1. science
2. social science
3. history

IN F ORMAT IO N, NE WS AN D S U P P OR T
Vol. 22 No.2
March/April 2015
3rd Annual
RAHGS Historic Tea
March 21, 2015 — 2:00 PM
Maniaci’s Banquet Hall
SOCIETY OFFICERS
President: Christine Rowley
586.727.7773 crowley50@comcast.net
Special Guest:
Fanny Farmer
Vice President: Mary Ellen Shepherd-Logan
mlogan5477@sbcglobal.net
Secretary: Richard Weinert
richweinert@comcast.net
Treasurer:Dianne Gibson
Portrayed by Kim Parr
nhdlgibson@comcast.net
Director: Norman Gibson
Raffle
Hat Contest
Hat Sale
nhdlgibson@comcast.net
Director: Pam Materazzi
bpmat@msn.com
Director: David Waun
dwaun54@comcast.net
Tickets: $25
Tickets Available At:
Lois Wagner Memorial Library
Sew Together
Richmond Flower Shop
RAHGS Board Members
and
Thursday Mornings 9AM-Noon
at The Historic Village
FOUNDATION OFFICIERS:
President: Patrick McClellan
586.727.3919
Secretary/Treasurer: Kasey Wylin
586.625.2798, kcwylin@gmail.com
Director: Dale Quick
586.727.4893
Director: Tom Hebel
810.392.0262
Director: Ken Simmons
586.727.1131
MEMBERSHIP:
Life member: $150.00
Annual: $20.00
Newsletter subscription: MARCH/APRIL 2015 - THE HISTORIAN
$7 .00
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RHS
Graduation
Photos Project
Do you remember the display of RHS graduation pictures that used to stand in the front lobby of
Richmond High School? The one that held the pictures of all seniors for about the last 100 years?
It was so much fun to find our parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles who attended the
same school many years before. We sometimes giggled at the “funny” hairstyles they wore, but
more often we studied with awe the faces of our ancestors who called RHS their school way back
when. To us it seemed incredible that they could at one time have been our age.
A few years ago, the kiosk that held those composite pictures broke and those pictures were put
in a storage room and forgotten. But with permission from the RCS Board of Education and the
superintendent, RAHGS rescued them and we them took the museum for safekeeping
One of our 2015 goals is to raise the money to purchase a new kiosk to hold these class pictures.
It is our hope to have them safely and securely preserved and available for the community to
enjoy once again. Throughout the year you will see opportunities to contribute to this project
and to save this valuable piece of Richmond’s history.
Wish List: I am happy to tell you that we can cross off two more items from our wish list! Elmer
Villeme has donated a brand new paper shredder, and Matt Rix has donated peat for the Village
gardens. Thank you so much, Elmer and Matt, for your gifts to the Society!
The Historic Tea is coming very soon. We are looking for a few more people to set tables. If you
would like to show off your “good” china, this is the time to do it. Auction items are also needed,
and of course the tickets are on sale around town.
And finally, I am happy to tell you that Village Gardener Marsha Phillips will be a regular contributor
to the Historian. She will be giving you updates on the work in the Village gardens—all good
information that you can put to use in your home gardens as well. Check out her first article in
this newsletter.
Christine
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Annual Dinner Meeting
On January 23, RAHGS members gathered at Maniaci’s Banquet Hall
for the 2014 Annual Meeting. A wonderful dinner was served followed
by live entertainment featuring Bruce Materazzi on the guitar. Smiles
abound as members sang along with Bruce as he played some oldtime favorites. And then a hush fell over the room when the annual
presentation, “The Year in Review,” shared the passion and pride of the
2014 accomplishments. It wasn’t long before the room was buzzing
again when members brainstormed the many ideas and possibilities
for the newly acquired property. As the evening came to a close, and
members readied for their departure, everyone knew that RAHGS
was moving into 2015 with great anticipation and excitement. The
year of the 25th Anniversary would prove to be the best yet.
