Shay Days celebrates Harbor Springs history, local inventor

HARBOR SPRINGS — The Harbor Springs Area Historical Society's longest-running event is back for its 26th year with the return of Shay Days July 12-13.

Each year, the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society dedicates two days worth of events to education about Ephraim Shay, a famed inventor who retired in Harbor Springs.

The event, designed for families but featuring activities catered towards adults as well, will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. July 12-13 at Shay Park and the Harbor Springs History Museum.

"There's something for everyone," said programs coordinator Beth Wemigwase.

During Shay Days, people will be able to see model steam trains set up in Shay Park, hosted by the Michigan Small Scale Live Steamers. The model train experts will be running their trains with real steam boilers.

There will also be a STEAM Innovations craft area set up at Shay Park, along with "Play like Shay" games and activities set up by Hartwick Pines State Park. A "Shay Shot" slingshot will also be available for people to try Wemigwase said, but children can only try it after sharing a piece of Shay-themed history they learned during the event.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 12-13, there will be log hewing demonstrations at Shay Park. Interpreter and historian Kyle Bagnall from the Mackinac State Historic Parks will be leading the demonstration, which will show how trees were felled, cut and turned into boards by hand.

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During both days, the Northern Michigan Railroad Club will have electric train layouts set up at the history museum, teaching children how they can get involved in the model railroading hobby.

At 10:30 a.m. on both days, the "In Shay's Day" walking tour will start at the history museum and head toward Ottawa Stadium before returning along Bay Street. Wemigwase said the walking tour is geared towards an adult audience and registration is required.

Wemigwase told the News-Review the tour follows the Hemlock Central, Shay's railroad, and features information about Shay's life and the logging industry.

"(Shay Days) stands at the heart of our mission to bring history to life in Harbor Springs and to share that history with our community," said Wemigwase. "Ephraim Shay was such a critical figure in our local history, and we can tie him to the early development of the Harbor Springs waterfront, to the logging industry, to the tourism industry. He was a Civil War veteran, he was heavily involved in mechanics and engineering and that STEM education component, so really, he's just the perfect fulcrum for this type of community heritage festival."

For more information on Shay Days, visit harborspringshistory.org.

— Contact reporter Karly Graham at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN. 

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Shay Days returns to Harbor Springs for weekend of education, fun