WHITEHALL — The White Lake Community Library has had a story trail for years, but Wednesday marked a special occasion, as the library dedicated a permanent, paved trail in memory of Marie Herbert, a former White Lake Assisted Living resident who passed away in December 2022 at age 91.
The trail was made possible, in part, by funds donated by Herbert’s two daughters, Kathi and Frances. Herbert, a teacher for 30 years in her younger days, was an avid reader; Frances said when she moved to Whitehall from her previous facility in Spring Lake, she made sure she got a library card before the move was even completed and became a regular patron of the library.
“When we found this, we discovered the wonderful walking path,” Frances said of the previous story trail. “As a second-grade schoolteacher, she loved the story trail.”
The dedication was special to the Herbert daughters, and especially poignant because they did not have a memorial service or any kind of grave marker for their mother, who willed her body to Michigan State University for scientific research.
“It’s wonderful,” Frances said. “It helps with a little bit of closure. We had no idea they’d put up a special plaque. (Library director) Virginia (DeMumbrum)’s been really wonderful. She sent a couple designs.”
The trail has actually been available for a couple of months, but because Frances is from Vermont - Kathi lives near the area - the library arranged a formal dedication for when she could be part of it.
In addition to the trail’s now being paved, the new story trail is easier to use because the display cases for the books are angled up to make them easier to read.
“It’s much less labor-intensive,” DeMumbrum said. “We put the sign out and we don’t have to tear apart two storybooks, paste them on, laminate them, try to make them weatherproof. This is much more weatherproof, much more durable.”
Library youth services coordinator Beth Hall added that the stories will be changed quarterly. (White Lake is partnering with the Hackley and Muskegon district libraries, which also have story trails, and will likely share titles; Hall shared the next title will be Burger Boy.)
“Families love the story trail,” Hall said. “They are always wondering when the new story is coming out. They get excited to come out and read it. It helps the parents because we have questions on each page along the way, so it helps with engagement. It helps with early literacy skills. It’s more than just reading the story and telling the story. It’s interacting with it as well.”
DeMumbrum added that the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District helped with funds for the trail as well and the Whitehall Department of Public Works helped put it together. Whitehall Products also donated a plaque in Herbert’s memory that is at the head of the trail.
“She was a very creative person, and eccentric, and fun,” Frances said with a smile. “She never really retired. She just had a big heart for kids.”
