OAKLANDOakland Count* Pioneer and Historical Society

GAZETTEISSN# 1534-8849

The only publication dedicated to the history and heritage of Oakland CountyVol. 43, No. 3 Published by THE OAKLAND COUNTY PIONEER AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY September 2010

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE MA TCHING CAMPAIGN!

We are grateful to the many members who supportthe mission and programs at Pine Grove. If you arenot yet a member, now is the perfect time, thanks toa generous donor who will match dues for newmembers who sign up before the end of the year.Annual dues are modest and the rewards are many:helping to preserve the beautiful buildings, groundsand artifacts at Pine Grove; providing educationalopportunities to children and adults; discovering moreabout the people, places, and events of OaklandCounty; and, the chance to meet other great peoplewho have similar interests. Joining is easy - just clipthe membership application on the outside of thismailing and send it along. Remember, every newmembership will be enhanced by matching funds.Everyone is welcome. Join us and help make adifference.

NEW MEMBERS

Diane L. Anderson - Lathrup VillageAaron Castillo - PontiacWill Gall - Rochester HillsJohn & Joyce Hovis - DavisburgJeff Lloyd - WaterfordRay Lucas - Rochester HillsMelissa & Joe Luginski - ClarkstonPatricia Manning - Bellevue, WAJack & Hope Mason - WaterfordScott Moore - WaterfordMarilyn North - West OliveChristopher Northcross - PontiacJohn & Linda Pannuto - Rochester HillsJeffrey Schaffner- Portsmouth, VAQuincy Stewart - PontiacJackie Tobbe - PontiacWhitney Watson - Chicago, ILPatrick Tooman - Auburn HillsLinda Konen - Royal OakJim MacDonald - WaterfordColleen Barkham - RochesterJoseph Humphrey - WaterfordLawrence Ostrowski - White LakeMarilyn Zavorski - Stow, MASarah & Jose Moralez - Madison HeightsThorn Burkett - Waterford

SPONSORSHIPS ARE A VAILABLE FOR ALLEVENTS AT PINE GROVE.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Two SMALL TALKS are scheduled at OCPHS:

John Wilkes Booth - Sunday October 10, 2PM

Photographic History of Pontiac - Sunday. Nov.7, 2PM

See the enclosed flyers for details

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS EVENT

The Victorian Open House has a different schedulefor this holiday season. The Hanging of theGreens will be Tuesday, November 30, 2010; theOpen House will be Saturday December 4, and theDe-hanging of Greens will be on February 1, 2011.During the months of December and January, wewelcome groups of people to tour the Wisner Housein al l i ts hol iday splendor. We must havereservations, of course, so we can be sure to have adocent available to guide you around. We haveseveral new docents who are eager to show off ourwonderful house.

We will need many people to help with our holidayevent. The Hanging of the Greens, November 30, -unwrapping ornaments, putting up trees, constructingcenterpieces, arranging decorations, is just thebeginning. After decorating is finished we will share alight lunch.

We anticipate many more tours and we would like tohave docents available to assist. On Open Houseday, Saturday, December 4, we would like to have 16volunteer docents, each to work a two-hour shift inone room only. We will help you with printedinformation about "your" room, and you will have yourchoice of costume from our wardrobe collection.Other ways you may help would be baking cookies,assisting in the gift shop during the Open House andduring tours. There will be other projects on our "todo" list before the Open House. Start your holidayseason with us - get acquainted and share in ourholiday cheer.

Join us. Get acquainted and get involved.

THE DIG GOES ON

The archeological excavation of the old ice house ison-going. At this time, the depth is about five feet, sixinches, and the bottom of the foundation has not

been reached. Thousands of artifacts have beenfound, including broken dishes, many rusted tin-cans,hundreds of old nails, roller skates with three wheels,small steering wheel from a child's bicycle, bottles ofall sizes. Richard Stamps, professor of Archaeologyat Oakland University, and member of the Board ofDirectors of this society, is heading up this project, aswell as others in Oakland County. He is preparing aSmall Talk for next spring on the findings of thisproject and-others in Oakland County.

