1830 Murdock Log Cabin <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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$\"\"$ Research conducted by Dewey Murdick has been used to update the history of the Murdock family beyond their time in Michigan.<\/i><\/p>

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In 1968, an old farmhouse on Kephart Lane was slated for demolition to make way for a new subdivision.\u00a0 As the crews worked to tear down the house, they were surprised to discover that a log cabin existed under its modern exterior.\u00a0 The discovery of the cabin was an exciting moment for area historians, who believed the original home of Berrien Springs co-founder Francis Murdock (sometimes spelled Murdoch) had been found.\u00a0 Further investigations, including recent review of land deeds by researchers, haven proven this theory to be fact.<\/p>

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The Family<\/span><\/p>

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Francis arrived from Pennsylvania with his wife, Eliza, and their year-old son, George, in 1830.\u00a0 While Francis was a practicing lawyer, the land was a gift from his father-in-law.\u00a0 Eliza\u2019s father, George Kimmel, would eventually own upwards to 10,000 acres in Michigan, most of it located in Southwest Michigan.\u00a0 Several hundred acres would be given to his children over the years, providing several Kimmel branches the homestead they needed to get started.<\/p>

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Francis would become one of the few practicing lawyers in Berrien County and assisted with early government.\u00a0 He also joined with two other landowners to plat and establish Berrien (later Berrien Springs).\u00a0 Despite his role in the creation of what would become the County seat, the Murdocks (now a family of four) left the area in early 1835 as Eliza\u2019s battle with tuberculosis worsened.\u00a0<\/p>

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The local paper reported that the family were aiming south towards New Orleans, but they never made it any further than Ohio, where Eliza died later that same year and was buried in a local cemetery.\u00a0 The small family briefly spent time in Alton, IL, where he served as the city attorney.\u00a0 His largest case, the 1837 death via mob violence of abolitionist Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy, produced no convictions and he left the city for Missouri.\u00a0 Evidence of Murdock\u2019s abolitionist stance seems to date back to his time in Berrien Springs, but truly came in their own during his years in Alton.<\/p>

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Afterwards, Francis would settle his small family in St. Louis, where he continued to practice law. During this time, he remarried twice.\u00a0 The first was in 1838 to Missouri local Mary Johnson, who passed in December 1843, and the second in 1844 was to Eliza Kimmel\u2019s niece, Mary Graham.\u00a0 Two living children were born to Mary Johnson and six living children were born to Mary Graham.<\/p>

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While he likely practiced a variety of cases, Murdock was most known for his freedom suits on behalf of enslaved plaintiffs.\u00a0 It\u2019s estimated between 1840 and 1847, that at least one-third of all freedom suits in St. Louis were filed by Murdock.\u00a0 His biggest case in Missouri was filing briefs for Dred and Harriet Scott, although he was unable take the case to court due to political machinations that cost Murdock his home.\u00a0 Alexander Field and David Hall would take on the case.<\/p>

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After the events in Missouri, Francis and Mary briefly returned to Michigan before heading to California.\u00a0 It seems that minus a daughter that stayed in Missouri, the rest of the children were left in the care of family in Michigan.\u00a0 While in California, the Murdocks would turn to journalism as a career when Francis purchased the\u00a0Santa Clara Register<\/em>\u00a0in 1853.\u00a0 Renamed the\u00a0San Jose Telegraph<\/em>, he would continue to serve as editor until its sale in 1860.\u00a0 Three years later he would buy and expand the\u00a0San Jose Tribune<\/em>\u00a0(renamed the\u00a0San Jose Weekly Patriot<\/em>) until 1875.<\/p>

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Mary would precede Francis in death, dying in 1870.\u00a0 He would pass away due to complications from stroke in 1882.\u00a0 Both were interred in San Jose\u2019s Oak Hill Memorial Park.\u00a0 While Francis never returned to Michigan, sons George (Eliza) and Francis (Mary) returned to Berrien Springs.\u00a0 They established long careers, and George followed his father\u2019s footsteps by serving as the long-time editor of\u00a0The Berrien Springs Era<\/em>.<\/p>

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The House<\/span><\/p>

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Most log cabins in the Northwest Territory (which included Michigan) were simple structures that took advantage of the heavily forested region.\u00a0 As families were often clearing land to farm, using the existing logs to build homes, barns, and outbuildings made the most sense.\u00a0 Due to time and resources, most log cabin homes were single story and small.\u00a0 These were either expanded upon or replaced completely as the family\u2019s financials improved.<\/p>

