Mormon Print Shop facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mormon Print Shop
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main and Forest Sts., St. James, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1850 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000386 |
| Added to NRHP | January 25, 1971 |
The Mormon Print Shop is a historic building in St. James, Michigan. It is located on Beaver Island. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Today, the building is a museum. It is called the Old Mormon Print Shop Museum. The Beaver Island Historical Society uses it to teach people about the island's past.
Contents
History of the Print Shop
Early Settlers on Beaver Island
After the death of Joseph Smith in 1844, a man named James Strang became a leader. He started a group called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite). This group was part of the larger Latter Day Saint movement.
In 1847, Strang and his followers moved. They settled on Beaver Island, which was mostly empty then. Their community, St. James, grew quickly. By 1850, thousands of people lived on the Beaver Islands. Most of them were part of Strang's church.
Building the Print Shop
In 1850, James Strang and his followers built this print shop. It was a very important place for their community. On December 12, 1850, they printed the first newspaper here. It was called the Northern Islander.
The Northern Islander was one of the first newspapers in northern Michigan. It started as a weekly paper. Later, it was printed every day. The paper shared general news. It also included articles about Strang's religious ideas. The print shop was also used to print books.
Changes and Challenges
James Strang had many disagreements with other people. In June 1856, he was attacked. He passed away a few weeks later. Soon after, many non-Mormon people came to Beaver Island.
These newcomers took control of the print shop. They even printed their own version of the Northern Islander. In this paper, they listed their complaints. After this, many Mormon settlers left the island.
The Print Shop Today
Over the years, the print shop changed hands. It became a boarding house for a time. A Mrs. Gibson owned it then. Later, the Beaver Island Historical Society bought the building.
The society turned it into a historical museum. It is now known as the Old Mormon Print Shop Museum. There are plans to make the building even bigger in the future.
What the Print Shop Looks Like
The Mormon Print Shop is a two-story building. It has a pointed roof, called a gable roof. The building is about 30 feet wide and 20 feet deep.
There is also a smaller part added to the back. This part is one story tall and 19 feet wide. The building is made from squared logs. These logs are covered with vertical boards and strips of wood. This style is called board and batten.
The original foundation was made of cedar posts. These posts were put into the ground. Over time, they wore out. They were replaced with strong cement blocks.
