Mills Community House Association
231.882.0591
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Community Events

Book your next event at the Mills, click here for rental information>
List below only shows events open to the public. ​Private events are not listed.

Plant Diagnostic Clinic
11 am-2 pm, 2nd Tuesday of the month

April-September 2023
April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, August 8, and September 12

​Benzonia Public Library Porch
891 Michigan Ave.
Michigan Ave., Benzonia
Link to Google map >
Picture
Bring us your bugs, weeds, and plant diseases, for identification and recommendations!

Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) will once again host a Plant Diagnostics Clinic at the Benzonia Public Library.   Staffed by MSU-E employees and Extension Master Gardeners, the diagnostics clinic will assist residents with plant pests and diseases, lawns, bug or weed identification and recommendations.  For questions about the MSUE diagnostics clinic, call 231-256-9888 or email waltonn2@msu.edu.

Academy Lecture: Hospitals of Benzie County​
Presented By: Jane Purkis 
Thursday, April 13 at 4:00 pm
​Mills community House-Upper Level
891 Michigan Ave.
Michigan Ave., Benzonia
Link to Google map >

Click Here to Pre-register>
Our area has been home to several hospitals over the years, including doctor’s residencies, until the building of Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital in 1951.  This talk will focus on early hospital care and those individuals involved.
​
Jane Purkis (BA Albion College, MA University of Michigan) taught at Crystal Lake Elementary School for 30 years and now spends her time managing the vast collection of artifacts at the Benzie Area Historical and Drake School Museums.
 
 ​Additional information including Zoom links at benziemuseum.org
Anna Markham Hospital
Anna Markham Hospital
Ena Kraft Jackson
Ena Kraft Jackson

100+ Women Who Care
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
​Wednesday, October 4, 2023
5:30 pm (doors open at 5:00 pm)

Mills Community House-Upper Level
​891 Michigan Ave. (US-31), Benzonia MI  
​Link to Google Map>   


ONE HOUR! THREE RANDOM PRESENTIONS AND ONE VOTE!
What local cause will win our members' support?????…
Visitors are welcome to attend, but only members may present or vote.
We put the FUN in Fundraising!

​100+ Women Who Care in Benzie County are starting their 4th year!
They now have 130+ members and have given $132,900 to local charities! WOW!

The women who support this group  are simply amazing!  The Mills truly appreciates the their dedication to helping Benzie County non-profit organizations. 


Visit our 100 + Women Who Care Page for details>
100 Women Who Care logo

​​Titanic Remembered
by Maureen Esther, HistoryTeller
Thursday, April 27, 2023
4:00-5:30 pm

Benzonia Public Library
891 Michigan Ave.
Michigan Ave., Benzonia
Link to Google map >
 
The Titanic would be the epitome of ocean liner luxury – a leviathan and marvel of the modern age. Even though “unsinkable”, by 2:30 a.m. on that fateful morning, she would be on the bottom of the cold Atlantic Ocean. You are invited to board the Titanic in this heartfelt lecture which covers not only the loss of life, but the loss of innocence.
 
Maureen, a HistoryTeller for 30 years, enjoys bringing her love of Art and History  to  the Benzonia Public Library. No charge for event, just come and enjoy.
No charge for the event, just come and enjoy. Info: Benzonia Public Library 231-882-4111.
Titanic poster
Titanic iceberg depiction

DANCE CLASS &
COMMUNITY DANCE 
(Open To The Public)​

Event by Sharron May and Aaron Harris
Saturday, April 29, 2023
Workshop: 1:00-4:00 pm
 (See link below for registration and fees)
Community Dance: 4:00-6:30pm (Suggested donation $10)
Mills Community House-Upper Level
​891 Michigan Ave. (US-31), Benzonia MI  
​Link to Google Map>   


? Info. coming soon

Students are encouraged to put what they've learned into practice at the COMMUNITY DANCE that follows! The doors will be open to dancers of all levels and styles as well as curious onlookers and generous supporters. Suggested donation: $10
HOST: NMi Social Dance Club (NMSDC) 

​​WORKSHOP FEES, REGISTRATION, AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION> 
​Visit Facebook page for payment links
​Paypal, Venmo, CashApp, Google Pay and Cash are all accepted

Academy Lecture: Some of Benzie County's Earliest Settlers​
Presented By: Mary Link, BAHS Genealogist 
Thursday, May 11th at 7:00 pm
​Mills community House-Upper Level
891 Michigan Ave.
Michigan Ave., Benzonia
Link to Google map >

All 14 of Benzie County townships have a rich history illustrating economic, ethnic, religious, gender and racial diversity. Most of the settlers came after the Civil War and were inspired by the Homestead Act of Abraham Lincoln’s administration. Many also came for the lumbering business and once the trees were gone stayed to farm, the climate and soil particularly favorable for fruit orchards. In taking just one pioneer from each township Mary hopes to expand the story and framework of our early history.
 