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The Murdock\u2019s cabin was built in what is now the northwest section of Berrien Springs in 1830.\u00a0 In the 1970s, a state historian used dendrochronology to determine the build year and the house\u2019s second story was part of the original design. \u00a0\u00a0There is some debate about its status as the oldest two-story log cabin Michigan as it is believed the Davenport House on Mackinac Island may be an original two-story cabin. However, between the inability to determine when the second story was added and its modifications over the years, it can be said that the Murdock Cabin is the oldest in its original state.<\/p>

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After the Murdocks left Berrien County, the house remained standing and over the next thirty years, an extension was added, and a modern exterior\/interior renovation occurred.\u00a0 Additional modernization of the home took place through the early part of the 20th<\/span>\u00a0century, although subsequent owners were unaware the cabin was underneath the plaster and clapboard siding.\u00a0 The house would remain frozen in time and the last residents to live in the home reported having no indoor plumbing minus a single pipe for the kitchen sink, no heating or cooling system, and that plaster had crumbled away from the walls.\u00a0 While they were aware there was a log structure under the walls, they had little knowledge of its history.<\/p>

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Upon its discovery, the Historical Commission had hoped to leave the house in its location and build a park around it.\u00a0 However, that plan did not come to fruition and for five years the house stood on Kephart Lane, the victim of time, weather, and vandals.\u00a0 Researchers from Western Michigan and later from the state studied the home and their information \u2013 mentioned above \u2013 gave the push needed to make preservation possible.<\/p>

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As a Historic Site<\/span><\/p>

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Thanks to funding from area municipalities, the building was moved intact to the Courthouse Square in 1973.\u00a0 For reasons unknown to us today, the extension was removed and skilled artisans recreated the timber design to fill in the wall gaps left by the removal.\u00a0 The seamless transition is more obvious today but has stood up to weather and time for over 50 years.\u00a0 At first glance, it\u2019s hard to tell that anything was cut out from the wall, proving that great skill can make anything seamless.\u00a0<\/p>

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In the early years, the house was outfitted in period artifacts and was often used for historic demonstrations and re-enactments.\u00a0 By the early 2000s this use ceased, and the building remain stationary.\u00a0 By the beginning of the 2020s, the cabin was once again a place for programs and exhibits, with the most recent featuring the artwork of Berrien County artist Nancy Swan Drew.<\/p>

