FREE GENEALOGY SEMINAR
SUNFIELD, EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Saturday, April 9,
2005
PRESS RELEASE
Author Tom Huggler will headline a local history and genealogy conference, scheduled for
Saturday, April 9, at the Sunfield District Library, located at 112 Main, in the village
of Sunfield. Event organizers are excited to announce that Huggler's talk,
"Sunfield USA: A Work in Progress," will be his first public presentation on his
upcoming new book. The book will be a novel based upon real local history and actual
events in the life of a remarkable 19th century woman, a pioneer whose story is integral
to Sunfield's beginning and whose descendants remain in the community to this day.
Huggler is the author of many popular Michigan fishing guides and his company Outdoor
Images has produced several high quality upland bird hunting videos and a wildflower CD.
He has a national profile and produced a segment on the closing of Loucks School near
Mulliken; about the 144-year old one-room school's closing in June 2002, which aired
across the U.S. on National Public Radio's show All Things Considered.
The free conference will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. but requires a reservation ahead of
time by mailing in a registration form. Space is limited to the first 75 registrants.
Reservations cannot be made by phone but forms can be obtained by visiting
(
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mieaton/Sun_Free_Seminar.htm) or calling the library at
517-566-8065 during open hours. Open hours are Tuesday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.,
and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Forms are to be mailed to Sunfield Historical Society, PO
Box 251, Sunfield, MI 48890.
It will be a full day as several area history and genealogy experts are also slated to
speak at the event, which is co-sponsored by the Sunfield Historical Society and the
library. Sue Thompson, of Charlotte, will discuss the art of dating historic photos;
Sheriff Michael Raines, of Charlotte, on restoration of antique photos and the growing
menace to genealogists of identity theft; Grand Ledge's Yvonne Koos will present tips
on using the Library of Michigan's extensive historical and genealogical collection;
and Sunfield historian Wendel Peabody will be in attendance to consult on a variety of
topics. There will also be brief demonstrations on metal detecting and "witching for
water," an antiquated term that does not refer to witchcraft but to a very old
practice of locating water.
People who come to our conferences also have a chance to network with genealogists at
every level of experience. The conference is for beginners as well as veteran
genealogists. Genealogists networking together and exchanging tips is a great way to
solve frustrating dead ends we all face while building our family trees, Genealogists love
to lend a hand to those less experienced than them. Plus, it's also fun to swap
"war stories. This year's event will be the Society's second spring
conference at Sunfield's library. Genealogists at last year's event gave it a
resounding "thumbs up."
Any who wish may purchase a soup, salad, sandwich, and beverage lunch catered by
Mulliken's Swedes Restaurant for $6.00 each, and a packet of conference materials for
$5.00. However, those who opt for lunch and a packet must submit a check or money order
made payable to the Sunfield Historic Society with their registration form.
The Society will also have copies of the definitive book on Sunfield history, Sunfield
Town & Country (published by the Sunfield History Seekers), for sale at $30.00, as
well as the recently published Sunfield Cemetery Guide, for $20.00. Either book may also
be purchased by mail from the Society or in person at the library, but mail orders require
an additional $5.00 on top of the cover price for shipping and handling.
Inquiries on the conference the Society's publications may be made by calling the
library during open hours or in person at the Sunfield Historic Society's weekly
meetings at the library each Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.