CHAUTAUQUA at the Riverside

Founded by Tom Dodd to interject some heritage back into the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival, Chautauqua at the Riverside has perhaps been Ypsilanti’s best-kept secret since its first appearance in 2012. Now organized under the auspices of the Ypsilanti Historical Society, Chautauqua at the Riverside is looking forward to a bright future—beginning with this year’s event on Saturday, October 18, and you are invited to attend!

The event takes its name, in part from its venue: Ypsilanti’s own Riverside Arts Center on North Huron Street.

There will be eight 45-minute presentations, organized around the four traditional pillars of a Chautauqua (arts, education, recreation, and religion), beginning at 10 a.m. The grand finale of the day will be a three-hour performance by Paul Klinger’s Easy Street Jazz Band, a group that’s been a mainstay of the traditional jazz scene in Washtenaw County for the past 40 years. The complete schedule (including each segment’s sponsor) follows. You are encourage to attend some or all:

In addition to the individual sponsors, we are fortunate to have received a grant from the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Because of these grants and sponsorships, admission to any and all of the segments is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. Come to some or come to all of the presentations. And if you’d like a little break, please enjoy the area walking tour that has been prepared for the occasion. The tour booklet has been made possible by a contribution from the Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation.

10-10:45 a.m.: “Stevens T. Mason: The Boy Governor”
Don Faber, speech-writer, news-writer, and history writer
Sponsored by Phoenix Contractors, Inc.

11-11:45 a.m: “Mothers and Warriors: Native American Women in Michigan History”
Kathleen Chamberlain, Professor of History, Eastern Michigan University
Sponsored by the Olson-Bellfi Financial Group of Wells Fargo Advisors

12-12:45 p.m.: “The Power of the Written Word Translated Through Music”
Ypsilanti Community Choir
Sponsored by the Ypsilanti Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

1-1:45 p.m.: “Frederic Pease and the 100th Anniversary of His Namesake Auditorium”
Kevin Miller, Director of Orchestral Activities, Eastern Michigan University
Sponsored by Eastern Michigan University

2-2:45 p.m.: “A Conversation with Henry Ford & Thomas Edison”
Rob Chrenko and Russell Doré, Doré Productions
Sponsored by the Washtenaw Federal Credit Union

3-3:45 p.m.: “Those Damned Michigan Men: Law and Order in Civil War Michigan Regiments”
Steven J. Ramold, Associate Professor of History, Eastern Michigan University
Sponsored by Bank of Ann Arbor

4-4:45 p.m.: “Michigan Cities: How Did They Get Those Crazy Names?”
Pat Grimes
Sponsored by Haab’s Restaurant

5-5:45 p.m.: “Wait, Wait! Don’t Confuse Me” (inspired by NPR’s “Wait, Wait! Don’t Tell Me®”)
A panel of local raconteurs will try to stump the audience with their knowledge of historical (or not) photos presented to them.
Sponsored by Premier Choice Realty

6-9 p.m.: Paul Klinger’s Easy Street Jazz Band
Traditional Jazz and Dixieland Music
(Cash bar and light refreshments served in the lobby.)
Sponsored by Sesi Motors

On display in the Gallery:
“Great Lakes Small Works”
An annual exhibit featuring two- and three-dimensional works by artists from the seven Great Lakes States and Ontario.

On display in the Lobby:
“Vintage Postcards from Southeastern Michigan”
from the collection of Lisa Mills Walters

Contact: P.O. Box 980551, Ypsilanti, MI 48198-0551
www.chautauqua-ypsilanti.org
chautauqua.ypsi@gmail.com