Frank Boles
On October 8, CMU Professor Emeritus James Gillingham
discussed the history of CMU’s Beaver Island Biological Station. As director of
the station from 1985 until 2009, Professor Gillingham could draw on a wealth
of personal knowledge, as well as the research into the station’s history he
recorded in his publication, The Buck Stopped Here: A History of the Central
Michigan University Biological Station on Beaver Island (2019).
The presentation was not hurt by the fact that Professor
Gillingham is a gifted storyteller. As he opened his presentation, he noted
that no good idea goes without critics, particularly critics in the state
legislature who believe they can see a financial boondoggle (in someone else’s
district) a mile away. In 1959, the Michigan State Board of Education, then
Central’s governing body, authorized construction of the first building on the
island for the station, a spartan 8,100-square-foot cinder-block
structure. Not spartan enough, however,
for the chair of the state legislature’s Senate Finance Committee, who knew
just what those academics in Mt. Pleasant were up to. Senator Elmer R. Porter
thundered, “I don’t care what they call it – it’s just a social affair – 99
percent social. I’m surprised the State Board of Education would approve a
thing like this in times of austerity.”
But the thing was approved despite the senator’s conviction
that Central was building an island retreat for the enjoyment of its staff (we
should be so lucky!). The first building was quickly constructed. And with it,
the history of the station began.
Gillingham’s presentation skillfully weaved through the
physical and academic history of the station, as well as the many people
closely associated with it over the seven decades since its opening. It is a
long and fascinating history full of academic accomplishment, a broad range of
curricular activities, and, with due respect for Senator Elmer’s correct
observation about what would likely happen if you put a hundred college
students together on an island, more than a little fun.
For anyone interested in learning about the broad scope and
many accomplishments of the Biological Station, as well as some of the fun that
took place over the years, Jim’s presentation, like his book on the subject, is
a rich source of information.