Check It Out! Historical Society Presents 'Early Ferndale' at the Library, Plus Arts Talk and More

We're hosting three exciting and insightful presentations in our community room at the Ferndale Public Library over the next two weeks - from rollickin' rock and boogieable blues to a joke-dotted yet thought-provoking discussion on patternism in abstract art (augmented by a light show!).

We'll also look a hundred years (or more) back to earlier days in Ferndale with this presentation from Garry Andrews-Taylor, president of the Ferndale Historical Society:

Ferndale Before 1927

President Andrews' attendance-to and upkeep-of the Ferndale Museum has certainly ameliorated its standing as of late to a modest but vital institution of preservation. His presentation gives library patrons a peak inside at some artifacts encompassing the one-time lay of the land and the sequence of peoples and events that eventually led to the Ferndale-that-we-know today. 

"Interestingly, still," Andrews said, "with some of its geographical issues we're dealing with these days." 

Andrews said his goal has always been to "put the Historical Society and its museum back on the map. We are truly the only repository for ALL things historical pertaining to Ferndale. We have one of a kind information that no longer can be found anywhere else. To teach people that may not know the stock of which built this city; but to ensure they understand that they themselves are part of that stock. Ferndale has a great and colorful history. I would like to teach that history."

Andrews said that his experience working in the museum (starting out as a volunteer) has shown him that he and partner Jeff Taylor "picked the right city" when they chose to move here about eight years ago.

"Ferndale has maintained its small town feel as it grows as a city," Andrews said. "The people that move here are diverse and accepting and protective of those ideals. Ferndalians look out for each other and as the years go by they themselves become part of the very history that makes Ferndale what it will always be."

The Talk (February 12, in the Library Community Meeting Room) will look into the early days of Ferndale down through the ages, from glaciers that carved out the land leaving large challenges for the nomadic peoples and eventually the white man (pioneers and prospectors) who sought their fortunes by settling here, taking the land to make their place in history. 

We'll go 26,000 years into Ferndale's past with FHS President Garry Andrews at 7 p.m. on February 12th. All are welcome. 

Who Are We To Argue With Chance - Artist Talk (Mike Ross)

Ferndale Arts & Exhibitions Committee  

Details are sketchy on the artist's actual talk, but questions will be received at the presentation of said-sketchy talk will be illuminated by a light show and ambiently-sweetened by live music (performed by the artist, Mike Ross). Ross is our first local artist to be featured as a solo exhibitionist, by means of our Arts & Exhibitions Committee's curation.

His work / overall show -Who Are We To Argue With Chance? is a mesmeric exploration of the lulling / enlightening effects of patternism through abstract art. The pieces are for sale (through the artist) and continue to hang in the Library's vestibule and Community Meeting Room through mid-February.  

The Talk will commence on February 7th at 7 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room. 

Blues Fest at the Library with The Walking Beat and Danny Kroha

Danny Kroha joins The Walking Beat bring their respective rock-styles by way of a gritty, rollickin blues-reverent swagger and pop-minded rhythm. The Ferndale Library is an adhoc venue joining the long list of performance-spaces featured for the city-wide Blues Festival, raising money for charity.

Friday Feb 1st would normally have been the rotation of our local music showcase -First Stop Friday- but we'll be joining the Blues Fest cause and offering a pair of bands that will nicely compliment the aesthetic.

The Walking Beat is a Detroit-based quartet inspired by early R&B-infused rock rumblers like Chuck Berry, Big Joe Turner up through folk-ier tinged early psychedelic hard-rock flavors like the Kinks or the Byrds. 

Kroha, meanwhile, (who currently fronts a garage-blues revivalist trio called The Darleans), brings up an even rawer brand of stripped-down toe-tapping strummmers, blending pre-war blues like Skip James to a earlier 70's glam-styled Lou Reed flavor. 

Music starts a little after 7 p.m. 

Ferndale Blues & Music Festival schedule.

Settle Your Accounts, Please

Librarians have a bad reputation for being just a bit less ardent than actual bounty hunters when it comes to tracking down overdue books. But remember, at the end of the day, the Community has a tax-investment in our materials, so we take stewardship of said books/movies/CDs/etc quite seriously. 

In fact, starting January 28th, any patron who has owed the library $20.00 or more for more than 60 days will be referred to a collection agency (Unique Management Services), as a way to encourage swift return of seriously overdue materials. 

Patrons who have been referred to the collection agency will be assessed a $10.00 referral fee. If you have any questions or concerns, please visit our Circulation Desk. 

Jeff Milo is a circulation specialist at the Ferndale Public Library and frequent contributor to Ferndale Patch.