Stockbridge Area Genealogical/Historical Society

08/27/2024

We'll be there!

The Open Air Market of Stockbridge will be on the Square from 4 to 7 pm this Friday, August 30th. Offerings will include: fresh sweet corn and other locally grown produce, honey, eggs, maple syrup, dried herbs, baked goods, art, handcrafts, candles, soaps, lotions, and more.
This week, we are celebrating Dorene Day in honor of longtime market supporter, Dorene White. Bring a chair and enjoy music by Gary Allen & Tiffany Gridiron.

06/05/2024

We're desperately in need of help! The board is currently discussing whether or not the Oaklawn Cemetery tour will happen this year. We would also like to return to a regular schedule of public presentations. But we can't do it without members and volunteers.

No exaggerating here, the Society's future at this point is not certain. But there are so many ways you can help out with a range of time commitments. Please stop by our open house on Saturday, June 15, 1-4 p.m. or attend our next board meeting, Tuesday June 25 at 7 p.m. (both at the historic Stockbridge Township Hall lower level). We'll be deciding cemetery tour details at the June 25 meeting.

Photo: Cora Palmer, a Stockbridge native and teacher from approx. 1885-1893, with her students.

09/17/2023

Rain, rain go away

09/17/2023

Unfortunately we need to cancel today's cemetery tour for several reasons. Instead we plan to have the speakers at our general membership meeting next Tuesday, September 26, at 7 p.m. at the Stockbridge Township Hall. We apologize for the late notice and hope you can join us next week instead.

06/17/2023

It's a beautiful day for Stockbridge MI A Day in the Village! Come see us from 1-4 in the town hall, lower level.

06/12/2023

Call for actors!

The Stockbridge Area Genealogical/Historical Society is looking for volunteers to portray historical personas during our 2023 cemetery tour on Sunday, September 17! We welcome actors of all ages. Experience is not necessary!

During the tour, groups of visitors are guided through the cemetery, meeting residents of the Stockbridge area from years past in period costumes.

You will be responsible for delivering a 2-5 minute talk (does not have to be memorized, you may use cards/notes) while in costume appropriate to your character's lifetime, under the shade of the trees at Oaklawn Cemetery. We have chairs and stools available for actors and guests.

We will work with you to assign a cemetery "resident" to portray, and we will provide you with a script that you may amend for your performance. If you have an ancestor in the cemetery (or even at another cemetery in the area) and would like to portray them, that's possible too! You can research and prepare your own script or we can help you with the preparations.

What's the time commitment? In addition to time to practice and prepare your talk individually, all volunteers will need to be at the cemetery on Sept. 17 by 3 for setup and orientation; tours begin at 4, and we are usually finished by 6 p.m.

If interested in more info, send a message to Laura Walsh at lauramerte@gmail.com or message our page here on Facebook. Thank you!!

09/28/2022

Thank you to everyone who attended our presentation yesterday evening with author and veteran Jim Hodge. If you are interested in his book, "When Troubles Rain," here is a link (or Google other locations to purchase):

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-troubles-rain-jim-hodge/1141633939?ean=9781944976064

09/24/2022

Echoes of Oaklawn

Hobart Sweet (1840-1915), a Civil War veteran, was portrayed by Jeremy Muraf last weekend at our annual cemetery tour. Sweet enlisted early in the beginning of the war in 1861, and served with the 1st Michigan Infantry until the end, where he was present at General Lee's surrender at Appomattox in 1865. Before and after the war Sweet was a farmer; he was also a member of Stockbridge Masonic Lodge #130 and the G.A.R., and served as Stockbridge Township clerk.

09/23/2022

Echoes of Oaklawn

Last weekend at our annual cemetery tour, Magdalene Springman (1844-1921) was portrayed by her descendent, Cynthia Grostick. Born in Germany, she married John Springman after coming to the US, and they purchased a farm west of the village in 1871. The red brick house in which she raised eleven children still stands today at the eastern-most corner of Heeney Road.

09/19/2022

Thank you to everyone who came out to Oaklawn Cemetery this afternoon for our annual tour! And thank you to all of the volunteers who made it happen! We will feature our actors in the coming days; it was a beautiful day and we are so happy we could bring history alive with this event.