THE STORY OF GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY

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BY MARIEANNA BAIR

‘Ore Creek Settlement’ by Marieanna Bair in March, began the 1994 year of programs. A letter dated July 18, 1833 from Kinsley Bingham, in Green Oak, to his mother back in New York, was read by James Taylor in May. Kinsley describes the land, lakes, roads, springs, etc. Society Founder Edna Peach, who was moving to Arizona, was feted at the Green Oak Day event. All was spit and polish at the Gage House Museum in honor of Edna’s long-time devotion to the preservation of the history of Green Oak Township. The practice of placing flowers on the grave of Jarvis Gage, begun in 1991, was continued. Gretchen Voyle, of the Cooperative Extension Service, presented slides of new and different plants and how to incorporate them into one’s landscape in September. The 2nd of vital Society board members, Mona Wenzel, also announced her moving plans. She held board positions, completed an inventory which topped 5,000 items, inserted information into the computer and saw to the labeling of the myriad of items in the museum cellar. She also will be missed. The pot-luck dinner preceded the election and reports at the Annual Meeting. A Sing-a-long brought lots of memories and laughs. In December the board met at the Red Balloon for lunch. All society meetings, normally held at the township hall, were held at the fire house on Whitmore Lake Road. The township board felt the water and sewer systems at the hall were unsafe for large crowds. The April yard and museum cleanup and restarting the water, heat, etc., systems were conducted at the museum. Weekend tours, 1- 4, went through Labor Day again. Available docents worked overtime-the Society would never let Edna’s leadership down.

The annual museum and yard preparation for visitors began in April, 1995. Often a member provided lunch for volunteer workers and for several years Domino Pizza donated. Three busses of Sayre School children were scheduled for May to learn about living in Green Oak in the 1800s. Special displays of Indian life were prepared. Many weekend visitors toured the site all summer. To bring local attention to the cemeteries in the township, which were occasionally refurbished by individuals or scout groups, historical research was begun. Articles were printed in the newsletter and name plaques hung to identify each cemetery. Histories of long time residents’ homes continued as did the Michigan governor series. Aware of the tenuous nature of the association with DNR the Society board gave consideration to the possibility of the Greenock Mill as Society headquarters. Programs began in March with Dick Carvel, chairman of the Farmington Museum Committee who showed slides of the Governor Fred A. Warner home. This was followed with a tour of the home in May.

The Michigan Women’s History Center in Lansing was toured in September. ‘Display your Artifact’ followed the Annual Meeting pot-luck and election in October.

Green Oak Day was a celebration of the Society’s 20th anniversary, at the museum. All reviewed with pride the many accomplishments: Bicentennial observances which included the Green Oak quilt, a prize winning float, tours of the museum at the Bingham house basement, antique cars, boat parade and dance; the Gage House museum with the student visits program and summer-long tours; a township history book; observance of the Michigan Sesquicentennial, again lots of entertainment; many picnics including one honoring one room schools. Much volunteer labor to conduct a variety of sales, raffles and tours plus donations and dues in addition to support from the township board provided the funds so necessary to a successful 20 years.