Port Huron Town Hall enriches the community for nearly 70 years, readies for season’s opening

The Port Huron Town Hall began in 1955, founded by eight women with the intent of providing a program that would entertain the women of the day. During those times, there were typically more women at home, as the husbands spent the days working. The women heard about a town hall in the Detroit area and decided that they would start one here as well, and the rest is history.

The goal of the Port Huron Town Hall is the same now as it was then, providing the community with entertaining, educational, and inspirational speakers from all walks of life. Kicking off this year’s speaker series on Sept. 12 is actress, model, and author Brooke Shields. Award-winning television broadcaster Chuck Gaidica will be the guest moderator for the event where they will have a discussion-style presentation about Shields’ personal and professional life.

Each program is held on Monday at McMorran Auditorium in Port Huron. Other guest speakers planned for this season include Kate Anderson Brower on Oct. 10, Dr. Elliot Engel on Nov. 14, and Javier Muñoz on Dec. 12.

Past guests of the Town Hall include names such as Hall of Fame sports broadcaster Mike “Doc” Emrick, best-selling author Terry McMillan who is a former Port Huron resident, as well as NASA Space Mission Commander, Captain Mark Kelly.

Susan Tisdel, Port Huron Town Hall Board Member, says that due to the pandemic, only four guest speakers will be presenting this year instead of the usual five or six.

“Our funding is down due to losing subscribers who may be afraid or hesitant to come back,” she says. “So our way around that without lowering the quality of the series or the speakers we present, we decided to just lower the number of guest speakers by one this year.”

An Oakland County resident, Tisdel has roots in the Blue Water Area as well as a family connection to the Port Huron Town Hall.

“My grandmother was one of the original founders of the Port Huron Town Hall in 1955, so I feel I am watering my roots and giving back to the community, as well as honoring my grandmother's legacy,” says Tisdel.

All are welcome to attend the Port Huron Town Hall speaker series, as it no longer caters to just women as it did in the past, To learn more about the upcoming events or how to purchase tickets, visit porthurontownhall.com.