the Current

JULY 17, 2012 - JULY 30, 2012 A bi-weekly summer employee newsletter

Meant To Be
JimEvans,longtimeemployeeforMSHP,wouldntwanttobeanywhereelse
looked like he was having so much fun, Evans said. So I decided to apply for a position here. In 1970, Evans was one of five male interpreters for Mackinac State Historic Parks. During the school year, he was attending Lake Superior State University to graduate with a degree in Secondary Education. Although Evans continued his work with MSHP, he has still managed to get his fill of teaching over the years. In 1977, now retired Keith Widder asked Evans to work in the winter, cataloging artifacts and eventually he began doing education outreach programs four days a week. (continued pg 2)

UP & COMING EVENTS

Wed. July 18- 7 p.m.9:30 p.m.
Drawing Class- Richard and Jane Manoogian Art Museum

Forty-two years ago, historic

interpreter Jim Evans began working at Mackinac State Historic Parks. Forty-two years ago, he never thought hed still be here. According to him, hes glad he is. Evans decided to apply to MSHP one day while working at one of his first and few jobs, Dairy Queen. A customer that Evans had helped worked at Fort Wilkins in Copper Harbor, Michigan. One of my customers who worked for a different fort always

Thurs. July 19 8 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Music in the Park - Marquette Park on Mackinac Island

Sat. July 21- 6:30 p.m.

Vintage Base Ball game - Scout Barracks Field on Mackinac Island

JimEvansputsonademonstrationfora largegroupofyoungvisitors.

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OnThursday,August16,MSHPwillbehosting anawardbanquetandthankyouforall employees.Theeventwilltakeplaceat7p.m.at ColonialMichilimackinac.

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Awardnominationsheetscanbefound attheofficebuildingsonthemainland andisland.Awardnominationscanbe madebyanyoneandwillbegivento theexecutiveboardforfinaldecisions.

Bone buttons or button backs Textile fragments

Lead seal - The other side says X95

(meant to be continued) This

is for me much more than teaching. During the main season, I get to be outside teaching kids and during the winter, I get to do education outreach in the classroom, Evans said. This job is truly rewarding. Not only has Evans enjoyed the time he has been here thus far, he has had some of his best memories here. One of them including meeting his wife, Dr. Lynn Evans, curator of archaeology, in 1989. The two began dating in 1990 and were married in St. Anne De Michilimackinac Church in 1997.

Ive been very blessed working here and doing what I do. The park has been huge for me, Evans said. Ive worked with some truly great people and have made a lot of connections with guests and visitors. Whatever Ive given to them, theyve given to me a lot more. And when Evans says that, its something he means. According to him, he hasnt really worked a day in his life. Its something I really enjoy, I always look forward to coming to work, Evans said. Thats the key, to find something like that.

THIS WEEKS DIRT

(Imagesabove) Ithasbeenanexcitingtwoweeksatthe
Michilimackinacarchaeologyproject.We havefoundfivebuttons:onebrasstwo pewter(onefromtheKings8thregiment) andtwobone.Anothernicefindwasalead seal.Leadsealswerefastenedtotextilesto indicateorigin,ownershipand/ortaxespaid. Themostunusualfindwassometextile fragments.Thetextileswefoundare fragmentsofmilitarytrimorothermetallic braidwhicharepreservedbythecopper saltsinthemetalwrappingaroundthe thread.Thefinaloutoftheordinaryfindwas anironawl.

-Dr. Lynn Evans, curator of archaeology

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Following in Moms Footsteps

AlexConellstruepassionrunsinthefamily

AlexConellisasecondgeneration MichilimackinacArchaeologist. Hermomworkedonthesamecrew forMackinacStateHistoricParksin the1970s!

Its not everyday that you get

the opportunity to follow in your parent's footsteps and actually be passionate about it. For Alex Conell, theres nothing else shed rather be doing. Conell works on the archaeology crew for Mackinac State Historic Parks. Whats even cooler is that her mom, Donna Organek, worked on the same crew in 1973. When I became an archaeologist here, it just seemed like I was continuing the cycle, Conell said. I dont really believe in fate, but if I was destined to work somewhere, itd be here. Its such a great place. When Conells mom worked as an archaeologist here, she was digging where the now Michilimackinac Visitor Center parking lot is.

Thanks to Conells moms passion for archaeology, Conell discovered her love for the study as well. She would always talk about it. I actually thought it was kind of silly and useless. She told me if I wanted any help paying for college, I would take an archaeology intro course, Conell said. And I never would have thought, but I actually became really interested in it. In 2007, Conell went through field school, an archaeology dig that is organized to train people how to be archaeologists. Field school typically lasts between four and 10 weeks. According to Conell, her session was just long enough to get her hooked. She graduated from Alma College in 2009 with a bachelor's

degree in Anthropology and Archaeology. She is currently working on her Ph. D from Michigan State University and hopes to complete it within the next five years. In the fall, she will be interning with the Michigan History Center. I would be happy doing anything related to archaeology. Theres just something about pulling something out of the ground that no one has touched for so many years, its awesome. Although there is still plenty of time left in the season, Conell thinks she is working on digging up the coolest item she will find this year. There is a part of a clasp knife uncovered in one of my squares, Im really excited to see it. I think itll be the coolest thing to find this summer.

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Mackinac Mumbo-Jumbo
Whats the most important thing youve learned here?
Bepreparedfor
mayhem. PaulHawkey, GuestService Representative Supervisor

Howtoeducatevisitors
onthehistoryofthefort inanenjoyableand interactiveway. CoryHurst, Interpreter

Howtospeakloudly
whilewearingacorset. LaurnGerig, Interpreter

Towatchoutforthe
[horse]poopinthe night. KaylaMontney, GuestService Representative

Its your last chance to let Katelyn know what youd like to see in the Current! Contact Katelyncrain@gmail.com by July 25!

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MackinacParks.com 906-847-3328 Editor - Katelyn Crain