Mudges Follies

It may be hard to believe, but this year will mark 30 years of Mudge’s Follies! I can well remember back in 1981 when my dad and I went to the second year’s performance down on the Island. The stage was built to resemble a steamboat, which was christened the “S.S. Neversails”. It is always fun seeing people you know performing on stage.

Mudge’s Follies has its roots back in 1978 when Shirley Bouck organized a vaudeville revue at the Ledges Playhouse for Michigan Week. This was such a hit that another show was put on for Michigan Week 1979.

These successes sparked an idea, so Shirley Bouck, Jerry Thompson and Libby Brandon began thinking how they could expand the concept. They decided Grand Ledge would benefit from a Fourth of July celebration with a musical revue as its centerpiece. Since the First weekend in July is already busy, they pushed the festival back to the last weekend in June.

I believe Libby Brandon came up with the name Mudge’s Follies. It is a cleaver name that plays off the round pagoda that J.S. Mudge built down on the Island in about 1888. The building was called Mudge’s Folly since it never served its original purpose. Of course Follies are musical shows made so famous by the Ziegfeld Follies. The Chamber of Commerce joined the effort to sponsor the newly created Yankee Doodle Days and in 1980 the fun began.

For many years Mudge’s Follies performed on a temporary stage that was built each year down on the Island. In case of really bad weather, the high school served as a backup.

About 10 years ago The Follies could not use the Island while it was under renovation. Since the high school had recently built its new auditorium, they temporarily moved the show there. However they soon found that the auditorium so well equipped, designed for performances, and the audiences enjoyed it so much more, they moved permanently to the building.

Mudge’s Follies has songs, dancing, and comedy performed in 20 or more skits, finally cumulating in a grand patriotic show stopper. After 30 years, this year’s show is sure to be something to see!

Looking for Information

Now for something different. I am looking for information and wonder if any of our readers can give me some answers. I want to know about Jacob Hoerner or Hoerner Chair Company. I think Jacob may have been a brother to Mrs Tillie Hooker of Grand Ledge, but I am not sure. I also would like to know who built the homes on Willard Court off of West Jefferson. They were built in the early 1930s.

If anyone has information for me, I would love to hear it. Please email me at howder@aol.com.