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Harbour House a fit setting for museum in Crystal Falls

Our Town Crystal Falls

By Terri Castelaz 6 min read

CRYSTAL FALLS -- Imagine strolling through a turn-of-the-century home where the echoes of the past still linger. That's what visitors encounter at the Harbour House Museum in downtown Crystal Falls.

Originally the home of the Harbour family, the two-story residence is a striking example of early 20th-century, steamboat-style architecture, complete with wrap-around porches offering sweeping views.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Sites as "The Murphy Home," the museum preserves the legacy of its early settlers and showcases the rich history of the Crystal Falls area.

"The Harbours were the first family that lived in the house and one of the daughters married into the Murphy family," Society Board Treasurer Michelle Smokevitch said.

She said they recently learned that Mr. Harbour worked for the railroad and was "well-off."

"We were always told it was Mrs. Harbour that had the money," she added. "So that was interesting."

After the house went back to the bank in the early 1970s, it had been occupied by several families before local philanthropist Howard Koob purchased it in 1982.

"He acquired it for the use as a museum and renovated it for that purpose over the next several years," Smokevitch said. "He later signed it over to the society."

The first floor, that includes foyer, parlor, dining room and kitchen, replicates a way of life during the early 1900s.

"We have been busy making changes -- to expand our merchandise we have converted the music parlor into the gift shop area," Smokevitch said. "Many of those pieces are now on display into the grand foyer, library and dining room."

In the second level of the building, six exhibit rooms tell the story of Crystal Falls' growth -- from the logging and mining industries that built the town to the contributions of women, local schools, small businesses, outdoor, medical and veterans who served the nation.

Children can explore hands-on exhibits, while history enthusiasts can dive into archives and research materials detailing families, cemeteries, mines, and railroads.

They will also change up artifacts and displays that haven't been seen by the public in several years.

"We want visitors to feel connected to the people who lived here before us," Smokevitch said. "Every room tells a story, and every artifact has a history."

The board has been focusing on several special displays for this year -- one of the first projects will be the original Iron County Santa.

Beyond exhibits, the museum also serves as a research hub. Volunteers assist with local family and community history projects, providing access to birth, marriage, and death records, Evergreen Memorial Cemetery burial listings, and historical mine and railroad maps.

The board is currently doing research on all families that resided in the historic home over the years. "I would like to create an information wall exhibit that highlights a description of what or who was in each room over the years," Smokevitch said. "We know at some time it was made into a duplex -- two of the Harbour sisters lived upstairs and a family on the first floor."

She noted they were told many stories about the sisters, who were said to be "very eccentric" and had the "most exquisite jewelry."

The next owners converted it back to a single-family residence and also restored the banisters and the pocket doors that were all stored in the attic.

"It’s amazing the amount of history we have collected," Smokevitch said.

Residents can read the museum's "Out of the Past" articles on the museum's website at www.crystalfallsmuseum-harbourhouse.org.

The board has several special events scheduled for the year. Rhubarb Fest returns June 20, featuring food, vendors and crafts.

"I'm planning to make my homemade rhubarb ketchup -- it’s kind of like a barbecue sauce -- to sell as a fundraiser," she said.

On the Fourth of July, the museum will have a vendor booth set up at the Alpha Circle.

They will bring back the Mushroom Cook Off and mushroom-themed food items and vendors during Fungus Fest on July 31-Aug. 1.

The board plans to take part in seasonal celebrations that include Fall Fest, Buck Fest and Crystal Christmas, which combines vendors and soup-to-go.

In addition, they will host special programs, such as Dr. Addison and family and Titanic ties to the Crystal Falls area.

"We’re trying to do more public engagement events," Smokevitch said. "These are very fascinating stories."

Dates and times of the events will be posted on the Facebook page.

They might try to start old board game nights or bring back cemetery tours.

Smokevitch is currently in the process of publishing a children's book based on their museum's mascot cat, "Minnie," as a fundraiser.

"Minnie came to our museum about three years ago after she had wandered off from her home. After several attempts of returning her to her owners, Minnie always came back," she said. "We feel possibly she has some kind of tie to the museum."

The museum will offer new fundraising services in June. They will convert VHS home-recorded movies to DVD -- though nothing that has a copyright or illicit images -- as well as slides and negatives to disk or flash drive.

"We will also be able to do a slide show for special events like graduations, weddings, birthdays or funerals," she added.

Other ongoing fundraisers are the grave stone cleaning, online gift shop and Rada Knives sales.

Quotes for grave stone cleanings depend on the size and location. "These stones look immaculate that we have done -- it's the same monument cleaner they use at Arlington (National Cemetery)," Smokevitch said.

Those interested in the service can call 906-284-3405.

She and other board members will be taking part in area craft shows as well to raise funds and promote the Harbour House Museum.

Smokevitch noted they are always open to suggestions and in need of volunteers.

"We are currently in the process of entering all the old handwritten archives into an Excel document -- this takes time and help," she said. "The roof work is now complete and our next goal is to update the porch and tackle flower beds in the yard."

Crystal Falls Museum Society is an all-volunteer, donation-funded, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserve the history, traditions and heritage of Crystal Falls and surrounding areas through educational, entertaining and interactive displays as well as facilitating research opportunities for those seeking information from the archives at the Harbour House Museum.

In addition to Smokevitch, other society board members are President Christine Johnson, Secretary Janet Schultz and board members Macy Johnson and Donna Nelson.

The Harbour House Museum at 17 N. Fourth St. is open from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays, with Sunday hours added Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

Special early openings for community events are announced on the Facebook page "Crystal Falls Society-Harbour House."

Volunteers and donations are always appreciated. Monetary donations can be made on the museum's website at crystalfallsmuseum-harbourhouse.org or mailed to Crystal Falls Museum Society, 17 N. Fourth St., P.O. Box 65, Crystal Falls, MI 49920.

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Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.

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