Troy

Troy Museum transformed into World War I Russia

By Terry Oparka
C & G Staff Writer

TROY — If you thought you caught a glimpse of men in uniform carrying rifles on the green of the Troy Museum and Historic Village late last week — you did.

Documentary filmmaker and Detroit-area native Pamela Peak was shooting scenes for her World War I documentary, “Voices of a Never Ending Dawn,” at the Troy Museum Oct. 24. The film is scheduled to appear on PBS.

The crew shot footage in the museum’s log cabin and parsonage.

Based on personal diaries, the film tells the story of young Detroit-area World War I soldiers who fought for freedom in northern Russia in 1918. “It is the story about a group of 5,500 young Detroit- and Michigan-area soldiers who were strangely shipped off to northern Russia in 1918 to serve their country when the entire World War was happening in France and Europe. My grandfather, Guy Campus, was one of these Detroit soldiers. … Those that survived decided to call themselves the Polar Bears because only polar bears could survive the 60-degree below zero weather they were forced to fight in.”

Because of the midnight sun, the soldiers never knew if it was night or day, so they just kept fighting, Peak explained. There is a Polar Bear monument at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery in Troy.

Larry Chase of Troy is an executive producer of the film. Chase is funding the film in honor of the Polar Bears, Peak said. Chase is an Army veteran whose brother, Gary Chase, died serving in Vietnam and is buried at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery. Local descendents of the Polar Bears appear in interviews in the film.

“There is a real Troy connection,” said Lorraine Campbell, director of the Troy Museum.

Campbell said that the Oct. 24 film shoot was not the first time a film crew has shoot footage at the museum. A film crew from Detroit Channel 50 filmed footage at the log cabin a few years ago. The Michigan Film Institute plans to film at the museum the day after Thanksgiving this year.

She explained that the museum was closed to school groups on Oct. 24 in preparation for a Halloween event Oct. 25, and the museum will also be closed the day after Thanksgiving, making those days ideal times for filming.

She noted that a member of the museum staff was on hand Oct. 24 to ensure the safe removal of museum artifacts from filming areas and that the city’s risk management staff made sure that insurance issues were taken care of. 

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for filmmakers and a creative way to bring revenue into the city,” she said. The museum typically charges nonprofit groups, which would include lower-budget film production companies, $50 an hour to use the museum facilities.

“Lots of independent filmmakers are doing great documentary work and providing great films. … We’re delighted to be a part of that process,” she said.

Chantal Shaw, 13, of Troy prepared to die on camera while her mother, Linda Lamoureaux, stood by to capture the moment on film. “A soldier holds my hand, and I gradually loosen it,” Shaw said.

Shaw is active with the Ridgedale Players and hopes to be an actress.

Peak hired actor Alex Alexandrou of Saginaw for the shoot. He’s originally from England. “It’s nice to be a part of American history and be acting,” he said.

Kurt Loewe of Royal Oak and Charles Ray of Bay City belong to a group that re-enacts battles from the Civil War and the War of 1812. They were on hand in full World War I battle garb for the filming.                

Loewe said he’s been filmed for documentaries that have appeared on TNT, The History Channel, Discovery Channel and the BBC in London. “This if my first time on PBS.”

Ray said his grandfather was a Polar Bear, but he never spoke of his experiences to his family. “He came home, put his shotgun up and never used it again. He said he knew what it was like to be hunted.”

“So this (opportunity) means a lot,” said Ray’s wife, Lisa, who accompanied her husband to the museum for the shoot.

Peak’s film is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2009 and will have its first public screening at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery’s Temple of Memories.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Terry Oparka at toparka@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1054.