VOLUME XLV ISSUE 2 MAY 2019

2 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE FLAT ROCK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Flat Rock Historical Museum25486 Gibraltar Road

P.O. Box 337Flat Rock, Michigan 48134

734.782.5220 Museum O�cewww.FlatRockHistory.org

Archives@FRDigitalHistory.org

2018-19 FRHS SOCIETY

BOARD OF DIRECTORSMargaretAnne Cooper, Acting President

margaretann@�atrockhistory.org 906.399.2469

Candace Myshock, Vice-Presidentcandace@�atrockhistory.org 734.307.4817

Margaret Cooper, Treasurermargaretann@�atrockhistory.org 906.399.2469

Lesley Gilliland Harkai, Corresponding Secretarylesley@�atrockhistory.org 734.730.3213

Pam Cornell, Recording Secretary

pam@�atrockhistory.org 734.250.5406

Lila Fedokovitz, Historical Commission Liaison lila@�atrockhistory.org 989.786.3824

Vacant, Trustee

Melissa Murdoch, Trusteemelissa@�atrockhistory.org 734.818.6841

Bruce Chapin, Trustee

bruce@�atrockhistory.org 313.363.6338

Dawn Bartok, Trustee dawn@�atrockhistory.org 734.778.3307

OUR MISSION The Flat Rock Historical Society seeks to preserve and communicate to residents and visitors the history and spirit of those who have lived in and near the City of Flat Rock from the beginning of human habitation, or its vision, to bring our community together for the enjoyment, discovery, and learning our past to create our future.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES Annual membership dues are past due for the 2019-2020 membership year. Our membership year mirrors our �scal year July 1st - June 30th. Dues can be mailed, brought to the museum o�ce, given to any board member or paid online via using paypal at:

ht t p://� atrockhi stor y.org/about/me mbe rship/

Welcome New & Renewing Members!

Cindy GreutmanWoodhaven, Michigan

Jeanne & Richard MickaMonroe, Michigan

Judy TaylorHuron Twp., Michigan

BYLAW CHANGE PROPOSAL FOR THE JUNE 2019 BALLOT

Current 2018 Bylaw:Article VISCHEDULE & QUORUM FOR GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGSSection 1. Regular meetingsa. Regular meetings of the general membership will occur at least every quarter and will be held on the third �ursday of September, February, April, and June.

Proposed 2019 Bylaw Change:Article VISCHEDULE & QUORUM FOR GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGSSection 1. Regular meetings a. Regular meetings of the general membership will occur at least every quarter and will be held in the months of September, February, April, and June.

CALLING ALL BAKERS!SPRING FLEA MARKET - SUNDAY, MAY 5TH

Our Flat Rock Historical Society Spring Flea Market will be held on Sunday, May 5th at the Flat Rock Speedway. As always we need your help! If you can bake cookies, brownies, cupcakes or any other baked items that can be packaged for individual sale, we would appreciate it! Baked goods donations can be dropped o� in the SMITH HOTEL on Saturday, May 4th from 1-4 pm. If you will be coming to the Flea Market, please consider donating an hour or two of your time to help us sell baked goods in our booth. We appreciate your help and look forward to another successful spring �ea market!

Saturday, May 4th 1-4pm Open House “Made in Michigan”

Sunday, May 5th 7am - 4pm Spring Flea Market (Flat Rock Speedway)

Monday, May 27th 9am American Legion Memorial Day Parade & Wreath Laying (Flat Rock)

Saturday, June 1st 1-4pm Open House “Vintage Photography”

�ursday, June 20th 5pm Members Supper (BBQ supper) 6pm General Membership Annual Meeting/Election 7pm History of the 24th Michigan Iron Brigade by Gary Rembisz, Author of Black Feathers in Black Hats

�ursday, July 4th 12pm Old Fashioned Bicycle Parade in Waltz, Michigan hosted by Huron Twp. Historical Commission

Saturday, July 6th 1-4pm Open House

Saturday, July 20th 12pm Taste of Flat Rock (Flat Rock Our Hometown)

Saturday, August 3rd 1-4pm Open House

Saturday, September 7th 1-4pm Open House

Saturday, September 14th 11am Vintage Market @ Lajko Park hosted by Huron Twp. Historical Commission Saturday, September 15th 11am Home Canning Workshop hosted by Huron Twp. Historical Commission

Friday, September 27th 5pm Members Supper 6pm General Membership Meeting 7pm Michigan’s Most Dangerous Females by Tobin Buhk, Author Wicked Women of Detroit

Saturday, October 5th 1-4pm Open House

�ursday, October 10th 11am Narrated Bus Tour of Oakwood Cemetery & Lunch in the Museum (Flat Rock Community Center)

Saturday, October 12th 7pm Ghost Hunt (Tickets on Eventbrite)

Saturday, October 19th 4pm Cemetery Walk (Tickets on Sale September 3rd)

Friday, October 25th 7pm “Evelyn Smallbladder” Comedy Show

Flat Rock Historical Society -Upcoming EventsDid you enjoy last year’s

Cemetery Walk?

