Then & Now: The History of Dexter History

Image

Donna Palmer demonstrating caning a chair

From DAHS

In five short years, the Dexter Area Historical Society successfully formed (7/29/1971), began researching and making improvements to historic areas, discovered, refurbished, and moved into a permanent home (6/27/1976), presented two major events (1974 & 1976), and became a very important part of the Dexter Community.

Mary Rush’s Corn Husk Doll as Logo for Pioneer Craft Fair

This couldn’t have happened without some extraordinary people who dedicated their lives to this project. It would be impossible to list all those who were instrumental in this endeavor, but we will list those who served on a few of the boards as well as those who were active supporters at that time. To save space, we have abbreviated the titles. Apologies to those not mentioned, but the records usually only mention persons holding office.

The first DAHS Board in 1971 included: Frank Wilhelme - Pres., Tom Morcom - Vice-Pres., Rose VanAken - Corres. Sec’y., Norma McAllister - Rec. Sec’y, Marie Lefstad - Treas., LaVerna Laubengayer and Joanne Hoeft as Directors.

In 1975, a Museum Board was set up to run the Museum and it would report to the DAHS board. The Museum Board officers were: Dir. - Richard Wheeler, Ass. Dir. - Sarah Frank, Sec’y - Maria Lefstad, Treas. - Marian Ehley and Curator - Nina Doletzky. At that time the DAHS officers were: Pres. - Norma McAllister, Vice-Pres. - Neil Frank, Sec’y - Rose VanAken, Treas. - Marian Ehley, and Trustees - Mary Cornils, Ora Clark, Joanne Hoeft, Emily Kitchen, Barbara Kurtz, and Margaret Mynning. This is the year that the Dexter Heritage Guild was formed with officers: Pres. - Rosalie Brown, Vice-Pres. - Gloria Brigham, Sec’y - Mary Alice Mussio and Treas. - Rose VanAken.

By October of 1976, they had set up the Museum Gift Shop with the following leaders, General Manager - Norma McAllister, Asst. Man. - Barbara Young, and Exe. Sec. - Marie Lefstad. The Museum board was Asst. Dir. - Sarah Frank, Curator - Nina Doletzky Rackham, Asst. Curators - June Niegum & Jan Schmidt, Sec’y - Bene Fusilier and Treas. - Marian Ehley. The 1976 DAHS Board was Pres. - Neil Frank, Vice Pres. - Earl Doletzky, Corres. Sec’y - Rose VanAken, Rec. Sec’y - Heloise Dunstan, Treas. - Marian Ehley, and representatives: - Kay Shotka - Dexter Twp., Wally Fusilier - Lima Twp., Fran Ernst - Scio Twp., Wana Baldus - Webster Twp., Doris Waggoner - Schools, and Marge Hanning - Dexter Village. Charles Derry was the official Photographer and the Program committee was Charles Derry, Pat Derry, and Norma McAllister.

The Dexter Area Museum in 1980s

All seemed to be going very well when in July of 1977, Norma McAllister announced that she was leaving the Society. Once she was no longer affiliated with the society, she received many questions from the general public so she wrote a long “Letter to the Editor” that appeared in the June 8, 1978, Dexter Leader. Most of the letter told the history of the Dexter Area Historical Society and Museum and her reasons for founding it. She finished with the following:

Since I am no longer active in the society and museum which I am responsible for originating and on which I spent six years of countless hours, people continually ask why and what happened. After complete devotion to this project, numerous false accusations, presumptions and falsehoods were spread in writing, instigated and furthered by ill-informed persons at a most inopportune time, I felt I could not go on.

I hope I have been able to answer the most often asked questions, for I know I can answer truthfully, for I was there. Ironically most of those persons who caused the trouble were not involved in the formation, legal aspects, physical labor, collection of materials or worry over figures. Norma McAllister”

Though no longer connected with the museum, Norma plunged into even more “research”. In many respects, it would seem that she was now “free” to do what she loved without the many responsibilities that the museum and historical society demanded. She continued researching the people, places, and events for the Dexter Area using microfilmed copies of the Dexter Newspapers from 1869 to 1969. From the information, she found in them and her own experience, she began writing a series of articles which were published in the Dexter Leader. In 1989, she published a genealogy titled, “Judge Samuel William Dexter” which we often use in our research. Norma was always willing to answer any questions we had through the years.

