Celebrate 350 years of Sault Michigan with local authors, books

NEWS RELEASE
BAYLISS PUBLIC LIBRARY
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SAULT STE. MARIE, MICH. - Bayliss Public Library, a Superior District Library, is celebrating the 350th anniversary of Sault Ste. Marie with an open house on Saturday, June 30, starting at 1 p.m.

Four Sault area history books will be unveiled, one of which is the republication of the classic 1955 history of the Sault area, The River of Destiny by Joseph and Estelle Bayliss, with Milo Quaife. It has been long out of print and in great demand. The Chippewa County Historical Society, with the cooperation of Wayne State University Press and the support of the City of Sault Ste. Marie’s Chase S. Osborn Trust and the Friends of Bayliss Public Library, has republished the book with a foreword by local author and historian Bernie Arbic. The book was written by Joseph and Estelle Bayliss, who donated funds for the expansion of the Sault’s Carnegie Library, which later went to building our current library. Their photos and a commemorative plaque are on view at Bayliss Library that was opened to the public in 1975.

Another local author and historian, Phil Bellfy, will have his new reprint of the 1929 classic novel Joe Pete and its never before published sequel Big John by Florence McClinchey that are both set on Sugar Island.

The Friends of Bayliss Library have also supported the republication of the circa 1943 booklet Sault Ste. Marie and Its Names by long-time Carnegie Library director, Alice B. Clapp. The little-known booklet printed by Sault Printing Company is a perfect addition to this commemoration year.

At 1 p.m., there will be brief remarks by the authors and updates on other exciting happenings inside and outside the library. Afterwards, there will be refreshments and the newly published books along with other Sault history books will be available for purchase and signing.

The public is welcome to attend this free open house. For more information on acquiring the above books, please contact [email protected].

Bayliss Public Library is located at 541 Library Dr. in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. For more information, check the website, Facebook, or call us at 906-632-9331.

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