Editor’s note: In its May 15, 2024, edition, the Sun Times News included a special “Discover Tecumseh” section. It contains articles describing many of the businesses and community life in this charming town. We’re running the articles online and encourage you to add a trip to Tecumseh to your list of fun things to do this summer.

“Once again, I just want to thank you for this opportunity,” said Jack Baker, Mayor of Tecumseh. He spoke with characteristic enthusiasm for his hometown. “I was born here, raised here, and have lived here my entire life.” With deep roots in the community, Jack is a proud local and former business owner who understands firsthand what makes Tecumseh unique.

The mayor knows the town well because his roots run deep. “One of the things you may not know is that my brother and I used to run a BP full-service gasoline station on the boulevard. We did automotive repair and pumped gas for people,” he said. For over 30 years, they were among the downtown merchants, contributing to the heart of the city’s economy. Eventually, they had an opportunity to sell, and the property has since been transformed into a green space with a mural being painted on a nearby building.

When chatting with business owners and city officials, it doesn’t take long to learn that there is something unique about Tecumseh. While many communities give lip service to the idea of “community spirit,” tossing the term around in announcements like an incantation, Tecumseh residents, by and large, live it out to a remarkable degree.

Reflecting on his time as a business owner, Baker explained, “It was a great downtown to work in back then, and it still is today. In Tecumseh, we’ve always believed what’s good for my neighbor is good for me. And that’s the atmosphere we’ve created here.” This sense of camaraderie and collective progress remains strong among the merchants and residents.

He reiterates the community mindset, saying, “I want to make sure the business next door does well because if they do well, I’m going to do well. That’s the atmosphere we’ve created, and it’s existed for a long time. It’s kind of neat to see.”

As an example of this civic DNA, Baker told about the closing of Tecumseh Products, a company that once employed over 5,000 people and drove the city’s economy. “Back in the 1960s, Tecumseh Products was the engine that drove this city,” Jack explained. “At its peak, the company had over 5,000 employees in a community of just 7,500.” The company eventually closed due to competition and overseas development, creating a challenging economic void for the community.

“If there’s anything I’m most proud of in my time serving as an elected official, it’s that when we lost the factory, we didn’t just give up,” continued Jack. “We banded together, asked what we could do to grow and prosper, and moved forward.”

The community’s welcoming spirit has helped Tecumseh weather the storm. “We’ve done it by being kind, friendly, and inviting. We made people feel welcome, and we’ve pulled ourselves up,” Jack said. “Sure, we miss the revenue from Tecumseh Products, but we didn’t keep all our eggs in one basket, and we’ve continued to thrive.”

The Herrick family, founders of Tecumseh Products, left a lasting legacy. “Look at the buildings they’ve built for the city—hospitals, schools, and churches. Their name is still relevant, but we’ve moved forward while honoring our history.”

According to Jack, another facet that makes Tecumseh so resilient and unique is that “we don’t have a mile of interstate in the county. We’re like an island.” Instead of passersby, Tecumseh attracts people who deliberately seek it out as a destination. “We want people to choose our community, not just travel through it. It’s worked really well for us.”

Jack’s commitment to Tecumseh is unwavering. “I was born in this city, and I’m going to die in this city. There’s no place I’d rather be,” he declared. “We’re a loving, caring, inclusive community. If you’re a stranger when you come into the city, you won’t be when you leave.”

As he wrapped up the conversation, Jack offered his final thoughts, “Thank you for this opportunity. It means a great deal to share my pride in my city.”

In Tecumseh, the secret to its enduring charm lies in its strong sense of community. It’s a place where people care for each other, cherish their roots, and keep moving forward, no matter what challenges arise. Such places exist.