In January 1895, the new steamer SS Chicora of St. Joseph had already tied up for the winter. Then the Big Four Railroad called—would her owners send the Chicora to Milwaukee on a final voyage?

Hear how a fateful decision doomed a ship and its crew when Bob Myers speaks at 7 p.m. Thurs., June 18, at the Edwardsburg Branch of the Cass District Library.

There is no admission charge.

This is the first of four presentations this season in Edwardsburg by Myers, who is the senior advisor for historical programming at the Historical Society of Michigan. The Edwardsburg Area Historical Museum and the Uptown Improvement Association are co-sponsoring his presentations in a partnership with the library. The lectures are being held as part of the nation’s 250^th anniversary celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Myers is semi-retired from the HSM, which he joined in 2017. Previously, he was the longtime curator for the Berrien County Historical Association in Berrien Springs. The author of numerous articles and books, Myers holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Alma College and Western Michigan University, respectively.