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To the east of the cabin is the garden, which was installed in the 1990s by the Michigan State University extension master gardener group as part of their course completion project.\u00a0 The garden, currently under the care of the Berrien Springs Garden Club, will become the property\u2019s fifth interpretive location with the advent of the Burnham Heritage Garden.\u00a0 We are currently raising funds for phase two of the Garden, which you can support by donating here.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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1870 Sheriff's Residence <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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$\"\"$ <\/p>
In the state of Michigan, the position of County Sheriff is elected and there is no requirement for any candidate (and later winner) to be an actual police officer.\u00a0 Through most of the history of Berrien County\u2019s Sheriff\u2019s Office, the position was held by local men who often had other jobs outside of their police duties, such as hotel owner, farmer, and more.<\/p>
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Although duties were discharged in Berrien Springs at the Courthouse and county jail, the sheriff often lived in his own home \u2013 be it Niles, St. Joseph, New Buffalo, etc.\u00a0 Over time, the County\u2019s Board of Supervisors grew concerned about how far many sheriffs lived from the county seat.\u00a0 While they considered replacing the original 1838 jail with something bigger and more modern, the addition of a residence for the Sheriff entered the discussion.<\/p>
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The House<\/span><\/p>
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By 1868, the Board of Supervisors could no longer ignore the needs of a new jail and the continued issue of Sheriff\u2019s living too far from their duties.\u00a0 In 1869, the County once again hired Gilbert Avery to design the joint jail and house structure.\u00a0 Avery opted to design both buildings in the popular Italianate style and his plans had the building separate but adjacent to each other for easy access.<\/p>
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As with other buildings on the property, the residence and jail were quickly built and in late January 1870, then-Sheriff Linus Warner moved into the home with his family.\u00a0 At two stories tall, there was ample room for the Sheriff and his family to live and work on the property.\u00a0<\/p>
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The main part of the home is rectangular in shape with tall windows that provide ample sunlight and cross-ventilation to cool the home in the summer.\u00a0 On the lower level, the family had a parlor and dining room on the east side of the home and the west side was dedicated to the Sheriff\u2019s work.\u00a0 The front office space was easily accessible by guests and dignitaries with access to the jail via a connecting door on the west wall.\u00a0<\/p>
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No information can be found on the use of the room next to the office, however it is believed that it could have been the Sheriff\u2019s armory.\u00a0 Records indicate that no weaponry was kept in the office but would have needed to be located nearby for easy access.\u00a0 While this room is connected to the office via a door, a secondary entrance is available under the floating stairs.<\/p>
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The upstairs is comprised of four rooms, two flanking each side of the hallway.\u00a0 Each set of rooms has a pass-through door, but research does not indicate if these are original to the building or if they were added by later owners.\u00a0 Most would have been bedrooms but at least one would have been a bathroom.<\/p>
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Attached to the back of the house was the double kitchen, with limited access to the main house for safety reasons.\u00a0 It seems most logical that the first floor was dedicated to the family\u2019s needs while the second floor focused on the meals and needs of the prisoners.\u00a0 This design allowed for household and government budgets and supplies to remain separate.\u00a0 It seems that management of the household and the jail needs were managed by the Sheriff\u2019s wife, but in the few instances where there was no wife, an adult child or hired help took up the responsibilities.<\/p>
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It is unknown when the front porch was added but it was sometime before the 1880s as it appears in pictures from the decade.\u00a0 The current porch follows this design versus any modifications made later.<\/p>
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Post-1894<\/span><\/p>
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After the county seat was moved to St. Joseph following the spring 1894 election, the home remained occupied until the end of the year.\u00a0 While it would be another year before the new Sheriff\u2019s residence was built, there is no indication if then-sheriff Charles Whitcomb remained in Berrien Springs until its completion.<\/p>
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The house went unused after the removal until 1901 when Emmanuel Missionary College (the future Andrews University) rented the Courthouse Square to serve as the school\u2019s first campus.\u00a0 The home served as classroom space for the school year and after the college moved to their current location, the county remained owners until they sold it private residents by the mid-1910s.<\/p>
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The house would undergo several changes and by the 1970s, it had been converted into a triplex apartment with a carport added to the west side of the building.\u00a0 In the late 1970s, the building was purchased by the Berrien County Historical Association.\u00a0 Renovations were halted briefly due to a fire, but continued and by 1987, the updates were complete.\u00a0 The lower level was converted into exhibit and display space, the upper rooms were converted into offices and staff workspaces, and the kitchens became home to the collection and archival vaults.<\/p>
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While the lower level was briefly the gift shop in the 2000s, today the Residence is a mix between permanent and temporary exhibit space.\u00a0 In 2023, the research library reopened to the public and is available by appointment, where books on local, state, and national history are available to read and use.<\/p>
