Author: Sharon Scott

OLDEST TREES IN THE CLINTON, MI AREA

Posted on by Sharon Scott

November 25, 2025- The Historical Society of Clinton has planed a program on the oldest trees in Clinton.  George Service, Terry Calhoun and Kathy Sposite are conducting a survey of the biggest/oldest trees in the Clinton area.  The trees need to be at 100-200 years or over. Caleb Schlegel, lumber specialist, will help present the program along with Service and Calhoun. 

Discussed will be how to determine the age and size of a tree. Stories of what that tree “might have witnessed” will also be included.     If you have an old tree on your property or know of a very old tree and want Terry Calhoun to check it out , please e-mail him at     gogreenterryc@gmail.com or call him at 517-403 5352. The program is at 7pm at the Clinton Township Library on Tuesday Nov. 25 and guests are welcome.

CLINTON FALL FESTIVAL- WIRT C. ROWLAND EXHIBIT Sept. 25th-26th – 10am-5pm at SKCC

Posted on by Sharon Scott

This exhibit will feature panels from the 2004 exhibition of Wirt Rowland and also some items related to that exhibit.    Wirt Rowland was born and grew up in Clinton.  He designed three tall buildings that provided the skyline of Detroit: The Penobscot, Buhl and Guardian.  The full exhibit has been set up eight different times in Detroit, Saginaw, Clinton & Adrian. Catalogs will be on sale the Smith Kimball Community Center along with other publications by the Historical Society.   During the time the exhibit is open, you can also make a visit the apartment to see the Clinton Graduation Photos, if you let the working HSC member know you would like to see them.

The Smith-Kimball Community Center is one block south of Michigan Ave. at 211 Tecumseh Road.  Please join us.

DECONSTRUCTING THE PAST- FROM FARMSTEAD TO IRON CREEK PRESERVE- Program March 25-7pm CTPL

Posted on by Sharon Scott
Deconstructing the Past – From Farmstead to Iron Creek Nature Preserve -Program March 25th at 7pm at Clinton Township Public Librar
 
Join the Historical Society of Clinton for a presentation that will trace the history of an eighty-acre parcel of land near the eastern edge of the Irish Hills in the southwest corner of Manchester Township.  The future Iron Creek preserve features a section of Iron Creek near Noggles Road.
 
When Sybil Kolon and her husband decided to donate much of their land to become a nature preserve, the vacant house on the property was an obstacle that slowed down the process but also enhanced Sybil’s desire to connect people to nature – using history.  Sybil will discuss how she worked with Legacy Land Conservancy, the Manchester Area Historical Society, an Eastern Michigan University graduate student in Preservation Studies and many others to learn more about the occupants and the history of the house.  The modest 1860s farmhouse was deconstructed instead of being demolished.  This allowed for materials to be reused and provided more insight about the two families who lived there for over 150 years as well as details about the construction of the house.
 
The two presenters are: Sybil Kolon, whose family owned the property at 11703 Noggles Rd, Manchester from 1948 up to the donation to Legacy Land Conservancy; The and Laura Sutton, whose great-great grandmother, Ann Mathews Sutton and family owned the property from 1857 until 1947.  Sybil Kolon’s grandparents bought it one year later.
 

The public is invited to the Clinton Township Public Library on Tuesday, March 25th at 7pm.  Questions can be directed to Sharon Scott at

sascott2@comcast.net

.

DEVIL’S LAKE HISTORY AND NAMING BY Dan Cherry

Posted on by Sharon Scott

DEVILS LAKE HISTORY BY DAN CHERRY OCT. 22ND 7PM AT CLINTON LIBRARY

 

The Historical Society of Clinton’s speaker on Oct. 22, 2024, will be journalist and Lenawee County historian, Dan Cherry, who will present a program on the History of Devil’s Lake and how it got its name. One of the earliest accounts of the Lake dates to the days of the indigenous tribes around the lake more than 200 years ago, and is about a very deep spot (hole).   This hole was believed, in part, to have been the location of the death of a Pottawatomie chief’s daughter. Cherry now lives on the west side of the State, but has and is working as a journalist in Lenawee County  for the “Daily Telegram.”  He is the author of “Night of the Wind” which takes an in-depth look at the events of April 11, 1965, when two tornadoes crossed Lenawee County and Hillsdale County and  in 2023, he published an updated edition.

The program is at 7pm, Tuesday October 22nd at the Clinton Township Public Library and all are invited to this occasion to hear Dan Cherry.

US 12 GARAGE SALE AUG. 9-11TH- STOP IN CLINTON

Posted on by Sharon Scott

 GARAGE SALE- US 12- CLINTON

US 12 HERITAGE TRAIL GARAGE SALES BEGIN FRIDAY AUGUST 9TH– SUNDAY 11TH

Michiganders can travel on US-12 for over 210 miles without leaving the state, but this stretch is only a small part of this massive highway. In its entirety, the road runs from Aberdeen (Washington) to Detroit, covering a distance of nearly 2,500 miles.

US 12 Garage Sales can be found along the highway at homes, farms, businesses, parking lots and fields.  Some areas will have large numbers of vendors while others may be scattered.  As you drive the country roads on your quest, you will be privy to incredible stories.  Register and see all the sales at https://www.us12heritagetrail.org/

In Clinton look for the signs to get you to fabulous sales, including the Mobile Home Park & Historical Society of Clinton’s sale at the American Legion Hall. Also some churches start their sales on Thursday. Donations can be made to the Historical Societies’ Sale on Thursday Aug. 8.  If you have questions, please call 517-45-7198.

Scavenger Hunt June 1st -Noon to 3:30- Prizes

Posted on by Sharon Scott

 

The Historical Society
of Clinton Michigan
PRESENTS
Historical Scavenger Hunt
June 1st
12:00 to 3:00
● $10 per person
● Starts and ends at the Smith Kimball Community Center – Search for Historic Items in Clinton
● 15 historical exhibits with some local businesses included
● Prizes will be awarded
● Refreshments will be served after the hunt
 
For more information contact NORLEEN HICKS @ 517-442-8385
 

LEGACY LAND CONSERVANCY PROGRAM Nov. 28

Posted on by Sharon Scott

LEGACY LAND CONSERVANCY PROGRAM AT CLINTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY, NOV. 28 AT 7PM

The Historical Society of Clinton is going to host a program on Nov. 28, presented by “The Legacy Land Conservancy” at the Clinton Township Public Library at 7pm. Allene Smith, Land Protection Specialist with Legacy will be our speaker.

Ms. Smith will explain how rural land can be preserved by becoming a Legacy held conservation easement. At the end of 2022 Legacy was monitoring 7350 acres of land in Washtenaw and Lenawee and Jackson County. The Raisin Valley Land Trust recently integrated into their monitoring program. She will also tell about their other conservation work. The public is invited.