What ls and Has Been Happening ?
Updated:
Ortonville High School and Brandon High School Composite Photos.
Our members determined it would be a worthwhile project to complete the photo display we have of graduating classes of these two local high schools. (Basically they are the same school, they just changed the name some time ago.) We have some of the composites, but not all. So our member, Ron Sutton took the job on to get these missing photographs and make our collection complete and current. This would take some work to arrange a photographer to get them copied from the Brandon
High School collection, reprint them in the format we need and place them in our display rack. We appreciate the work Ron is giving to this project and also to a generous monetary donation from our member, Gwen Hamilton Wyatt, to cover the cost of the printing. this collection is one of the most popular attraction in our museum, especially to,local residents who are looking to find their family members in these photos. We think we have done a fine job oi preserving thls aspect local history we are determined to continue to do so.
Updated:
Ortonville High School and Brandon High School Composite Photos.
Our members determined it would be a worthwhile project to complete the photo display we have of graduating classes of these two local high schools. (Basically they are the same school, they just changed the name some time ago.) We have some of the composites, but not all. So our member, Ron Sutton took the job on to get these missing photographs and make our collection complete and current. This would take some work to arrange a photographer to get them copied from the Brandon
High School collection, reprint them in the format we need and place them in our display rack. We appreciate the work Ron is giving to this project and also to a generous monetary donation from our member, Gwen Hamilton Wyatt, to cover the cost of the printing. this collection is one of the most popular attraction in our museum, especially to,local residents who are looking to find their family members in these photos. We think we have done a fine job oi preserving thls aspect local history we are determined to continue to do so.
Ortonville Community Historical Society
Ortonville, Michigan
Short Term Goals
April 2016 (Reviewed April 2017
With the Public:
lncrease visibility of OCHS - signs, ads, newspaper, booths at events> BB&E
Open Museum for special events-> Memorial Dav. Trick or Treat in Vla.,Ghost Tours
Continue to enhance website and Facebook accounts, > YES
Link our website to townships and village. > YES
Possible projects to increase interest and exposure to OCHS;
Ghost Tours. Mann School Reunion, Brandon Schools tours and Mann School Reenactments
Pfovide digital references of documents; ie: Obits; Ongoing '
Oral Histories taken before too late; None this year.
Within the Membership:
Better use of our Board and Membership meetings; maybe consolidate to one; YES
lncrease income; spending and profit detailed; YES
lncrease participation of our current members w/ Welcome Committee; not yet!
lncrease membership; a little bit
Further improve labels on newsletters/ names, addresses and expiration dates. YES.
Possibly disconnect Old Mill phone; now have cell phones. YES
Five Year Plan
1. Enhance and organize our Country Store; sell on-line. NO
2. Pursue Grants for improvements and programming.NO
3. Research and document the buildings in Ortonville area and print a pamphlet; have walking tour. Possible grant to fund. NO
4. Digitize our records and connect them to Oakland County Historical Records. NO
5. Develop modern newsletter, website, ability to accept payment via PayPal and enhance distrubution. NO
6. Obtain lnternet access, projector for computer presentatons. NO
7. Replace window qlazinq and back entrance door in Mann Schoot. Windows. YES
Ortonville, Michigan
Short Term Goals
April 2016 (Reviewed April 2017
With the Public:
lncrease visibility of OCHS - signs, ads, newspaper, booths at events> BB&E
Open Museum for special events-> Memorial Dav. Trick or Treat in Vla.,Ghost Tours
Continue to enhance website and Facebook accounts, > YES
Link our website to townships and village. > YES
Possible projects to increase interest and exposure to OCHS;
Ghost Tours. Mann School Reunion, Brandon Schools tours and Mann School Reenactments
Pfovide digital references of documents; ie: Obits; Ongoing '
Oral Histories taken before too late; None this year.
Within the Membership:
Better use of our Board and Membership meetings; maybe consolidate to one; YES
lncrease income; spending and profit detailed; YES
lncrease participation of our current members w/ Welcome Committee; not yet!
lncrease membership; a little bit
Further improve labels on newsletters/ names, addresses and expiration dates. YES.