P and P Fire Extinguishers Come
to RAHGS Rescue!
When we called Mike
Petrella, the owner of P
and P Fire Extinguisher
Company, Inc. on 32 Mile
Road in Richmond and
asked him to assess our
needs at the Village, without
hesitation he said he would
get us everything we need
at no cost to RAHGS! One
of his employees, Scott,
came to a Thursday morning
work bee in February and
within an hour he had the
red extinguishers installed.
Thank you Mike and your
crew! We appreciate what
you have done for the local
historical society.
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RAHGS Members Thank City Hall
At the annual dinner meeting, member Sue Jakubiak suggested that RAHGS send a letter
to City Manager Jon Moore thanking those from the City who supported the purchase of
the additional property for RAHGS use. Everyone enthusiastically agreed, and this is the
letter that was sent:
Society Officers
Shuboy He
Christine Rowley
President
January 27, 2015
Mary Ellen
Shepherd-Logan
Vice President
Jon Moore, City Manager
City of Richmond
68225 Main Street Richmond, Michigan 48062-0457
Dianne Gibson
Treasurer
Richard Weinert
Secretary
Norm Gibson
Director
Pam Materazzi
Director
David Waun
Director
Subject: Richmond Area Historical and Genealogical Society Thank You
Dear Mr. City Manager,
The Richmond Area Historical and Genealogical Society Board, the Foundation
Board and our members would like to thank you for addressing our membership
at our Annual Dinner last Friday.
We would also like to thank you, the TIFA Committee and the City Council for
the acquisition of property on Park Street across from our Historic Village for
the possible use by our organization.
We are excited to work with you and the City to make the best choices for the
future use of the property for all of the residents and visitors to the park.
Thank you again from all of us at RAHGS!
Sincerely,
Richard Weinert
RAHGS Long Term Preservation Committee Chairperson and
Secretary, The Richmond Area Historical and Genealogical Society
PO Box 68
Richmond, MI
48062
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Winter Festival
RAHGS joined Richmond’s Winter Festival this year in a big way. The Historic Village was open
on Sunday from 1:00-4:00 offering a look at history in the museum, cookies and cocoa in the
school, a warm fire in the cabin and sleigh rides in the park. Over a hundred people enjoyed
the delightful sleigh ride in the RAHGS 1800’s Vis-a-Vis’ sleigh pulled by the McKiernan family’s
gorgeous Haflingers, April and Charley.
Quilt and Rag Rug Raffle Supports
“Save the RHS Graduation Pictures” Project
You may have heard that
RAHGS is sponsoring a very
large raffle fundraiser.
First
prize is a beautiful log cabin
quilt made by long-time quilter
Jane Lenaway. Second prize is a
hand-crocheted rag rug.
of the cabin. This pattern was
popular in the northern states
from 1865-1920, becoming
especially
popular during
Abraham Lincoln’s Presidency—
maybe to show allegiance to
our “log cabin” President!
The 68” x 78” quilt, which is made
entirely from reproduction Civil
War Era fabric, looks great on a
full size bed. The cabin squares,
sewn together in rows from dark
to light, represent the “fields and
furrows.” The center red square
symbolizes the fire in the center
of the cabin, or the hearth. The
surrounding strips around the
red square represent the “logs”
I made the crocheted vintage
style rag rug the way rugs were
made over 100 years ago. There
is NO sewing, just 2” strips of
fabric cut and looped together
and then crocheted. In one rug
there is 14 yards of material!
Both the quilt and the rug
are made from 100% durable
cotton; they are washable and
dryable, and they are certain to
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bring many years of beauty to
any home.
The funds raised with this raffle
are earmarked for the RAHGS
project, “Save the Richmond
High
School
graduation
pictures.” The drawing is June
28th at the Village during annual
Log Cabin Day. How perfect is
that!