Mary has been a volunteer archivist for the BAHS since moving here in
2010. She worked in cataloging for several years and then took over the
Genealogy Project.
 
Everywhere Mary has lived (11 states and 5 foreign countries) she got
involved with the local history in some way and so it has been a life-
long avocation. She loves the local lore and personal stories of early
people in any area.
 
She has a BS in history from Michigan State, a Legal Assistant
certificate from Oakland University and has taken graduate courses in
library science and art history.

Mary is a member of Benzie and Grand Traverse Genealogy Societies,
Grand Traverse Historical Society, Leelanau Historical Society and Old
Mission Peninsula Historical Society.
 
​Additional information including Zoom links at benziemuseum.org
Chas Anderson
Chas Anderson
Geo & Hannah Dair
Geo & Hannah Dair
Mary Link, Genealogist, August 2022
Mary Link, Genealogist, August 2022

Mills Community House
Blood Drive

Tuesday, May 16th
​11:00 am-4:00 pm

​Mills Community House-Lower Level
891 Michigan Ave.
Michigan Ave., Benzonia
Link to Google map >

Healthy Donors are Encouraged to Attend.
Appointments Preferred and Walk-Ins Welcome!

To Schedule an Appointment visit LINK COMING SOON,​call 1-866-642-5663, or scan the ​QR code on the flyer.

Helpful tip: Make sure to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating.
​
Thank you for your generous donation!
Donors are at The Heart of Our Community!
EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

April
11 Plant Diagnostic Clinic
​13 Academy Lecture: Hospitals of Benzie County
26 100+ Women Who Care
​27 Titanic Remembered
29 Dance Class 
​29 Community Dance

May
  9 Plant Diagnostic Clinic​
​
11 Academy Lecture: Some of Benzie County's Earliest Settlers
16 Blood Drive
17 Plant It Wild

June
​
 8 Academy Lecture: 
​13 Plant Diagnostic Clinic
21 Plant It Wild​

July
​
11 Plant Diagnostic Clinic
​  3 Academy Lecture:
18 Blood Drive
19 Plant It Wild 
​26 100+ Women Who Care

Visit Events Page for details>
​Private events are not listed.

VIRTUAL TOUR 
provided by Travers City Tourism

Location


RENTALS: At the MILLS
Visit Facility Use Page for details:
Meeting Space - lower level
Mills Hall - upper level
All areas are handicap accessible with an elevator serving all three floors.
The Middle floor is NOT available as it is leased by the Benzonia Public Library.


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Mills Community House Association
PO Box 421, ​891 Michigan Ave.
​Benzonia, MI 49616
millscommhouse@gmail.com
​231-882-0591

Kristin Fleetwood,
​Executive Director
​Spring hours Mondays 10-2
or by appointment.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Donna Brown, Ruth Catton, 
Jimmy McLaren, ​Jane Sullivan,
​Colleen Swartz, and ​Samantha Wolfe.

Link to Google Map>
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Make an online DONATION to the
Mills Community House Association
using PayPal Secure Checkout.

Click on the DONATE button which
takes you to our PayPal site where you have the option of using a credit card OR your PayPal account. 
​
A 501(c) 3 organization
Tax ID (EIN): 75-2977687

ENDOWMENT FUND INFORMATION

Our mission is to provide
stewardship and promotion of the
historic Mills Community House
as a venue for events and services
that enrich lives.

Land Acknowledgement
​Benzie county occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of Anishinabek people. The Mills Community house recognizes the Anishinabek of the Three Fires Confederacy, the Odawa (Ottawa), Ojibwa (Chippewa), and Bode'wadmi (Potawatomi); historic Indigenous communities in Michigan; and those who were forcibly removed from their homelands. Benzie County occupies land ceded in the treaty of 1855. We give thanks to the Anishinabek as the caretakers of the Earth and for their relationship to the land.