A Century of Community: Celebrating 100 Years of the Benzonia Library & Mills Community House

This June, the Benzonia Public Library and Mills Community House marked an incredible milestone—100 years of serving the community! For a century, these two institutions have been at the heart of Benzonia, Michigan, providing not just books and resources, but a true sense of connection and belonging.

A group of people stand on a porch of a library, smiling at each other, with children in the foreground.

To celebrate, they hosted a charming old-fashioned strawberry social —complete with fresh strawberry shortcake, crafting for families and plenty of stories shared among friends and neighbors. It was the kind of event that made you feel like you’d stepped back in time in the best possible way.

A woman stands holding a can of whipping cream and smiles behind a table.

A woman sits at a table and smiles at another woman sitting across from her with a jar of flowers in the foreground..

I had the pleasure of photographing the celebration and capturing the joy, warmth, and community spirit that filled the day. From kids with sticky fingers to longtime residents reminiscing on a hot summer day on the porch, it was a beautiful reminder of what makes this place so special.

A woman squeezes her eyes shut while holding a paper bowl.

A young boy holds a red piece of paper with strawberries outlined on it.

Hands tie a piece of string with beads on it while it sits on a blue table.

Here’s to another 100 years of community, conversation, and connection at the Benzonia Library and Mills Community House!

A behind the scenes look into a kitchen of women making strawberry short cake.

People are reflected in glass of a library, with shelves of books in the background.

A brick in pavement that reads "for all those who came into our lives right here! marjorie and chris porter".