IN REMEMBRANCE

Gale E. Scafe, of Clarkston, died August 15,2010. Gale was a long time member of theBoard of Directors of this society, and an activevolunteer. For many years he mowed theextensive grounds of Pine Grove by himself. Hiswife, Connie, was also a member of the board ofthis society and his daughter, Joyce, is currently amember. Gale's cheerful personality andgenerous heart will be sorely missed. Ourthoughts are with his family.

Mary Elizabeth Favre born Holly September 9,1919, died Mission Viejo May 31, 2008. Her husbandwas Al Breitman.

TWO NEW BOOKS BY OCPHS MEMBERS!!

A Rendezvous with History, by Esmo T. Woods, is acollection of writings of a historian, journalist andpoet, featuring scholarship, sportsmanship, andservice to the community. Esmo is a life-long residentof Pontiac and a strong supporter of preserving thehistory of the area.The book is available at theOCPHS library for $20.00

Images of America - Pontiac. by Ronald K. Gay, ispublished in partnership with Oakland CountyPioneer and Historical Society. It includes a largecollection of photographs of the city of Pontiac andthe Oakland County International Airport that havenot previously been published. Ron lives in anhistoric house in Pontiac and is a member ofOCPHS. The book is available at the OCPHS libraryfor $21.99.

2011 CALENDARS

IN REMEMBRANCE

Tom Wilson, husband of Fran, librarian atO C P H S , d i e d A u g u s t 1 2 , 2 0 1 0 , a f t e rcomplications following heart surgery. Tom was astrong supporter of this organization andvolunteered his time and talents to the specialevents, even playing Santa Claus at some holidayevents. Tom, an attorney, was president of theUnited Homeowners of Bloomfield, and hostedand produced the syndicated radio show"Somewhere in Time". We extend our sympathyto Fran and her family.

DEATHS IN CALIFORNIA

Eleanor Borkenhagen, a genealogist in Orange Co.California, has sent obituaries of four people whowere born in Oakland Co. and died in the LosAngelos area. If anyone is interested in any of theseobituaries, they are in the OCPHS library collection.

Scott Pritchett, born April 29, 1961, died October10, 2009. The funeral was at Sparks-Griffin FuneralHome, Pontiac.

Scott Alan Newman, 53 years, died December 12,2009 in Orange Co., California

Margaret Perry Gettle, born Pontiac September 1,1919, died Westwood, California May 22, 2008.

This is to remind you that we have the 2011 calendaravailable - Remembering the Civil War. \t includesmany photographs that have not been previouslyprinted. They all are in the OCPHS collection. Priceis $12 if picked up at the office and $14 if mailed.

THE ICE CREAM SOCIAL WAS A HIT!!

The July 31 event was a lot of work, but it was worthall the effort. The weather was good; the attendancewas even more than anticipated; the appearances ofPresident Abraham and Mrs. Lincoln, FrederickDouglass, and Govenor Moses Wisner were wellreceived; the children's games were challenging; theice house "dig" was awesome; and the tours of the

Wisner House and schoolhouse kept the docentsbusy. The hot dogs were a hit (we ran out and had tomake a grocery store run), and the dozens of cakeswere completely gone.

The photos on the next page are a sampling of ourDay at Pine Grove.

Keep July 30, 2011 in mind - that is the date of nextyear's summer event. We already have AbrahamLincoln signed up - and we promise to have enoughhot dogs.

HOW TO REACH US:PHONE: 248.338.6732EMAIL: OFFICE(5)OCPHS.ORGWEBSITE: WWW.OCPHS.ORGADDRESS: 405 CESAR CHAVEZ AVE.

PONTIAC, Ml 48342

From the Ice House Dig

White Elephant SaleMike West

OCPHS President

Oakland County Pioneerand Historical Society405 Cesar E. Chavez Ave.Pontiac, M 48342

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PA I DPermit No. 70Pontiac, Ml

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In This Issue

Membership CampaignNew MembersUpcoming EventsVictorian ChristmasArcheological Dig UpdateIn Remembrance - Gale ScafeIn Remembrance - Tom WilsonDeath Information - CaliforniaBooks by OCPHS Members2011 Civil War CalendarReview of Ice Cream SocialPhotos from Ice Cream Social