We are planning OUR Cemetery Walk for

19th October 2019Our next

PLANNING meeting is

FRIDAy, MAY 10th Smith Hotel @ 6:30pm

If you would like to participate, please join us!

PLEASE NOTE:

These FUN, FAMILY-FRIENDLY, LOCAL HISTORY

EVENTs RELY HEAVILY ON VOLUNTEERS, AND

WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS WE CAN’T CONTINUE TO

PROVIDE HISTORY EDUCATION TO OUR

COMMUNITY. Please Consider OFFERING YOUR

TIME TO SUPPORT & BENEFIT YOUR COMMUNITY,

EVERY VOLUNTEER IS APPRECIATED!

PLANNING A PARTY? RENT THE SMITH HOTEL!

Members of the Flat Rock Historical Society are able to rent the Smith Hotel for small gatherings and parties. We have a capacity of 49 persons. Please call the museum o�ce for pricing and to check date availability.

Photo by Kaila Savarese (2018)

FLAT ROCK, MICHIGAN 3

THE TELEGRAPH

�e 24th Michigan of the Iron Brigade brought some exciting prospects for a young man. He could defeat the Rebels and see some of the large cities of the U.S. It was not fun and games but at times horror. At �rst, they were rejected by the Iron Brigade until they proved themselves at Fredericksburg. At Gettysburg, they su�ered 80% casualties yet never lost their �ag. �ey captured Rebel �ags at the Wilderness and Petersburg. �ey were part of the Honor Guard at President Lincoln's Funeral in Spring�eld.

Please Welcome GARY REMBISZ

HISTORIAN & AUTHOR BLACK FEATHERS IN BLACK HATS

presenting on

24TH MICHIGAN IRON BRIGADETHURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2019 @ 7PM

FLAT ROCK HISTORICAL MUSEUM CAMPUS

Join Us For an Evening of ComedyFEATURING FLAT ROCK’S OWN

Denise Oestrike Gutenschwageras

Evelyn Smal lb ladderon

Friday, October 25, 2019 @7pm

Flat Rock Elks Lodge26917 Telegraph

Flat Rock, MichiganTickets $15

Available on Eventbrite & in the Flat Rock Museum Office June 1st

Please Welcome TOBIN BUHK

HISTORIAN & AUTHOR WICKED WOMEN OF DETROIT

presenting on

MICHIGAN’S MOST DANGEROUS FEMALESFRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 @ 7PM

FLAT ROCK HISTORICAL MUSEUM CAMPUS

FLAT ROCK HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HURON TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL COMMISSION PRESENTS

VOLUME XLV ISSUE 2 MAY 2019

4 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE FLAT ROCK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

DOWNRIVER GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY’SNEW LIBRARY IN FLAT ROCK

28639 Division Street, Room #100Flat Rock, Michigan 48134

734.535.6530Public Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays & �ursdays 11-4pm

(located inside the Flat Rock School Administration Bldg.)

WELCOME DOWNRIVER GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY!A NEW HISTORIC RESOURCE INSIDE THE FLAT ROCK COMMUNITY!

THE TELEGRAPH

FLAT ROCK, MICHIGAN 5

Leon Simeck 1941-2019 Leon was born in Waltz to Ida and O.T. Simeck and has been part of Flat

Rock history for over 52 years when he married Pat Hall, daughter of Margaret and Fred Hall (Hall Chevrolet). Fi�y years ago he started Leon’s Heating and Air Conditioning – located at the corner of East Huron River and Church Street – in Mr. Mote’s former Print Shop.

His greatest legacy will be as founder of the Flat Rock Train Club, located near HurRoc Park in the old Youth Center. Leon and Pat have put their hearts and souls into this project and the train museum has hosted over

12,000 visitors since they �rst opened their doors. Check out their Facebook page or web site at FlatRockTrainDepot.org. We will miss Leon’s stories about his cars and trips and especially seeing his clean, bright red van with Leon’s name on the windshield.

Mars Dunne 1933-2019 We are sorry to report that Marsden Dunne passed away this month. Mars was born in Ecorse in 1933 to James and Eleanor (née Wise) Dunne. He graduated in 1952 from Flat Rock High School and served in the U.S. Army from 1953-55. He married Phyllis Swan, daughter of Harry and Geraldine (née Mote) Swan in 1955. Mars was very active in the community and especially with the VFW and American Legion. For years he attended our Veteran’s Open Houses in February at the museum. He donated and helped us obtain many of the uniforms in our collection. On a trip to

Florida many years ago he obtained several mannequins and �lled the back seat of his car for the ride back to Michigan. He received many strange looks along the way. We are most grateful to Mars for donating the original Huron Valley Sentinel newspapers which Phyllis’s grandfather, James Mote edited. Dating from the early 1920s to the 1940s we are able to use them for reference even in their delicate condition. Mars kept in contact with his old friends and classmates right up to the month he passed and will be missed.

