Antiques on the Hill

Do you have a dusty relic sitting in the corner of the attic, or did you pick up a "treasure" at an antique shop? How about Grandpa's old pocket watch? Do you wonder if it's worth anything?

Now is the time to find out - we're having an afternoon of antique appraisals at the Morton House on Sunday, Sept. 12 from 1-5 p.m.

Bring up to five items and they will be appraised for $5 each. The appraiser is Marti Arny, ISA AM, a accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers and owner of Dunes Antique Center in Harbert.

If you have a large item, like furniture, no need to haul it there, Marti can appraise it from photographs.

This is a fundraiser for the Morton House Museum and all proceeds will be used for its programs and expenses.

See you there!

Ghost Hunting

We are looking for Benton Harbor ghost stories to produce a small booklet and also to supply ideas to our storyteller coming in October. Do you know any? Call us at the Morton House at 925-7011 and leave a message - we'll get back to you. We'll even give you credit if you like.

We're planning several fun activities at the Morton House in the upcoming fall - watch for details in the newsletter coming out the week of Aug. 23 and updates on this blog.

Kathy Zerler - July Speaker

Please join us on Thursday, July 29 at 7 p.m. at the Morton House as writer Kathy Zerler joins us to talk about her writing.

Kathy is a local freelance writer and a few years ago she wrote "A Slip in Time" which uses Benton Harbor of old as a setting (including some scenes at Morton House).

Kathy is also the author of a history of the Blossomtime Festival. Both books will be available for purchase at the Morton House.

Cost for the event is $2 each and funds go to support programing at the Morton House.

Blossom Queens come to the Morton House

Queens sit patiently in the parlor

Denise Reeves explains features of the house

Queens and Kings on the Morton House porch

It's a tradition to welcome the Blossomtime Queens and Kings to the Morton House during their Tour of the Blossoms. This year they came on April 26 and several Morton House members were there to welcome them with punch and cookies.

They toured the house, asking lots of questions, and then lined up on the front porch for a quick photo before they were back on their bus and off with sirens wailing to their next stop.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped on that day. It was a treat to see so many brightly-colored and shining young people in the house.

The yards at Morton House

On Saturday, June 5 volunteers from the Morton House, the Highcliffe Terrace Garden Club and Lakeshore High School joined at the Morton House to tackle the yard. A huge pile of brush was cut and piled to be taken away, trees were trimmed, flower beds were cleared and everything looks much better.

The Highcliffe Terrace Garden Club has taken on the grounds of the Morton House as their community project this year. They have had two work sessions already, this first clearing one, and another to spread mulch.

Thank you to the members of the club for taking on this monumental task.