Cleaning up the Meeting Room at the Museum

Norma had set up the Historical Society and the Museum so well that things continued to run well. By 1979, Nancy VanBlaricum had joined the Museum team helping others work on their Genealogies. The Heritage Guild continued to put on two events, the Christmas Bazaar in December and the Pioneer Arts Fair in March. Pictured is the cover from the 1992 event showing the Corn Husk Doll made by Mary Rush and used through the years as the Logo for this event. Many of our members were the first demonstrators for the Pioneer Arts Fair as shown in the photo above with Donna Palmer demonstrating caning a chair. Some other local artisans included Frances Bosel - Stenciling, Suzanne Mahler - Rubbings, Gloria Brigham - Candle making, Bea Christopherson, Tatting, Suzanne VanNatter - Spinning, and Betty Zabinski - Teddy Bears.

The Heritage Guild found other ways to help the Museum such as home tours, quilt shows, fashion shows, and also added the DuMochelle Antique Appraisal Clinic to their yearly schedule. DAHS began having “Christmas Sings” in the late 1970s having different choral groups lead us in singing Christmas favorites and in 1981, “Fat Bob”, the singing Plumber began leading us. Robert Taylor, who died in 1995, had become famous for his relationship with J. P. McCarthy on WJR radio and often shared his talents with local groups.

Jack Brigham greeting Santa at the 1999 Christmas Bazaar

There were some very special volunteers in the 1980s and 1990s who helped with special events, the gift shop, organizing and cataloging donations, cleaning, painting, repairing, etc. within the various areas of the museum. A few of the Volunteers not mentioned elsewhere include Lorraine Govaere, Hazel Kaufman, Mary Kimmel, James Parker, Neil Rackham, Chuck Steinbach, Bruce Waggoner, and Ginny Wilson.

In 1987, the Dexter Area Historical Society was asked to sponsor the Michigan Sesquicentennial Celebration for the Dexter area (Michigan received Statehood on January 26, 1837). Events planned included a potluck dinner with Frank Wilhelme giving a talk on early Dexter and Judge Dexter, an Apple Festival in October, a Fashion Show, and a House Tour.

Maintenance has been an ongoing problem as is to be expected with an older building. The steeple has attracted birds and other animals whose burrowing has led to leakage in the ceiling, and we’ve also had flooding in the basement with heavy rains or runoff from snow melting. We insulated the building and painted the meeting room during this period. Internally there were many improvements including adding a kitchenette and ceiling tiles in the meeting room. The Heritage Guild added a copy machine, a microfilm machine, a computer, file cabinets, tables and chairs, and many other items to the Reading Room using money earned from their events.

The DAHS board in 1999 included: Pres. - Fay Knapp, Vice-President - Gil Campbell, Immediate Past-President - Dilys Wiseley, Rec. Sec. - Annette Anderson, Corres. Sec’y - Bene Fusilier, Treas. - Nancy Walker with Board of Directors: Mary Kimmel - Dexter Village, Sybil Van Houten - Dexter Schools, Earl Doletsky - Dexter Twp.,., Larry Wiertella - Lima Twp.,, Ethel Samuelson - Scio Twp., and Jim Socks - Webster Twp.,. The Dexter Area Museum Board in 1999 included Nina Doletzky Rackham and Alice Pastalan as Co-Directors, Harold Samuelson as Sec’y, and Nancy Walker as Treas. We had settled into a routine of events, repairs, displays, etc., and were ready for the new Millennium.

This is the second of three articles written in preparation of the celebration of 50 years of this special organization. We are proud to say that for 50 years we have been an all-volunteer organization and we are always open to new members and volunteers. Visit our website: DexterHistory.org and/or go to our email address: DexMuseum@aol.com if you have any questions.

The Dexter Area Historical Society has come a long way, but our purpose remains:

“To preserve our history and inspire our community to connect the past with the future”.

I'm interested
I disagree with this
This is unverified
Spam
Offensive