Transom Story Workshop at IPR

Transom's traveling story workshop visited Interlochen Public Radio in August. Ten journalists from near and far spent a week gathering stories in northern Michigan. Listen to what they found.

Transom at IPR: The Music House

Interlochen Public Radio | By Grace Carroll

Published September 19, 2025 at 9:22 AM EDT

The 1922 Theofiel Mortier Dance Organ, known as “Amaryllis,” is housed at the Music House Museum. Originally built for the Victoria Palace, a dance hall and café in Ypres, Belgium, it was brought to the United States in 1967 and purchased from collectors in Ohio by the museum in 1982. (Photo: Grace Carroll / Transom Story Workshop) — The 1922 Theofiel Mortier Dance Organ, known as “Amaryllis,” is housed at the Music House Museum. Originally built for the Victoria Palace, a dance hall and café in Ypres, Belgium, it was brought to the United States in 1967 and purchased from collectors in Ohio by the museum in 1982. *(Photo: Grace Carroll / Transom Story Workshop)*

Near Traverse City, federal spending cuts are hitting a museum that’s known for its display of rare musical instruments and music-making machines.

Across the state, many libraries, art galleries and museums are still grappling with the Trump administration’s decision to slash funding for the arts.

That’s as the Michigan Arts and Culture Council also made an announcement to pause its grants indefinitely.

Near Traverse City, the cuts are hitting a museum that’s known for its display of rare musical instruments and music-making machines.

Listen to the story by Grace Carroll, using the audio player above.

Exhibit at the Music House Museum containing a collection of early phonographs and gramophones. (Photo: Grace Carroll / Transom Story Workshop) — Exhibit at the Music House Museum containing a collection of early phonographs and gramophones. *(Photo: Grace Carroll / Transom Story Workshop)*

This story was produced as part of the Transom Story Workshop hosted by Interlochen Public Radio in August of 2025.