THE STORY OF GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY

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BY MARIEANNA BAIR

Any tendency to relax after the excitement of the Sesquicentennial celebration in 1987 was not permitted. 1988 meant business as usual. A program on Oral History was given by Marieanna Bair in January. Grace Cornish offered a History of Fans in March. Funding Approaches for Historic Buildings was given by Margaret Dunning in May. A Green Oak Township Family Picnic was sponsored by the Society in June, at Kent Unit in the Island Lake Recreation Area. No entrance fee was charged residents. Green Oak Day attendants toured the railroad museum in Clinton and enjoyed an open car train ride to visit Tecumseh. The next month George DeAngelis spoke on the Glidden Tours, 1905-1913. Voting on the revised by laws, next year’s board and budget review were conducted at the Annual pot luck meeting. Following discussion on expenses (supplies, publications of local histories, museum insurance/maintenance, and preparation of packets for visiting students, etc.) an increase in dues was approved. Early photos, etc., were shared. Besides planning for programs the board went into high gear with the annual spring cleaning of the Gage House Museum (which now consisted of seven rooms and a cellar) and the farm yard. The small core of volunteers, always found in an organization , was supplemented by willing individuals. While cleaning, remodeling, painting were taking place inside, farmyard landscaping gave visitors a chance to learn what kinds of plantings were used around early farmhouses. The exhibit of tools and farming equipment in the cellar (could be accessed by an exterior door) was refurbished. New displays were prepared to encourage visitors’ returns. Edna Peach’s search for early maps resulted in a special exhibit: an 1870 map of mail service in Michigan, an 1859 map of Livingston/Ingham Counties, Michigan Territory in 1831, and the 1824 land surveys were part of a comprehensive display. A farm diorama commemorated the township’s first settlers who arrived in 1830. The township board provided support by dedicating funds from the state, which were designated for local improvements, to the Society’s renovation expenses.

The 1989 annual Use Permit was again negotiated with the DNR for the use of the Gage property. The accession of donated items to enrich the exhibits at the Museum continued. Each newsletter included a review of donations and donors; appreciation of volunteers efforts; biographies of Michigan Governors, by Hildreth Backhaus continued; biographies of Society Board Members; a column of memories of long time residents began appearing. Yesteryears of Green Oak 1830-1930 sold out. Two hundred more were ordered. A brochure describing the Society and the Museum was printed courtesy of American Aggregates Corporation. South Lyon elementary students were scheduled for May. An April work crew armed with rakes, shovels, etc., with Gordon Bunn as director, Dell Miller, Ralph Berz, Bert Bair, and the Gage House lessee prepared the yard and saw to its upkeep all summer. Inside, windows were cleaned, dishes, etc., washed, floors mopped, exhibits refurbished and the "Visitors Welcome" sign hung. A corps of docents assured weekend hosts. The Society participated in the semi-annual meetings of area historical societies. Meeting at the township hall, Historic Fire Arms and Their Replicas by Robert Reed, was the January program. George DeAngelis described how to Identify Historical Building Styles in March. A full house in May heard Gladys McKenney with eleven, 1/3 life size, appropriately-dressed dolls as she presented Our Fabulous Foremothers - Women in History. Greenmead, in Livonia, was toured in July. A picnic on the South Lyon Museum grounds was the highlight of Green Oak Day. The museum and Washburn School, which had been moved from Green Oak Township, were toured. A white elephant silent auction at the Annual Meeting helped raise funds for museum expenses.