THE STORY OF GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY

page 11

BY MARIEANNA BAIR

President Gerry Macks chaired the March, 2001, Membership Meeting held at the Whitmore Lake Road Fire Hall. The Society honored Marge Berz who was moving to Tawas City. Marge joined the Society in 1978, and was president 1979-1980. From 1981-2000, Marge served as treasurer and was chair of the membership and sales committees. She always helped with hosting visitors to the Gage Museum and with the newsletter. The Society needs several to take her place. "The Fan Lady" by Grace Cornish concluded the membership meeting.

That spring the Society completed moving from the museum site. With Steve Gronow’s help even the granary was cleared of Society belongings. To Gerry Macks must go major credit for leading the move and recording which box held what items. Several members met regularly at Brummer Elementary School to sort and file materials placed there following vacating the Gage House. But by summer’s end the school principal needed that space; everything was packed securely and put in storage in Steve Gronow’s barn with all the other items already there.

The Township Board was reported to be researching the possibility of the Gage house being moved. By the end of the summer it had been determined the Gage house could not withstand a move. During that summer a number of special meetings were held debating the use to which the 1856 Town Hall would be put when township offices moved to the new site. The Historical Society promoted society ownership and use. The Society also recommended against and strongly discouraged moving the 1856 Township Hall from its original site "which would invalidate it’s historic character", or its sale to private individuals. It was argued that its present site could ideally maintain the history of the area and display historic artifacts related to early Green Oak. It could also serve as a meeting site for local organizations, as an educational site and as Society headquarters. In August the Township Board was asked to consider leasing the site to the Society.

Green Oak Day, August 18, was held at the Greenoch Mill. George DeAngelis told the "Old Mill Story". The new township hall was the site of the October 21, Annual Meeting at which time elections took place and discussions regarding the future of the 1856 township hall were held.

 

 

 

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