Stuart House Holds Silent Auction
By Eric Fish

The Stuart House will host a fundraiser from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 31 to help with upkeep of the facility. Festivities will include a silent auction featuring donated paintings from local Mackinac Island artists Nicki Griffith, Kitty Hannabass, Pam Finkel, and Pat Pulte.

The silent auction will begin at 6 p.m. and final bids will be accepted at 8 p.m. In addition, a donation box will also be available to any who wish to contribute.

The Stuart House is the city's only museum and tells the story of the Island's role in fur trading.

It is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It has been operated for the past three years under a management agreement with Mackinac Island Carriage Tours, but is now being managed by the city.

The Stuart House, built in 1817, and is now in need of routine upkeep and new paint, which is the reason for the July 31 fundraiser.

"The funds are not there," Stuart House volunteer Candi Smith said. "We need more funds to help support it."

An admission fee of $1 for adults and 50¢ for children is charged for entry to the museum, but it hasn't been enough to generate sufficient funds for repair.

"We're trying to get people to help support it and keep it going and keep it in the city's hands," Mrs. Smith said. "We need local support."

Sylvia Perault is paid to manage the museum 40 hours a week and is supported by volunteers.

The museum can have as many as 200 visitors on a busy day.