So, think about giving gifts,
selling to your neighbors, and
buying for relatives living out of
state. Please, call me for tickets.
Together we can do this!
Marsha Phillips. 586.321.8519
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The Village Gardener
Marsha Phillips
“Spring Has Sprung” at the Village! Be sure to
come by and check out the gardens.
During March be watching to see if our bulbs
are peeking through the soil. A large group of
hyacinths were planted to the right of the bell in
the Brick Paver bed. In front of the School House
daffodils were planted.
As soon as the bulbs poke their heads up,
they will be fertilized with bone meal or bulb
food. After the bulbs are done flowering, the
flower heads will be removed which will allow
the green foliage to die back naturally before it
is removed. This allows the bulbs to be fed for
next year’s growth.
The daffodils will be tied with green twine
making them look like little cornstalks. This
makes the beds look neater during the dieback
process.
Feeding our plants in April is very important!
The first week in April 12-12-12 fertilizer will
be hand broadcast around ALL plants, shrubs,
and trees. This is the only time I broadcast this
type of fertilizer. The rest of the growing season
Miracle Grow will be sprayed on the plants
when watering. This is done at least
once a month.
Acquisitions:
April 1st our only Knock-Out rose bush will be
pruned. Roses should NOT be pruned in the fall.
This is also the time to use special fertilizer on
the bush and spray for insects and disease.
Weather permitting, after April 1st, all of the
perennials that were not cut back in the fall will
be cut back. Our Annabelle hydrangea, grasses,
butterfly bush, and hardy mums are a few of
these plants.
Beds and borders will be weeded and a fresh
layer of Michigan Peat spread around. Michigan
Peat is composted soil-- not peat moss. This will
help amend the soil.
Because it is cost prohibitive, we do not
fertilize the lawn at the Village, but if we did,
this is when we would do it: 1STapplication,
WHEN YOU SEE YELLOW MASSES OF FORSYTHIA
BLOOMING! 2ND application around Memorial
Day, 3RD application around the Fourth of July,
4TH application around Labor Day!
I am at the Village every
Thursday, and I would love to
show you around and talk about
flowers!
Please stop in for a
chat!
Marsha
Turn of the Century
Farm Implement Catalogue:
Larry Donley
VFW Hats:Pat Bartosiewicz
Lions Club documents:
Richmond Lions Club
Hunt School pictures:
Rosie Hebel Schroeder
Three cameras:
Patrick McClellan
1940s Richmond Phone Book:
Kathy Miles
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Jan. Donations
Larry Donley
Gene and Sue Jakubiak
Questers
Keith and Sally Rengert
Feb. Donations
Richard Phillips
Sally Bohs
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Our mission statement :
•
•
•
•
To share w ith others the legacy left us by our forefathers,
the migrants from the East and the immigrants from Europe,
who with foresight and conviction built a better future for
themselves and their children, and for the generations that
followed.
To honor and remember those who cleared the land, grew the
crops, educated the young, and to pay homage to those who
fought in the wars and
ced their lives for something they
believed in.
To encourage our community leaders to preserve the few historical building remaining today.
To provide assistance to those who turn to us f
roots.
The general membership meetings/programs, which are open to the public, are held throughout the year. The Historic
Village is open during Winter Festival, on Log Cain Day, during Good Old Days, Thursday morning work bees, special
events, and by special appointment. Watch the newsletter, the website, and Facebook for dates, times, and program
information.
Richmond Area Historical and Genealogical Society
Richmond
Area
Historical and Genealogical Society
36045 Park
Street
36045
Park
P.O. Box
68Street
P.Richmond,
O. Box 68 Michigan 48062
Richmond,
48062
Website: Michigan
www.richmondhistoricalsociety.org
Email: richmondareahistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Website:
w
ww.richmondhistoricalsociety.org
Facebook.com
Email:
richmondareahistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Facebook.com
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MARCH/APRIL 2015 - THE HISTORIAN