Tuesday April 24
A virtual tour of the Great Lakes, with stops at operating and inactive lighthouses along the way, will hone the mystique the lore of the region embraces. The excursion, coupled with the fascination of eerie hulks of vessels after resting many years on lake bottoms, the tales of their ends echoed over time, along with legends of maritime ghosts lurking above moonlit waves unite to ensure a captivating voyage.
The tour guide will be Frederick Stonehouse, featured speaker during the 7th annual Honors and Authors Night Tuesday April 24, sponsored by the Briggs Public Library Foundation at the Emerald Golf Course. Mr. Stonehouse, a maritime historian, writer, lecturer and teacher, has written over thirty books on nautical history, many of them focusing on the Great Lakes, and has contributed to many other publications.
Stonehouse holds a Master of Arts degree in History from Northern Michigan University and has taught Great Lakes maritime history at his alma mater. He is an active consultant for numerous Great Lakes oriented projects and programs. In April 2000, Stonehouse began teaching two internet based courses on Great Lakes lighthouses, the target topic of his presentation Honors and Authors night.
Mr. Stonehouse has been a consultant for both the U.S. National Park Service and Parks Canada and has been an “on air” expert for National Geographic, History channel and Fox family. His presentations have also included many regional media productions.
Along with special awards for contributions to Great Lakes Maritime history, from Underwater Canada, Out World Underwater, Marquette Maritime Museum and Marquette County Historical Society, he is also the recipient of the 2006 Assn. For Great Lakes maritime History Award for Historic Interpretations. The latter is an annual recognition given to an individual for having made major contributions over many years to the interpretation of Great Lakes maritime history in furtherance of the goals of the Assn.
In 2007 Stonehouse was named the marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Historian of the year.
The annual event is a fund raiser for the Briggs Public Library Foundation in which an endowment fund is being created to ensure adequate long-range support.
As in the previous six special events, this year’s gathering will include complimentary generous hors d’oeuvres and beverages for the contribution of $50.00 per guest, accepted at the door or in advance by mail.
The evening will begin at 7 p.m. and a segment of the program will be recognition of donors and supporters of the organization. Ticket information and details of the evening may be obtained by contacting Foundation President, John Sirrine at 989 224-2853 jsirrine@sirrineandassociates.com.