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\u00a0To see what is currently on display, visit our\u00a0calendar of events page<\/a>!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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1860\/ 1873 Records Building <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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$\"\"$ By 1859, the County was facing a serious issue \u2013 its size and needs had grown so much in twenty years since the Courthouse was built that their offices were no longer functional space.\u00a0 That year, the commissioners approved the construction of a new office building with the requirement that it be fireproof.<\/p>
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Gilbert Avery was once again hired to design the one-story brick structure and George H. Murdock was granted the construction contract to the tune of $3,000.\u00a0 However, Murdock had difficulty completing the project and at the behest of the County, Avery stepped in as the contractor and was able to complete the building in less than a year.\u00a0 The brick and concrete building incorporated the beauty of the popular architecture style with the county\u2019s requirements for a fire-proof building.\u00a0 In February 1860, the County Clerk, Treasurer, and Register of Deeds occupied their new space.<\/p>
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The building continued to serve the county well and it was expanded in 1873.\u00a0 The two-story addition allowed for expansion of the offices for the county Clerk and Register of Deeds, and it also housed the offices for the Judge of Probate.\u00a0 After the county seat move in 1894, the building was left empty until the arrival of Emmanuel Missionary College in 1901.\u00a0 It served as the schools administrative building for that single year before once again being shuttered.<\/p>
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Like with the Sheriff\u2019s Residence, it would be sold into private ownership.\u00a0 By the end of the century, the building had been converted into mixed-used space.\u00a0 The single-story section housed upwards to three apartments through most of the mid-20th<\/span>\u00a0century and had at least one addition plus modifications to the exterior done during this time.\u00a0 The two-story section housed both an apartment and businesses such as a laundromat and water company.<\/p>
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The County purchased the building in the late 1990s and by the early 2000s, all residents had vacated the building.\u00a0 Plans had begun in 2006 to convert the building to exhibition and office space.\u00a0 However, the combination of the Great Recession in 2007 and a fire in 2008 derailed these plans.\u00a0 Today, the building is closed to the public and used by the museum for storage and workspace.\u00a0 It is hoped that in the coming years to raise the funds to restore the building and convert it into the new home to our collections and archives as well as ADA accessible program and exhibit space.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Bennett's Forge <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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$\"\"$ <\/p>
By the mid-20th<\/span>\u00a0century, the Seventh-day Adventist Church had expanded both in people and in services.\u00a0 Which meant the Church had to expand physically and in the 1950s, a simple cinderblock building was constructed along the Madison side of the property.\u00a0 It served as an auxiliary building used by church groups for meetings and activities as well as overflow for Sunday School where needed.<\/p>
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It remained in use until 1966, when the Church moved to their new location (now Village Adventist Church on Cass).\u00a0 The building, along with a portion of the church grounds, and the courthouse was purchased by the BCHC and the County.\u00a0 With the BCHC focused on the Courthouse through the middle of the 1970s, the auxiliary building remained as is until about 1978.<\/p>
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Plans for the remainder of the property \u2013 much of which wasn\u2019t under ownership yet \u2013 began in earnest after 1975, with plans to demolish the auxiliary building.\u00a0 However, the Bennett family approached the BCHC with a gift on behalf of their late patriarch, George.\u00a0 A long-time lover of history and supporter of the BCHC, he bequeathed $40,000 towards a project on the grounds.\u00a0 The BCHC and the family developed the concept of a functioning blacksmith\u2019s forge and buggy shop combination.<\/p>
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Work commenced and was completed in August 1978.\u00a0 The building was covered with cedar boards to give it a historic look that balanced the presence of the cabin on the other side of the property.\u00a0 In the early years, the forge was behind a wall, but this would be removed by the end of the 1980s to create a more open space for visitors when the forge wasn\u2019t in use.<\/p>
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While blacksmithing demonstrations still occur in the Forge, the space has lost much of its functional use and the buggy shop has been closed off to the public as it has become hazardous to enter.\u00a0 The building, while safe for guests to enter, has lost much of its focus in recent years and plans aim to reclaim this space as interactive space focused on artisan and early industries in Berrien County.<\/p>
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The auxiliary building wasn\u2019t the only structure the Church added to the property and by the 1950s, a doctor\u2019s office was built at the corner of Madison and Cass, just north of the auxiliary building.\u00a0 It was sold to Andrews University who operated the practice until the 1970s.\u00a0 The BCHA purchased the building in 1980 and had it demolished not long afterwards.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The Jails <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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$\"\"$ <\/p>
One of the first permanent government buildings to be constructed in Berrien County following statehood in 1837 was the first county jail.\u00a0 The two-story building was completed in 1838, one year before the courthouse opened.\u00a0 It was a frame-style building with cells on both floors, a small apartment for the jailer, and a separate outhouse.<\/p>
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Repairs and updates were made over the next thirty years, but over time, complaints about the function of the building began to build.\u00a0 It was drafty, cramped, and becoming dysfunctional to the point of distraction.<\/p>
