News and Events
News
New Exhibit at Museum
The Albion Historical Society has unveiled a new exhibit, Bloomers to Bell Bottoms, at the Gardner House Museum. We have pictures of clothing stores from the past on display, as well as clothes from the archives featuring styles from the 1890's through the 1970's. Enjoy clothing advertising and a sewing display. This exhibit is on the second floor.
Tour Guides Needed for Museum
The Albion Historical Society is in need of volunteers to give tours at its Gardner House Museum. It is now and will remain open on Saturdays and Sundays, between 2-4 p.m. through the end of September.
The society needs at least two guides during each of those shifts, to showcase the Victorian house from the late 1800’s. Guides will learn the highlights of its three floors, as well as the basic history of Albion.
Plant Swap and Sale
As spring finally arrived in Albion, the Albion Historical Society held its annual Plant Swap and Sale on Saturday, May 18, between noon-2 p.m. in the front yard of the Gardner House Museum. Gardeners traded, sold and swapped plants and flowers.
Model T's Rolled into Albion
Approximately fifty people in Model T cars rolled into Albion on Saturday, May 18. After stopping at Victory Park, they toured the Gardner House Museum.
“Our Model T event is called the CanAM which is an annual event that includes our Michigan club, The Casual T's, and our Canadian counterpart,” said Jill McCririe, secretary of Casual T’s. “The event alternates every year between Michigan and Canada.”
According to its website, The Model T Ford was built for model years 1909 through 1927. More than 15 million rolled off the assembly lines and put the world on wheels. Their durability, the availability of parts, and their simplicity make them a practical car for a hobbyist. There are many Model T’s still on the roads today being driven and enjoyed all over the world.
Mother's Day Tea
The Albion Historical Society held its annual Mother's Day Tea on Saturday, May 11, at the Gardner House Museum. There was a tea at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Guests enjoyed a light fare, cookies and other treats.
Mother's Day is believed to have originated in Albion on May 11, 1877, when Julie Calhoun Blakely asked parishioners at the local Methodist church to honor mothers. Mother's Day was born.
The historical society has hosted this event since 2003.
Gardner House Celebrated Reading April 23
The Gardner House Museum was one of many locations in Albion that celebrated World Book Night during the evening of Tuesday, April 23. During this event, your friends and neighbors read from a World Book Night book or another book they are passionate about and then demonstrated or explained how that book has touched their lives. They also handed out free books
At the Gardner House, we heard Ed & Sue Kernish read the "Elephant Whisperer" by Lawrence Anthony with Grahm Spence and Andy French read "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris.
The Bohm Will Receive $25,000 from State Farm
The Albion Historical Society wants to thank all who voted for the Bohm Theater in the State Farm Neighborhood Assist™ facebook competition. On April 29, State Farm announced that the Bohm did finish in the top forty, meaning it will receive $25,000 from this endeavor.
In order to make the theatre safe, its Friends will upgrade all mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. In order to better meet the needs of the community, they will remove the balcony multiplex, bringing the theatre back to its single screen grand appearance, stabilize the stage area for live performance use, add main floor bathrooms, upgrade existing bathrooms, install digital projection equipment and repair water damaged ceilings, walls and floors.
To learn more, visit the Bohm's website.
Treasure Ship Author Visited Albion
It went down with seventeen crew and passengers in Lake Michigan in 1854. On April 4, 2013, about 35 people heard the story of the Westmoreland, during a program sponsored by the Albion Historical Society and the Albion District Library.
Ross Richardson, author of The Search for the Westmoreland, Lake Michigan's Treasure Ship, showed pictures and video of his successful search for the passenger steamer. He explained why he never found the gold and whiskey rumored to be aboard and how he found the ship, when others had failed. The program was free and open to the public. To learn more about his treasure hunting, visit his website.
Share Your Memories with the Albion Historical Society
Where were you when Senator Warren Hooper was murdered? What do you remember about the early days of the Festival of the Forks? What are your memories of the Bohm Theatre, your school days, summer concerts or your favorite local stores?
The Albion Historical Society wants to hear your memories. It will include them in upcoming newsletters, to share with its members. Contact us or mail your stories to:
The Gardner House Museum
509 South Superior Street
Albion, MI 49224
Please include your name, your contact information and how long you have lived in the Albion area, as well as any pertinent pictures if you have them.
Library has New Historian
The Albion Historical Society is excited that the Albion District Library has a new historian. Jennifer Wood received her bachelor's and master's degrees in History from Central Michigan University, and her Masters of Library and Information Science Degree, with a Certificate in Special Collections, from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She assisted with the Scenic American Byways Program as an archival consultant and was the Regional History curator at Western Michigan University.
We welcome Jennifer and look forward with working with her.
The local history room is open Tuesday 1-7:45 p.m., Wednesday 2-4 p.m. and Saturday 1-4:45 p.m. Wednesday hours are staffed by volunteers.
Upcoming Events
Gardner House Museum Now Open
The Gardner House Museum is now open and will remain open weekends, 2-4 p.m. until the end of September. Tours are also available by appointment.
Invite a Friend to AHS
Watch for the Albion Historical Society in local banks and credit unions Friday, June 14 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. as we kick off our annual membership drive. The theme is "Invite a Friend." Stop by our tables and sign up to be a member, to support the good we do to preserve our history. You can also join today.
If you're already a member, please stop by our table, say hi, and learn what's new with us.
Gardner Scramble Golf Outing
Like to golf? Have a fun day, and help the Gardner House Museum at the same time. Plans are underway for the Gardner Scramble Golf Outing. It will be Saturday, June 22, at Tomac Woods Golf Course, 14827 26 ½ Mile Road in Albion, starting at 9 a.m. Put together your own four-person team, or you will be put on a team. This scramble is open to everyone.
“This is our major fundraiser for the Gardner House Museum each year,” said Andy Zblewski, Albion Historical Society President. It’s a Victorian home built in the late 1800’s and houses all the society’s archives as well as being an active museum open to the public, free of charge. “The upkeep of the building is a never-ending process that unfortunately is very costly. We are asking for your help to support us as we preserve our area’s history for future generations.”
Hole sponsorships are available for $25. Your business name will be proudly displayed at the golf course during the Scramble, as well as printed in the program. You can also donate prizes, such as hats, shirts, gift certificates, etc. which will be given to the golfers.
Or you can golf that day. The cost is $50 per person, and is a four-person scramble. You can be placed on a team, if you do not have a four-person team lined up. The cost includes 18 holes of golf, prizes for first and second places, games during the day and lunch.
Make checks payable to: Albion Historical Society, 509 S. Superior St., Albion, MI 49224. If you have questions, call the museum at (517) 629-5100 or contact us today.