Grant Awarded: April 2005

Type of Grant: Humanities Project Grant

Sponsor: Niles District Library

Contact: Nancy Studebaker, 269-683-8545, nstudebaker@nileslibrary.com

Website: www.nileslibrary.com/onceupon.htm
(includes book and lesson plans)

Award: $10,770

(march 17 article courtesy of Niles Star):

Niles District Library and the Fort Saint Joseph Museum have been awarded a $10,770 grant from the Michigan Humanities Council to fund the publication of Once Upon A River: A Children's History of Niles. The grant will provide funding for publication of 1,000 books, most of which will be donated to local public schools.

Once Upon a River will encourage children to learn about and take pride in the history and heritage of the Niles area. The book covers pre-historical to modern times. Chapters include:

• Oceans, Glaciers and One Great River
• The "First People" on Our River
• The St. Joseph River: A Way to Explore the Upper Country
• Niles: An 1800s Boom Town on the River
• Our Town on the River Stands for Freedom
• A New Century Brings Changes on the River
• Floating Down the River into the 21st Century

A 30-page companion book will provide local parents and teachers with tools for teaching such as vocabulary lists and activities sheets.
The book is the brainchild of Carol Bainbridge, director of the Fort Saint Joseph Museum and Darlene Jackson, children's service department head at Niles District Library.

Each has put in hundreds of hours working toward making what was once just a dream into reality.

In addition to Bainbridge and Jackson, Susan Degraw, Jean Ducey, Kevin Keefe, Penny Rimelspach, Lisa Keefe-Scott, Janet Seaman, Nancy Studebaker, Christine Tyler and Todd Wakevainen have all contributed to the text and teaching guide.

Artwork for the book is being provided by local artist and muralis, Janet Seaman. Dr. Michael Nassney, Professor of History, , Indiana University South Bend and Dr. Lester Lehman, Professor of Anthropology, Western Michigan University, are providing expertise. Sally Ginter edited the book.
Jim Rose and Eimi Andrews have also provided expertise.

The book will be launched during a full-day celebration at the library on Thursday, April 14th, during National Library Week.