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Therefore, the County Supervisors were forced to address this problem by the late 1860s.\u00a0 In 1868, they hired Gilbert Avery, who was charged with designing a combination sheriff\u2019s residence (see above) and jail.\u00a0 They were completed in January 1870 and upon opening the jail, it was announced the original jail would be sold.<\/p>
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The original county jail would be purchased by Phillip Kephart, who converted it into his drug store.\u00a0 The building was moved to downtown Berrien Springs by 1874 and remained in use until the early 1900s.\u00a0 Kephart eventually sold the building and an article from the Berrien Springs Era in 1916 noted that it had been converted into a private home.\u00a0 It is believed the home was located on East Harrison but may now be demolished.<\/p>
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As for the new jail, the two-story brick structure followed the Italianate style of the Sheriff\u2019s Residence, evoking classic design.\u00a0 However, Avery\u2019s whimsical glass dome at the top created a unique structural element not found anywhere else in Berrien County.\u00a0 The dome\u2019s design wasn\u2019t its only feature, and its windows opened to provide ventilation and cooling in the summer.<\/p>
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The jail cells were arranged in a circle, with a bathroom located in the middle that was fed by a 700-gallon cistern located under the building.\u00a0 The cells on the first floor were much smaller, with sixteen total available.\u00a0 These are much smaller than most would expect, but it seems they were designed for short-term holding versus long-term incarceration.\u00a0 The second story cells were much bigger and there were only eight available.\u00a0 While likely used for long-term holding, most of the prisoners who were housed in these cells were women, children, and the indigent.<\/p>
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The lower cells had two doors \u2013 the traditional cell bar doors along the outside of the circle, but a solid (likely metal) door on the inside of the circle gave the prisoner access to the bathroom.\u00a0 These doors didn\u2019t always prevent mischief and in July 1883, eight prisoners launched a daring escape through the bathroom.<\/p>
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They removed the washbasin and pumped water from the cistern before jumping into the hole.\u00a0 They opted to dig a tunnel under the north wall of the jail, but the soft ground collapsed and forced them to tunnel closer to the surface, which proved more successful.\u00a0 They eventually broke to the surface and were soon on the lam.<\/p>
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The Sheriff and his deputies gave chase, soon joined by the county clerk and several townspeople.\u00a0 It took several days but all eight of the prisoners were found and returned to the jail, adding to their list of offenses.\u00a0 Such an exciting event brought out tourists to Berrien Springs and reports of a Niles woman taking dirt from the jail site began to circulate.<\/p>
The jail, as with all buildings, remained in use by the county until 1894, when the seat moved to St. Joseph.\u00a0 By 1916, the county was selling off buildings to private owners, but the jail was not.\u00a0 Instead, it was demolished, an event that made the front page of local papers.<\/p>
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The space remained open land until the 1990s, when the BCHA built the jail plaza.\u00a0 It was designed to give guests an idea as to the size and layout of the building, complete with two recreated jail cells \u2013 but no bathroom.\u00a0 However, \u201cjail dirt\u201d collected before the start of the plaza was bottled and is available for sale in the gift shop.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Thank you!<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Since 2019, several areas of the museum have been renovated thanks to the generosity of donors from around Berrien County and beyond.\u00a0 From our first project in the Courthouse to the recent renovations of the collections and archival vaults, the work ensures that the BCHA’s mission<\/a> continues.\u00a0 If you are interested in donating towards upcoming projects, please contact us at info@berrienhistory.org.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Berrien Community Foundation<\/p>
Berrien Springs Area Endowment<\/p>
Berrien Springs – Eau Claire Rotary Club<\/p>
St. Joe – Benton Harbor Rotary Foundation<\/p>
The Upton Foundation<\/p>
The Pokagon Fund<\/p>
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Berrien County Bar Association<\/p>
IBEW Local 153<\/p>
Linear Electric<\/p>
Liskey Insurance<\/p>
Tucker Ellis, LLP<\/p>
U.S. Business System<\/p>
United Federal Credit Union<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Al Opas<\/p>
Barbara Pence<\/p>
Charles & Kathryn Harris<\/p>
Christine & John Rorabeck<\/p>
Cindy Schroeder<\/p>
Daryl Boughton<\/p>
Dave Francis<\/p>
Dennis Hollingsead<\/p>
Gary & Karen Campbell<\/p>
James & Joan Smith<\/p>
James Scherbarth<\/p>
Jan Jessup<\/p>
Jim & Geri Temple<\/p>
Karen Kaier<\/p>
Lawrence Wozniak<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Liz & Scott Muhlenbeck<\/p>
Lynda Pelkey<\/p>
Mary Ellen Drolet<\/p>
Robert & Madeline Johnson<\/p>
Robert Cooley<\/p>
Rosie Nash<\/p>
Ruth Lucker<\/p>
Sandra Reed<\/p>
Sue Ann Crapsey<\/p>
Susan & Joe Ruth<\/p>
Teri Freehling<\/p>
The Phillips<\/p>
The Sipresses<\/p>
Tom & Prudy Nelson<\/p>
Virginia Bedunah<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Courthouse Square Currently, the Courthouse Square is comprised of five buildings.\u00a0 Three are original to the property’s government era, one was added in the 1950s under ownership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the final was moved to the Square to save it.\u00a0 The Jail Plaza and Burnham Heritage Garden provide alternative sites for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/new.berrienhistory.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/250"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/new.berrienhistory.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/new.berrienhistory.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/new.berrienhistory.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/new.berrienhistory.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=250"}],"version-history":[{"count":58,"href":"http:\/\/new.berrienhistory.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1079,"href":"http:\/\/new.berrienhistory.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/250\/revisions\/1079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/new.berrienhistory.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}