Niles History Center

05/29/2026

The first guided tour of the Chapin Mansion is TODAY Friday, May 29 at 1:00pm!

Admission: $5 for adults. Ages 18 and under are free

Tours begin at the Fort St. Joseph Museum and are led by trained docents who offer a look inside this beloved Niles landmark.

In addition, celebrate the opening of the 2026 season on Saturday, May 30 at the Chapin Mansion Open House from 12-2pm. Check out the event for more information!

05/22/2026

From the collection - This photo shows a Decoration Day parade on Main Street in 1914.

George Corell, a veteran of the Spanish American War, is on horseback.

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, a day to honor soldiers who died in the Civil War. The tradition was later expanded to include fallen service members from all wars.

05/13/2026

05/12/2026

The Niles History Museum is featured in the Michigan Museums Association Experiences Auction! Check out this amazing auction which feautres unique experiences at museums across Michigan!

05/01/2026

Mr. Potts - Part 3

Mr. Potts served as a role model for many students, offering guidance to minority kids, encouraging them to get involved in extra-curricular activities and consider college paths. He also taught about Black history, organizing displays for Black History Month and arranging field trips to sites such as the DuSable Museum in Chicago.

In 2001 Mr. Potts established the Coach Potts Minority Student Scholarship program. The scholarship highlighted academic achievements of minority students at Niles High School and assisted with funding college education for over 50 recipients.
Mr. Potts also worked in community education. Along with a group of educators, he offered a summer series of self-improvement classes for adults and students at Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

Mr. Potts faced adversity throughout his teaching and coaching career. When he first came to the Niles school system, his academic credentials were questioned. He was also told he would be fired as a track coach if he did not cut his hair. Potts stood his ground, something he advises young people facing similar challenges to do.

"You have to stand your ground and be strong. If you let them walk on you, they will be running on you. You have to be willing to fight, that’s the main thing. Be yourself. Don’t compromise who you are or what position you are trying to maintain."

Mr. Potts credits mentors such as Carlton Dungey, Thurman Hoover, Charlie McAfee, Donald Potts, Nate Potts, T Joyce Williams and his wife, Starla Potts for supporting and inspiring him throughout his career.

Although Mr. Potts had never been to Niles before he took the job in 1972, he made the community home.

"It’s home. It’s home because I paid the price to make it my home. I am not going to let anyone run me away from that. I could have retreated a long time ago. "

Today, Mr. Potts and his wife, Starla, still reside in Niles. He still follows school sports and the careers of some of the students he coached and mentored.

Thank you, Mr. Potts, for sitting down with the Niles History Center and sharing your incredible story!

Image 1 - Coach Potts Minority Student Scholarship presentation. Mr. Leonard Smith presented the scholarships that year.

Image 2 - The Potts family

Image 3 - Black History Month display at Ring Lardner High School, 1980

Image 4 - Niles Daily Star February 12, 1979

Image 5 - Mr. Ted Potts

05/01/2026

Mr. Potts - Part 2

In 1972, Niles educator and Student Affairs Coordinator, Leonard Smith, recruited Mr. Potts to work for the Niles school system. Mr. Potts and his wife, Starla, moved their family to Niles. When the Potts family first arrived, Leonard and his wife, Kathy, offered them space in their Ballard Hills home. Eventually, the Potts family purchased that home and still reside there today.

Mr. Potts taught 5th grade at Northside School for two years before transferring to Ring Lardner where he taught math. Mr. Potts was an innovative teacher at Ring Lardner. In the early 1980s, he started the first computer program in the school, with the assistance of local tech pioneer Robert Rose and the Berrien County ISD. There were not any textbooks for student computer classes at the time, so Mr. Potts wrote to computer book companies who sent him teacher editions for him to use with his classes.

From 1972-1975 Mr. Potts was the assistant track coach at Niles High School, working with Coach Ed Kelly. When Kelly left for a coaching position at Notre Dame, Mr. Potts took over as head track coach. From 1984-89 he Potts coached track at Notre Dame with Mr. Kelly, before returning to Niles schools at the time his three children were attending. He also participated as a sprinter, traveling all over the country, competing in track and field until the age of 35 where he was recognized as an elite sprinter in his age group.

Ted Potts utilized his Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance, working as a guidance counselor at Ring Lardner for two years. In 1988 he transferred to Niles High School where he worked as a guidance counselor, head track coach and skilled computer programmer until his retirement in 2012.

Image 1 - Mr. Ted Potts

Image 2 (track team) - Niles Daily Star May 3, 1982

Image 3 (Coach Potts and Coach Kelly) - Niles Daily Star May 26, 1973

Image 4 (Mr. Potts and children) - June 28, 1983

05/01/2026

It's track season! Who remembers Coach Potts?

A couple months ago, the Niles History Center had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Ted Potts and talk about his long career in education and coaching.

Today, we would like to highlight his story. This will be in 3 parts!

Thank you, Mr. Potts, for sitting down with the Niles History Center and sharing your incredible story!

Part 1

Teacher, Counselor, Coach-these three roles have defined Ted Potts throughout his life.

Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1948, Theodore (Ted) Potts graduated high school in 1966. Inspired by his health teacher, Ted pursued a career in education. He earned an Associate’s degree in physical education from Dodge City Community Junior College. He then graduated from Kansas State Teachers College, now Emporia State University, with a Bachelor’s degree in K-12 and physical education and a Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance.

While at Kansas State Teachers College, Potts ran track. He was a two-time conference champion and set school records. After graduation he interned at the college, leading a GAS (Guidance and Academic Advisement Services) program for freshmen and transfer students.

After college, Potts moved back to Newark, New Jersey where he taught 7th grade and coached track at his high school alma mater for a year.

04/15/2026

A cancellation has opened up one more spot in our Middle School archaeology camp. It won’t be there long. If you know someone who is interested in attending, fill out an application soon!

There are still openings in the High School and Lifelong Learners camps. Did you know educators can receive credits for participating in the camp? For more information, visit https://wmich.edu/fortstjoseph .