It all started here...

Here's the Grand Haven Tribune's recap of McCay's marker unveiling. Great article by Marie Havenga and wonderful photos by Abbey Moore. You can read the full article here: Winsor McCay historical marker dedicated
Here are a few excerpts:

"This is something to be very proud of, "said Mark Miller, chairman of the Spring Lake Historic Conservation Commission and the Winsor McCay Committee. "It all started here. This area influenced his beginnings and that's something to be very proud of."

About 50 people attended the dedication of a state historical marker at that site on Tuesday. It included speeches by historians and local and state officials, followed by a 90-minute presentation of McCay's life history and animation projects.

Michigan Historical Commission member Tom Trescott said Tuesday's historical marker dedication is the first of a planned West Michigan Pike tourist initiative, designed to promote West Michigan beach towns as far north as Ludington and perhaps Mackinac Island.

The cartoonist's great-grandson sent a letter to the local historical committee to express his gratitude for the honorary plaque and the work that brought it into being.

"We look forward to visiting Spring Lake in the near future," wrote Winsor Robert McCay in a letter read by Grand Haven Tribune cartoonist Kevin Collier.

Historic

A nice article about the upcoming Winsor McCay historical marker dedication appeared in the Grand Haven Tribune. Here are some excerpts:

"Winsor McCay is one of the many little-known Michiganians who have had a lasting impact on our state and our nation," said Michigan Historical Center Director Sandra Clark. "His pioneering work in animation is part of our state's historic and modern leadership in the field of design."

Mark Miller, chairman of the Spring Lake Heritage Festival and a local Winsor McCay committee, said he's been waiting for this day.

"Every community looks for that certain thing that really helps it stand out," Miller said. "Winsor McCay is just that. He grew up here. He's famous to this day. When he drew the SS Alpena sinking on the Union School chalkboard, that really kicked off his career. That ship sank in Lake Michigan in 1880."

Miller said the Michigan Historical Center found the McCay connection so fascinating that they sped up the historical marker dedication.

"They bumped it up so we could have it here for Winsor McCay Day," he said.

You can read the full article here: Winsor McCay Day celebrated Tuesday in Spring Lake

Celebrity Pop Star

The Grand Haven Tribune had a nice article about McCay Day. Below are some excerpts I found very cool -- apparently our efforts to get McCay recognized in Spring Lake are working! Had no idea a second grade teacher was onboard and introducing kids to McCay! Read on:

More than 50 youngsters gathered Tuesday morning at Spring Lake District Library for the cartooning workshop, which featured McCay history and art lessons by longtime McCay fan and Tribune graphic artist Kevin Collier.

Children who were not involved in the standing-room-only event stumbled upon the library's McCay display and books as if he was a celebrity pop star.

"Winsor McCay is awesome," said Gray, 8, who will be a third-grader next year. "Our teacher taught us about him. I know all about "Gertie." I like how he makes his pictures pop out. He's a really great artist."

Rachel said she couldn't wait until the McCay books are off the library's display and available for checking out. "I looked at the author (on display) and said, 'Oh, my gosh, this is Winsor McCay stuff,'" she said. "We learned about him in school."

"I've waited 18 years for this," said Collier, who joined a local Winsor McCay recognition committee about a year ago and has been teaching cartooning in schools for almost three decades. "It's nice to see the recognition for Winsor McCay. I've been telling the story over and over again. He was raised right here."

You can read the whole article here: SL Heritage Festival kicks off by honoring animation pioneer

McCay Day

An article appeared in the Muskegon Chronicle about Spring Lake District Library's upcoming "McCay Day." Here are some excerpts:

Famed animator and illustrator Winsor McCay will finally get his very own day in his hometown of Spring Lake Village.

As part of next month's Spring Lake Heritage Festival, The Spring Lake District Library will host the first Winsor McCay Day July 17 at the library, a day that will include events for all age groups. [Correction! The article has it wrong... the Festival is in June, McCay Day is June 17]

McCay Day events kick off at 10:30 a.m. with a special pre-school story time. Pre-school age children will be able to make a brontosaurus-shaped stuffed reading buddy based on images of Gertie the Dinosaur, one of McCay's most famous cartoons, then bring it to the story time.

At 2 p.m. local artist and illustrator Kevin Collier will host "I'm OK with McCay," which will include an introduction to McCay and his work, as well a a cartooning and comics class. The program is designed for adults and children starting in third grade.

The day also will include a Winsor McCay Film Festival starting at 7 p.m. McCay's animated films, "How a Mosquito Operates" and "The Sinking of the Lusitania" will be shown along with the documentary, "Remembering Winsor McCay" by film historian John Canemaker.

You can read the whole article here: Spring Lake Heritage Festival to honor animation pioneer Winsor McCay

NOW article

The North Ottawa Weekly had a nice article on McCay tribute efforts in Spring Lake. Here are some excerpts... I'll see if I can find a link to the full article...

A Noted Spring Lake Cartoonist is Drawing More Local Interest

[The committee] is focused on establishing a memorial to the storied artist [Winsor McCay]. The first step is to make McCay a part of this year's Spring Lake Heritage Festival.

