A small piece of Omena history returned to Leelanau last week and will be on display for the public to view at the Omena Historical Society (OHS).
A watercolor painting by the late Emily Nash Smith, one of many created by the Omenabased self-taught artist, was donated to the museum by Janice Jones Schoulz on April 17. Community members, including Smiths’ descendants Tom Van Pelt, his wife, Deb, and daughter, Rebecca Carlson, gathered at the Putnam-Cloud Tower House for coffee hour last Thursday to talk about the piece and its long journey back home to Leelanau.
“I’m just delighted that it’s been brought back to the community to be shared with the people that live in Omena and visit Omena,” Van Pelt said. “I think it’s a great addition to the museum here…. It was very pleasant and very unexpected, but I think it’s great for everyone here.”
