Knapp’s
The Historical Society of Greater Lansing presents its 4th annual fundraising auction featuring everything from 99 bottles of beer on the wall to a luxury weekend getaway on Mackinac Island Saturday, November 15 from 4-7 p.m. at the newly renovated Knapp’s Centre in downtown Lansing. The event is sponsored by Physicians Health Plan of Lansing (PHP). Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door or online at www.lansinghistory.org . Tickets include hors d’oeuvres, classic Christmas music, a guided tour of the Knapp’s Centre and an opportunity for the ultimate Christmas selfie: a picture with the Jolly Old Elf.
“Physicians Health Plan is proud to sponsor the Historical Society of Greater Lansing’s Silent Auction Museum Fundraiser. PHP, as a Lansing area employer for more than 35 years, recognizes the need to revive and revitalize historical buildings in Lansing for adaptive use. Historic building preservation tells the story of a city, and Lansing’s story will continue to be conveyed in the years to come through the newly renovated Knapp’s Building,” said acting President/CEO, Dennis Reese.
Valerie Marvin, president of the Society, said each year the group seeks out an important historical venue to host its auction and this year the former department store was selected as the location.
In addition to the auction, the evening includes guided tours of the Knapp’s Centre including a look at apartment and office space led by Bruce Kopytek of www.departmentstoremuseum.com and President Valerie Marvin while former State Representative Clark Harder will spin traditional Christmas classics as guest DJ. Harder also runs an online tribute site http://musicboxhs.wordpress.com/blog/ to the legendary 1960s Music Box in Houghton Lake.
Marvin said the tour will focus on what Knapp’s meant to shoppers, employees and its modern development.
“The Knapp’s building evoked the importance of modernity and forward movement during the Great Depression and its bright, colorful curved bow pushes forward with the force of an ocean liner,” Marvin said.
“We are honored that the Eyde Co. is allowing us to use this incredible icon for our auction and public tour,” she said.
Marvin said the five-story J.W. Knapp building, built in 1937, is a remarkable example of streamline-moderne which bridged art deco and modernism. Knapp’s which can trace its history back to 1896 occupied the nearly one square block bordered by Washington Ave, Capitol Ave and Washtenaw St. from 1937-1980. From 1930 to 1970 Knapp’s was owned by C.S. Mott Foundation of Flint. Following a 1980 bankruptcy, the Knapp’s building was purchased by the Eyde Company and used mostly as State of Michigan offices.
Previous locations of the Historical Society Auction were the former Bank of Lansing, the Strand Theatre and the Board of Water and Light John Dye Water Conditioning Plant.
Marvin said “Attendees will be amazed at the transformation of the Knapp’s building which now includes office, retail and elegant downtown living spaces.”
“In the past generations of Lansing residents prepared for their most important moments of life there; the first day of school, graduation, a wedding, a new baby or a special Christmas,” Marvin said.
The President said each year Historical Society members cull their personal collections and comb the area for unique items and this year there are more than 130 carefully-curated packages featured in the silent auction and 12 spectacular items in the live auction which will be conducted by Bill Triola of Triola Estate Sales in East Lansing.
Bidders will be able to vie on everything from a rare 1966 MSU-Notre Dame football program signed by MSU quarterback Jimmy Raye to a one-of-kind customized glamorous 1920s flapper girl doll by American Girl Doll.
There are also numerous “experiential” offerings including Christmas Cookie Decorating with a Le Cordon Bleau trained pastry chef to drawing lessons from award-winning wildlife and children’s book illustrator Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen. A full listing of all auction items is available at www.lansinghistory.org.
Marvin said that in addition to unique items for pampering and wonderful experiences there are a number of packages and items for the home including a fully restored 1911 seven feet Ithaca Grandfather Clock, a handmade batik quilt and a 1910 crystal table lamp restored by Bohnet Electric .
And for those who don’t like craft beer there is wine, jams, a pie baking package, a scrumptious coconut cake, a special offering of The Twelve wines of Christmas and wine tasting at Burgdorf Winery.
She said if you are looking for a singular experience bid for a golf-cart tour of Lansing Community College campus by President Brent Knight, or a tour of Beaumont Tower and a chance to strike the carillion.
Olds Tower
The auction also features some unique art items including a poster signed by Detroit boxer Tommy Hearns, a Degrazia American Indian print, a limited edition-hand printed engraving of the Olds Tower circa 1935, a 1980s Soviet-era Lithuanian batik of a church, a watercolor by Howell native Carol Porter, a framed photographic print of the State Capitol and a rare set of State of Michigan coat of arms buttons which were rescued from a State Police great coat.
Also being auctioned off are weekend and overnight stays at the Island House Hotel on Mackinac Island, Glen Arbor, Lansing’s Cozy Koi Bed and Breakfast, a deluxe overnight at the English Inn and a relaxing day and cookout at the beach in South Haven including a sail for two on the wooden schooner Friends Good Will. And once again by popular demand there will be offered a dinner for eight at Lansing’s Historic Harper House. There are also numerous tickets for two to Michigan historical attractions and festivals. And for those who need to make space at home the moving service of Two Men and a Truck are being offered.
Up for auction also are competing MSU and UM packages including framed photos of a campus building, a $100 gift card to the MSU athletic office and a collection of MSU vintage yearbooks.
Once again there will be more than 10 book packages including mysteries, poetry , books by Jim Harrison, Elmore Leonard, Robert Traver, Michigan history books, contemporary novels, historical fiction and signed books by MSU coach Duffy Daugherty, Traver and President Jimmy Carter.
All attendees will receive a limited edition postcard-sized print of the Knapp’s building recreated from a 1940s printing block by Arie Koelewyn of Paper Airplane Press. The event also will replicate the chicken, beef, turkey and cream cheese olive walnut sandwiches and hot fudge sundaes that were served in the basement luncheonette at Knapp’s, a popular luncheon location for downtown workers, Marvin said.
The Historical Society is also mounting a small exhibit which includes select items purchased from Knapp’s such as a wedding dress and doll house; and decorative props like a wooden sled once displayed in the front window, a 1940s Santa Claus; and various personal memorabilia from shoppers and employees. Funds raised from the auction are dedicated to the establishment of a Lansing Historical Museum.
