Previous Monthly Presentations
Upcoming Saginaw River Marine Historical Society (SRMHS) Saturday evening presentations are here.
On the evening of Saturday, November 15, 2025, Robert Myers, gave his presentation "Of Icebergs and Inquiries: Michiganders on the Titanic" to the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society (SRMHS) at the SRMHS Museum and Gift Shop (located near the center court fountain) in the Bay City Town Center (formerly known as Bay City Mall). Bay City Town Center.
When the luxury ocean liner RMS Titanic went down in 1912, many Michiganders tragically lost their lives. Within a week, U.S. Senator William Alden Smith of Grand Rapids convened the U.S. inquiry into the disaster. Robert talked about the Michigan survivors and victims, as well as Senator Smith's far-reaching quest for answers.
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Robert (Bob) Myers is the Director of History Programming for the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM) in Lansing, Michigan.
On the evening of Saturday, October 18, 2025, Gordy Garris, gave his presentation "A Look at the Future of the Saginaw River with Images of the Saginaw River and the Great Lakes" to the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bay City, Michigan.
Gordy Garris is from Carrollton (Saginaw, Michigan area) and has been interested in the Saginaw River his entire life. Gordy is associated with the Freedom Boat Club at Wheeler’s Landing Yacht Harbor along the Saginaw River in Bay City and a boat captain for the Soo Locks boat tour.
On Saturday, September 20, 2025, Jeff Letzkus, gave the presentation "Driving on the Great Lakes: Stories of a Local Captain" to the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bay City, Michigan. Jeff talked about some of his experiences as a merchant mariner on the Great Lakes for 28 years, including 12 years as a captain and 6 years on salt water vessels as a pilot. He also answered questions from the audience.
On the evening of Saturday, May 17, 2025, Mike Kelly, gave the presentation "Coreyon Reef: Restoring Fish Habitat in Saginaw Bay" to the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bay City, Michigan. Mike talked about the construction of Coreyon Reef in mid-August 2019, with 22,800 tons of rock put into Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay. A 15-minute film showcasing the Coreyon Reef was shown. Mike also talked about the national and local fishing tournaments held on the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay in recent years. Mike Kelly manages the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network (Saginaw Bay WIN), one of The Conservation Fund’s longest-running watershed restoration and sustainability programs. He also manages the Great Lakes Revolving Loan Fund.
On the evening of Saturday, April 19, 2025, Ric Mixter, gave the presentation "Howling Winds: The Misadventures of Maritime Mascots" to the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society. This event took place at the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society Museum and Store in Bay City Town Center. "Howling Winds" is a presentation by Ric Mixter about the famous dogs that served as mascots on Great Lakes ships. Dogs were a common choice for mascots on Great Lakes ships, and Ric's presentation highlights some of the most famous storms and the dogs that survived them. Ric Mixter is a marine historian, author, videographer, lecturer.
On the evening of Saturday, March 15, 2025, Helen DeFoe, gave the presentation "A Family History of the Defoe Shipbuilding Company" to the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society. This event took place at the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society Museum and Store in Bay City Town Center.
Helen DeFoe is a great-niece of Harry J. Defoe of Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City. She discussed the genealogy of the Defoe family and their shipbuilding business that existed in Bay City from 1905 to 1976. Helen outlined family leaders of the business and some members not in the shipbuilding trade. She also talked about the times she has spent on Defoe Island, located in the Saginaw Bay.
On the evening of Saturday, January 18, 2025, Michelle Judd and Todd Shorkey gave their presentation "History of the Bay City Boat Lines" to the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society. This event took place at Trinity Episcopal Church, 815 N. Grant (corner of Center Ave. and N. Grant St.) in Bay City, Michigan.
Michelle and Todd talked about the history of Bay City Boat Lines. Todd also presented information and photos on the journey of the PRINCESS WENONAH from Bay City to the Jet Express Dock in Port Clinton, Ohio for her 5-year survey and the return trip.
Michelle Judd has been Bay City Boat Lines' Marketing and Reservations Manager for the past 27 years. At the end of the 2024 season, Todd Shorkey retired as a Captain of Bay City Boat Lines' PRINCESS WENONAH.
You will find more FREE video recordings of some of the past Saginaw River Marine Historical Society (SRMHS) monthly presentations on the SRMHS YouTube channel at youtube.com/@srmhs. You can subscribe to the SRMHS YouTube channel to be notified about new presentations and other content.
The Saginaw River Marine Historical Society has seven monthly FREE presentations a year and they start at 6:30 pm on the third Saturday of each month USUALLY at Trinity Episcopal Church, 815 N. Grant St. (and Center Ave.), Bay City, Michigan (unless there is a different location / day / time for a specific presentation). Please use the Fifth Street entrance at the back of the church. A map with the location of the church from Google Maps is here. NOTE: Our regular presentations are open to the public and there is no charge to attend. Customarily, there are no presentations in May, June, July, August, and December.