Linda Ciangi: Remember Ionia's history by preserving it

On Nov. 2, an election will be held in Ionia asking eligible voters to decide on a millage of less than 1 mill per year to relocate the Ionia Community Library from the current location at 126 E. Main St. to the Ionia National Bank buildings on the corner of Main and Depot streets. The buildings were a gift to the library from the Mercantile Bank of Michigan and will expand the current library floor space by four times.

The current library location which many will recall fondly as the Hall-Fowler Memorial Library would then become a historical museum and research library as the Nov. 2 vote includes $150,000 over a three-year period to aid in that repurposing.

The Hall-Fowler home was donated to the City of Ionia by Marion Hall-Fowler, the only child of the Hon. Frederick Hall and Ann Eagers Hall, to be used as a library. When the library opened on Oct. 9, 1903, the curator of the history rooms on the second floor was Bertha Milligan Brock, IHS class of 1879. At a young age, Mrs. Brock understood the importance of saving Ionia's history and her dedication to that cause continues to benefit this community today.

As years passed, the library's collection of books and artifacts grew and with limited space for it all the history room items were moved to 251 E. Main St., the Blanchard House, which is headquarters for the Ionia County Historical Society. This has proved to be a questionable decision because the Blanchard House was meant to be a reminder of life in 1880.

Thus the history room artifacts were placed in the basement of the house which has winding steps that offer limited access and there is no temperature control. ICHS volunteers have done their best to share Ionia history but our story will have a much better home when it is returned to the Hall-Fowler location which has an elevator and accessibility to the building was enhanced in 2008 with a barrier-free entrance. The ICHS is fortunate to have the advice of museum consultant Jerry Adams, IHS Class of 1981. His parents are Bud and Helen (Hogan) Adams. (Helen and I worked together at Perrone's soda fountain and know the recipe for the best hot fudge on Main Street!) Jerry has recently toured the Hall-Fowler location and shared his lasting memories of the building.

Speaking of memories, surely, there should be room for Ionia's military history, the writings of Gen. Kidd and the scrapbooks kept by the local chapter of the Blue Star Mothers.  Julia Wheelock was a 28 year old rural school teacher in Ionia Township when word came concerning her brother who was fighting for the Union in the Civil War, "Orville is wounded - limb amputated." Julia traveled south and found that her dear and cherished brother had been in the Battle at Chantilly and died of his wounds. She stayed in the south till the end of the War, having joined the cause as a hospital agent for the State of Michigan. Julia cared for the wounded and comforted the dying out of her desire to spare other families the grief she felt at the loss of her brother. Hundreds would owe their lives to her dedication. Please, remember Julia.

The bottom line is this - the Nov. 2 election is a chance to solve space and storage problems years in the making by repurposing two classic Ionia landmarks. The possibilities of the bank building should inspire all of us. Those who have memories of the past will have access to a facility dedicated to the rich history of Ionia that began with a party of courageous pioneers who choose this location for its natural beauty and resources in 1833 and bargained with the Native Americans. They had faith in the future and built a city. Imagine that.

The Relocate, Repurpose, Reimagine website is: citizens4icl.org.

If you want to see the Blanchard House basement for yourself, call me at 616-527-4945. I have the key.

— Linda Ciangi is a member of Ionia High School Class of 1956 and IHS Alumni Association Board member for over 50 years.