We are excited to announce the upcoming HSGL fundraiser, a tour of the beautiful, historic Potter House. The owner of the home, HSGL member James McClurken, has graciously offered to open his home to the Historical Society for this special event. The evening will include an in-depth architectural tour of the home, led by Lansing architecture professor Jim Perkins. Please note that all of the money raised at the event will go towards our museum fund.

The home, which is truly a Lansing treasure, was built by Ray & Sarah Potter.* Though its Tudor Revival style gives the home a traditional English feel, it is full of “modern” surprises, including the fact that the home is actually constructed of poured concrete! Designed by Harold Childs of East Lansing, the house is a fascinating combination of old-world excellence and modern American engineering.

Perhaps what truly sets the Potter House above her peers are the stunningly beautiful hand painted murals that showcase exotic animals from around the world. These murals will be shown as a part of the house tour. Ray Potter, who commissioned the house in the 1926, is the son of James Potter, who gifted land to the City of Lansing for the establishment of a grand city park, today known as Potter Park Zoo. Like his father, Ray was a generous philanthropist who donated significant amounts of money to Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital, as well as a variety of other institutions.

The generosity of the Potter family to the City of Lansing can be an inspiration to us all. If you would like to follow in their steps, and give a gift that will help establish a new Lansing cultural institution that will be valued for years to come, please consider partnering with the Historical Society of Greater Lansing in our efforts to raise money for a museum by purchasing a ticket to the event or by serving as an event sponsor.

You will find ticket and sponsorship information by opening these links:

Sponsor Form

Ticket Order

Or purchase through PayPal:

*Please note that James Potter was incorrectly named the original owner of the Potter House in the February issue of The History Explorer.

Morris who lives in Haslett Michigan is the author of “A Game of Inches”, “Catcher”, “Level Playing Fields” and “Baseball Fever”. Most recently he authored an e-book “Don’t Kill the Umpire” about violence in baseball. He will make the case that baseball is still the national pastime and it permeates American culture like no other sport.

“Baseball culture is imbedded in everything from our language (“level playing field”, “fair and square” and “not coming out of left field”) to political showcases (every president since William Howard Taft has thrown out a first pitch.)” Morris who spends time each year in Cooperstown, New York at the Baseball Hall of Fame researching topics said “Baseball has taken on the mantel of the national pastime and the American character.”

The event is sponsored by the Historical Society of Greater Lansing and is funded in part by Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The event begins at 7 pm.

After speaking at the Historical Society of Greater Lansing meeting on Thursday evening, February 16th, Matt will make the flag collection, now held at the Michigan Historical Center, available for viewing by the public Saturday morning, February 18th from 10 am to 12:30 pm.

On Tuesday, October 25, Boyle will speak on his book at Thomas Cooley Law School, located at 300 S. Capitol Ave.  Refreshments will be served at 5:30, with the program following at 6:00pm.  Books will be available for purchase and signing. This event is sponsored by the Capital Area District Library.