able to take their new starter pots home!
Edible Landscaping – Beauty and Taste in One Bed
Nick Hausted, Berrien Springs Garden Club
1839 Courthouse or Bennett’s Forge
There are a million ways to create landscaping that does doubly duty – beauty AND taste! Attendees will want to forge in their own backyard with this great workshop.
Thank you to Our Partners and Presenters!
Chickaming Open Lands
Love Creek Nature Center & County Park
Berrien Conservation District
MSU Extension Office
Indian Hills Garden Club
April 10, 2022
Courthouse Square Grounds
FREE to the public, donations welcomed!
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This spring, the History Center at Courthouse Square will be overrun by colorful bunnies. But as cute as they are, they can’t stay here and we need your help to find them new homes!
Twenty four (24) colorful plastic rabbits will be placed in our four public buildings on April 10. Each rabbit will be filled with candy and other treats while one special rabbit will include one (1) complimentary family membership and a $50.00 gift certificate to the BCHA’s On the Docket Books & Gifts! Due to the limited number of available bunnies, we are limiting collection to one rabbit per family.
Families are welcomed to come and hunt for a bunny anytime during our normal business hours while enjoying the grounds and exhibits of the BCHA. No registration is needed and this event is free!
6:30 p.m.
Courthouse Square Grounds or 1839 Courthouse
$5.00 public, $2.00 BCHA members
Join the BCHA this summer as our popular Croonin’ at the Courthouse concert series returns to the History Center at Courthouse Square! Musicians from around the Michiana region rock the courthouse on the last Friday of the month all summer long! Concerts will be held on the Square’s lawn, where leafy trees keep you shaded from the late afternoon sun. Bring your own chairs, picnic baskets, and blankets to make your evening more enjoyable! In the event of adverse weather, concerts will be moved into the 1839 Courthouse.
May 27 Michiana Metro Lighthouse Chorus
June 24 Blue Shoes Jazz
July 29 Martha Cares
August 26 South Shore Concert Band
SPONSORSHIP: Interested in sponsoring this program? Email Rhiannon at rcizon@berrienhistory.org
September 24 & 25
Courthouse Square Grounds (see schedule)
FREE to the public
Schedule of Events to be released in early September!
Our Partners
To sponsor this event, please contact Rhiannon at rcizon@berrienhistory.org
Our Demonstrators and Workshop Hosts
To share your artisan crafts with us, please contact Rhiannon at rcizon@berrienhistory.org
Our Partners
Twin City Players
October Events
Fireside Tales: Ghostly Voices
October 1, 15, & 29 @ 7:00 p.m
October 16 @ 2:00 p.m.
$5.00 public/ $2.00 BCHA members
Registration here
Join the BCHA and the Twin City Players for a cozy evening inside the Murdoch Cabin. A warm fire, tasty cider, and ghost stories certain to give you a thrill! The tales are designed for audiences teen and older, but children may join at parental discretion. Each evening is limited to 18 people, therefore registration is required.
NEW IN 2022! We have added a special edition of Fireside Tales for young children on October 16. Instead of spooky tales, fun Halloween-themed stories will be read and children will be able to roast marshmallows with adult supervision. Due to the size of the cabin, we are limiting seating to 18 people.
Trick or Treating with the BCHA
October 31 @ Time TBA early October
Free to the public
Courthouse Square Grounds
The BCHA is excited to host its 3rd annual Trick or Treating event! Held in conjunction with the Village of Berrien Springs’ own event, treat hunters of all ages are invited to visit each of our historic buildings through the evening. Each location will have a different type of candy and toy options are available for children with allergies or sensory issues.
The time of the event will be announced closer to Halloween once the village has confirmed their times.