Efforts to recognize McCay's hometown began nearly 20 years ago when [local illustrator Kevin] Collier first realized McCay was actually from Spring Lake, but nobody knew it.

"I became aware that nobody in the town knew about him. This obscure piece of history had been buried for years," he said. "Not even a plaque, not even a park bench had his name on it. I was surprised to find that."

Collier says the committee wants to make sure McCay is strongly and authentically recognized by the residents of the village in ways that last for years and years. The committee is excited about having McCay as part of the Heritage Festival, but it has a vision to establish a memorial park as well.

[Aaron] Zenz has sketched a vision of what the park could look like, and the centerpiece is a bronze statue of Gertie the dinosaur, one of McCay's most popular characters.

"We would like to have a piece of land that is a park and a statue of Gertie for kids to climb on," said Collier. "It really needs to be a place for kids to play."

"I think it's something that Spring Lake can identify with," said [committee chair Mark] Miller. "Every community has something they are especially proud of, and [McCay is someone] known around the world."

Meeting and Reports

Two articles reporting on our last Winsor McCay meeting:

The Hollannd Sentinel: Spring Lake begins planning to honor pioneering animator
Some article highlights:

Although there was no formal vote, Winsor McCay committee members meeting at the Spring Lake District Library on Friday agreed to a first-step sequence of honoring the legendary cartoonist perhaps during a film festival and display case during Heritage Festival.

"I'm only speaking for myself but I think our Heritage Festival Committee would have no problem with this," [Heritage Festival President Dave] Hamather said. "We would welcome this. We take pride in honoring this community and its residents."

And The Muskegon Chronicle: Animation pioneer coming to local screens
Article highlight:

Members of a committee considering ways to honor McCay and his work are trying to tie the animator in with Spring Lake Village's Heritage Festival and possibly the Muskegon Film Festival. If the group is successful, both events could show some of McCay's most famous animated films.

Mat Moore, president of the Muskegon Film Festival, which runs this year from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, told the committee Friday his organization would be willing to include McCay's works at future festivals.

The next Winsor McCay Honor Planning Commitee meeting (boy - we need to get some sort of name!) is scheduled for March 14 at 4:00 at the Spring Lake District Library. All are welcome to attend!

Second Chronicle article

A second article by Terry Judd ran in the Muskegon Chronicle immediately following our meeting last week. I'm so thankful people recognize this is newsworthy! A few highlights from the article:

On Friday, a committee organized through the library considered several ways to honor McCay, including:

• Approaching the state about a possible historic marker for McCay in the village.

• Using a small park to the west of the library that was the site of McCay's Union School for a McCay tribute -- possibly a statue of Gertie the Dinosaur that could be used as a playground structure.

• Establishing a scholarship in McCay's name that could be administered through a local foundation.

• Gathering historical McCay documents for a permanent collection at the Spring Lake District Library.

Read the whole article here: Group considers ways to honor famous artist

Muskegon Chronicle article

The Muskegon Chronicle picked up on the news about the attempt to honor McCay here in Spring Lake. They even tapped McCay biographer John Canemaker. Here are some excerpts from a nice long article:

"This is not like having some aviator from Spring Lake. This is like having someone who invented manned flight," [Aaron] Zenz said. "Winsor McCay isn't just some animator. He's the guy who invented animation as we know it."

"What struck me is there was nothing in this town to commemorate him," [Kevin] Collier recalled. "It was pretty clear to me there was nothing. The district library had one book on him. For the most part, Spring Lake had no idea the guy existed."

"One of the things that really surprised us about him is he is so preeminent in his field that you can go to practically any illustrator any place in the world, and ask 'Who is Winsor McCay?' and he will be able to tell you," [Chris Davis] said. "But you walk down the street in Spring Lake and nobody will be able to tell you."

"We can truly say he was the first artist who started a type of animation that Disney would do later -- personality animation where they want you to believe the characters they have created are real. Disney did not try that until 20 years after Winsor McCay." [John] Canemaker said

"I'm glad people are trying to push this forward [a Spring Lake tribute to McCay]," said Canemaker.

Read the whole article here: Spring Lake man influenced Disney, Walter Lantz

Grand Haven Tribune Article

Wow! Things are moving fast! The Tribune ran an article today about the discussion that has started about publicly recognizing McCay here in the community.

Here are some excerpts:

"Village Council is preparing to give the artist his due by considering an historic monument between Spring Lake Township Hall and the Spring Lake District Library to honor Winsor McCay, who attended Union School, the first "graded" school that stood on that site in the 1800s.

Councilwoman Linda Albonico suggested the village consider an annual animation film festival to draw tourists and honor McCay. Councilman Mark Miller said McCay's legacy is a source of pride for Spring Lake. 'I think this (monument) is an incredible thing to pursue for the village,' Miller said."

I'd point out that technically McCay birthed "Character Animation." But the prospects are still exciting! Read the whole article here: Monument would illustrate village as 'birthplace of animation'