Possibly disconnect Old Mill phone; now have cell phones. YES
Five Year Plan
1. Enhance and organize our Country Store; sell on-line. NO
2. Pursue Grants for improvements and programming.NO
3. Research and document the buildings in Ortonville area and print a pamphlet; have walking tour. Possible grant to fund. NO
4. Digitize our records and connect them to Oakland County Historical Records. NO
5. Develop modern newsletter, website, ability to accept payment via PayPal and enhance distrubution. NO
6. Obtain lnternet access, projector for computer presentatons. NO
7. Replace window qlazinq and back entrance door in Mann Schoot. Windows. YES
WWII Experiences by Marilyn Featherston
I remember Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. People were frantic, not knowing what could happen, of course. Our home was in Detroit, but there was the fear that Detroit would be bombed because of so many auto plants. My Dad was a conveyor construction engineer and spent many weeks and months out of town working to turn manufacturing plants for wartime materials. Early 1942 Mom and three kids packed up and moved to the hills of Illinois, where I was born- to live in a little house next to my grandparents. We spent the summer of 1943 in Buffalo, New York with Dad and experienced the brown outs as we watched from our 4th floor hotel suite. Very interesting to see a large city go dark. 1945 came around and Mom and little brother went to Denver, Colorado for the summer with Dad, while brother Marvin and I lived in Missouri with relatives (our choice.) Late summer, Mom left Colorado, came to Missouri to pick up brother Marvin and me. We soon boarded a train to go to Detroit, but the train was so crowded that we had to fine separate seats. Guess what happened? Very soon therewas an announcement that Japan had surrendered!!! The train was full of service men and women. Imagine the celebration!. Lots of huggin’ and kissin’ going on!! and me only 15.Oh, I remember rationing - When we moved to Ortonville I was unhappy with my new piano teacher, so I quit lessons (as any spoiled brat would.) Of course we didn’t have enough gas ration stamps to go out of town so often - so my music career ended. But, when one door closes, another opens. Miss Lindy, the High School Band Director, needed a flute player, so I learned to play and loved the band.
PS: These memories came to Marilyn as she sat in the Florida sun this winter, reading our last 2016 newsletter. We are so glad to know a little bit more about the war efforts and how our members experienced them. If anyone else has other interesting stories to share, whether about the wars or not, please email your editor (Judy) or just send them snail mail to our PO Box. They would be read with interest as well.
I remember Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. People were frantic, not knowing what could happen, of course. Our home was in Detroit, but there was the fear that Detroit would be bombed because of so many auto plants. My Dad was a conveyor construction engineer and spent many weeks and months out of town working to turn manufacturing plants for wartime materials. Early 1942 Mom and three kids packed up and moved to the hills of Illinois, where I was born- to live in a little house next to my grandparents. We spent the summer of 1943 in Buffalo, New York with Dad and experienced the brown outs as we watched from our 4th floor hotel suite. Very interesting to see a large city go dark. 1945 came around and Mom and little brother went to Denver, Colorado for the summer with Dad, while brother Marvin and I lived in Missouri with relatives (our choice.) Late summer, Mom left Colorado, came to Missouri to pick up brother Marvin and me. We soon boarded a train to go to Detroit, but the train was so crowded that we had to fine separate seats. Guess what happened? Very soon therewas an announcement that Japan had surrendered!!! The train was full of service men and women. Imagine the celebration!. Lots of huggin’ and kissin’ going on!! and me only 15.Oh, I remember rationing - When we moved to Ortonville I was unhappy with my new piano teacher, so I quit lessons (as any spoiled brat would.) Of course we didn’t have enough gas ration stamps to go out of town so often - so my music career ended. But, when one door closes, another opens. Miss Lindy, the High School Band Director, needed a flute player, so I learned to play and loved the band.
PS: These memories came to Marilyn as she sat in the Florida sun this winter, reading our last 2016 newsletter. We are so glad to know a little bit more about the war efforts and how our members experienced them. If anyone else has other interesting stories to share, whether about the wars or not, please email your editor (Judy) or just send them snail mail to our PO Box. They would be read with interest as well.