In MemoriamVOLUME XLV ISSUE 2 MAY 2019

6 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE FLAT ROCK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

THE TELEGRAPH

Flat Rock Historical Society 2019-20 Membership Application

Today’s Date _________________________

New Member Renewal Membership No.______ __________________________________________________

Name

__________________________________________________Street Address

___________________________ _________ ___________ City State ZIP

________________________@________________.________Email 1 Address

________________________@________________.________Email 2 Address

Landline Cell

(_____)__________-________________ Texting Telephone #

_____________________________________________Please tell us a little about your connection to Flat Rock or interests on the line above.

CHOOSE ONE:

$10 Individual Annual Dues (July-June) $15 Family Annual Dues (July-June)

$5 Student Membership

$100 Life Membership

Make checks payable to: “FRHS”Mail application & check/money order to:

Flat Rock Historical SocietyPO Box 337

Flat Rock, MI 48134

For Office Use Only: Scan Numbers Contacts MailChimp SignUp Genius

Grati tu d e We would like to thank Diane Parker at Biggby Co�ee for her wonderful donation of Cocoa and Co�ee for the Children’s Teddy Bear Cocoa Party.

Many thanks to Mary Washko for the lovely decorations and blanket cra� for the Teddy Bear Cocoa Party. And thank you for the donation of the Barber Pole that lights up and for showcasing your lovely hats during the recent Easter Parade Exhibit.

�ank you to Fred Monteleone and Lila Fedokovitz for managing the crowds and helping to keep everything moving in the Munger Store during the Flat Rock Our Hometown Easter Egg Event. And thank Kevin Walker for stepping in as docent in the Wagar House during the Egg Hunt.

�ank you to Jean and Kevin Walker for the awesome scones and �nger foods for the Bunny Tales Tea Party.

�ank you to Bob Coch for the amazing group of Revolutionary period costumes, tomahawks and Vreeland Trading Post books.

�ank you to Cindy Fesko for the Vreeland Axe and the Native American Artifacts found on the farm formerly belonging to the Vreeland Famliy.

�ank you to Melissa Murdoch, Jessica and Jordan Bycofski for organizing our �rst student art show. It was a huge success! And Congrats to Ms. Ashley Bayko, our student winner!

A huge shout out to Mr. Ernie Novak, our April presenter, and his DT& I Crew for an amazing presentation on the history of the DT&I Railroad and its impact on Flat Rock.

�ank you to Rodney Wade & Shelly Reichlin, Flat Rock Recreation Department, for allowing us to use the warming center for our April History Presentation. And thank you to Councilman Mark Maul for lending a hand to help stack chairs and clean up a�er the presentation as well as his continued patronage of the Flat Rock Historical Society.

�ank you to Je� & Stacey Reynolds, Laura Polce, Tracey & MargaretAnn Cooper and Mike & Candace Myshock for setting up and cooking an amazing “Made in Michigan” food spread for the general membership meeting. And for helping to tear down and put away the food a�er the meeting.

�ank you to Ms. Sylvia Burns for the generous monetary gi� in memory of her friend, Mars Dunne!

FLAT ROCK, MICHIGAN 7

PostageHere

FLAT ROCK HISTORICAL SOCIETYWORKING IN THE PRESENT

T O P R E SERVE T H E P A S T

C.G.MUNGER’S

P.O. BOX 337 FLAT ROCK, MICHIGAN 48134

GENERAL STORE

“All Set” �e Huron Valley Sentinel (Flat Rock), 29 May 1925, p. 1.

MUSEUM OFFICE HOURS Our Museum O�ce is located on the lower level of the Munger Store and is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and �ursdays from noon-4pm and by appointment. Occasionally, we are out for training/donation pick-up, so please call ahead.

DO YOU ENJOY WORKING WITH CHILDREN? �e museum is getting ready for our spring �eld trip season. We can always use extra hands during class visits! Our focus for these trips is curriculum based with emphasis on hands-on activities for the students. If this is something that you would like to help with, please stop by the museum o�ces and we can

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM Do you like history? �e Flat Rock Historical Museum is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for new museum volunteers. �e Volunteer Application is available on our website under the Society tab.

�e Last Laugh: Vintage Cartoons

PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FLAT ROCK �e Flat Rock book published by Arcadia Publishing is still available for $22 from the Museum Gi� Shoppe. Books are also available at the Blue Heron Trading Company in downtown Flat Rock or by calling the museum o�ce 734.782.5220.

3 R D ANNUALHISTORICCEMETERY W A L K

SATURDAY OCTOBER

19TH

TICKETS $20/PERSON

PURCHASE VIA CASH/CHECK AT THE

FLAT ROCK MUSEUM(MUSEUM OFFICE IS IN LOWER LEVEL OF MUNGER STORE)

25486 GIBRALTAR ROADFLAT ROCK, MI 48134

7 3 4 . 7 8 2 . 5 2 2 0 -OR -

ONLINE AT EVENTBRITE

HTTPS://2019CEMETERY.EVENTBRITE.COM

BROWNSTOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETYHURON TWP. HISTORICAL COMMISSION

FLAT ROCK HISTORICAL SOCIETYPRESENTS

2019

ON SALE SEP 1ST