Lake Odessa Area Historical Society facts for kids
The Lake Odessa Area Historical Society and Museum is a cool place in Lake Odessa, Michigan. It shows off many old things from the Lake Odessa area. You can see items from a German POW camp that was here during World War II. There's also an old train station from 1887 and a fixed-up train car called a caboose. The museum has lots of local history displays. It also has a library for family history and an old house called the Hosford House. This museum is a private group. It gets its money from events and donations.
Contents
The Old Train Station
The museum's train station building was built in 1888. It first belonged to the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad. Later, it became part of the Pere Marquette Railroad. This was a big railway system in Michigan. Eventually, it joined the C&O Railroad.
This station served Lake Odessa for over 82 years. The last train tickets were sold in 1971. The building is not huge. But it is special because it is the only Russian Ornate style building like it in Michigan. In 1987, the railroad sold the station to the historical society.
The station has different rooms. These include a ticket office and a lobby. The lobby had separate waiting rooms for ladies and gentlemen. There was also a baggage room. One interesting thing here is a special device from the 1920s. It was made by Clair Goodsell. This periscope-like tool let people look into the water. They could see what they were digging up.
Main Museum Building
This building was built in 2005. It looks like the original freight station. This is where the main part of the museum is. The building also holds the Ionia County Genealogy Society. This group has many books and records. They help people find out about their family history in this area.
Old School Classroom
Inside the main museum building, you can see a classroom. It looks just like a classroom from the old Lake Odessa High School. The first high school was built in 1888. It burned down and was rebuilt in 1921. This second building was taken down in the 1990s. But the historical society saved some items from it. This includes the gymnasium scoreboard.
In this room, you will also find a library. It is called the Grace Nichol Library. It honors a teacher who worked at the school. This library has many old school textbooks. They are from the 1860s to the 1980s. It's a great place to learn about how education has changed.
Native American History
Lake Odessa is surrounded by three lakes: Jordan Lake, Tupper Lake, and Augst Lake. Early Native Americans used to live here in the summer. Several tribes visited this area. These included the Potawatomi, the Odawa, and the Ojibwe. White settlers arrived in this area around 1839. The historical society has many old items and maps. They show how Native Americans lived, their traditions, and their homes.
Bonanza Town Exhibit
Bonanza was a small town that existed before Lake Odessa. It started in the 1870s. Bonanza continued until the railroad was built in 1888. The railroad passed through the area that became Lake Odessa. Lake Odessa was about half a mile south of Bonanza. But being close to the railway made it a better place for businesses.
To be successful, merchants actually moved their buildings to Lake Odessa. The railroad's location and the growth of Lake Odessa ended Bonanza. But it created a strong start for Lake Odessa. Business people from Bonanza moved to be near the railroad. You can see the cornerstone from the Bonanza School here. There's also a rocking chair brought to Ionia County in the 1930s by the Dexter Family.
Farm Life Exhibit
This exhibit shows the area's early farming history. It has old farm tools and engines. These items show how farming was done long ago. One interesting part is a dairy display. It was given to the museum in 2007. It includes a machine that separates cream. There are also many old milk bottles and other dairy items.
Early Lake Odessa Businesses
This exhibit shows businesses and items from important people who owned them. The funeral home started in 1888. It was one of Lake Odessa's oldest businesses. It was first owned by George Weed and Stephen Haight. Other early businesses include the Lake Odessa Canning Company and Smith Brothers Elevator.
The pharmacy display has many old medicine bottles. It also shows labels pharmacists would use. You can see other old pharmacy tools too.
Medical History
This exhibit has items from the offices of Dr. Tromp and Dr. Hough. They were two local doctors. You can see furniture, medical tools, and an X-ray machine. There's also an examination table and a wheelchair. These items were used in doctors' offices from the 1940s to the 1980s.
Local Newspaper Display
This small display is about the local newspaper, the Lake Odessa Wave. It was printed from 1888 to the 1980s. The Dann Family owned the newspaper. They gave a desk and a safe from the newspaper office to the museum.
Prisoner of War Exhibit
From 1944 to 1945, a German POW camp was in Lake Odessa. POW stands for Prisoner of War. The camp provided workers for the Lake Odessa Canning Company and local farms. This exhibit is very important for both Michigan and the whole country. It's rare to find actual items from a POW camp.
In late 1944, five German POWs escaped from the camp. They were found about 4 miles west of Lake Odessa. After they were caught, a young boy found a POW hat. He saved it and gave it to the museum a few years ago.
When the US Army closed the camp in 1945, some things were left behind. Local people saved them. This includes a POW identification tag. A young boy found it when he explored the camp area after it closed.
Some cool items in this display include a wooden mailbox. It says "Briefkasten" on it, which is German for mailbox. There's also a letter sent from Fort Custer. This was the main camp for the Lake Odessa camp. You can also learn about Heinz Hanft. He was a former POW who returned to Europe after the war. He later moved his family from Germany to Holland, Michigan. His family has shared a lot of information about his time as a prisoner here.
Other Interesting Items
- A horse-drawn mail wagon from 1903. This was used when mail delivery first started in the countryside around Lake Odessa.
- A 1964 Chrysler New Yorker car. It was first owned by Allie Kluinsteker. Her family gave it to the museum.
- The Hosford House is an old Lake Odessa home from the 1890s. It is currently being fixed up.
Special Events
The museum has at least 12 special displays and events each year. These change every month.
- January: Quilt Show
- February: “It’s Art” Show
- March: Toy Show
- April: Rummage Sale
- May: Military Tribute and Display
- June: LOHS Alumni Day & Ice Cream Social
- July: Depot Day
- November: Autumn Dinner, Christmas Memory Trees, & Christmas ‘Round the Town
They also have many other new and special events.
